Hasn't crime risen more sharply in the west coast cities? If so, is it simplistic to say that homelessness leads to crime? I think the mental health issues are a stronger correlation: without the meth induced psychosis being added to homelessness, you wouldn't have nearly as much crime.
Sadly, I've come to the conclusion that forced incarceration is necessary for a certain small group of people on the streets. A guy I used to know in Portland owned a club in the east side, and said there was a homeless man throwing railroad ties into the windows. Then, he murdered his girlfriend and burned himself alive in his tent. Completely anecdotal but I can't forget it. If we really cared about people on the street, we should have figured out a way to get him off the street.
But, that note in the article about data driven solutions showing that incarceration is not effective makes me pause, and I'll go read that now that I've sprouted off misinformation.