Housing shortage
FAQ
"How is there a shortage when vacant homes outnumber homeless people?"
Homelessness is one problem. Inadequate housing is another: Single adults outnumber single-sized homes 3-to-1 in some places. Many people would like to live alone but can only afford to live with roommates or even ex-partners. Also, some families live in units with too few bedrooms.
Repurposing vacant housing would certainly help - it might not be enough on its own. In many cases, we also need to build more homes or subdivide some existing ones.