Something that just occurred to me now is the link between decreased social connectivity and homelessness. With a less connected population, it's easier to let friends, family, and community members suffer, since the strength of bonds is weak.

And yes, there are so many issues like homelessness and acute loneliness that aren't a big deal in many places across the globe, even ones that are "poorer" than the U.S. Americans have been force fed shitty architecture, planning, food, entertainment, etc. for so long, they think it's all there is. Even when they go abroad to admire the good stuff abroad, they don't connect that they too could have functional cities, food systems, social welfare systems, etc. This piece is one of my favorites about how this plays out in terms of architecture and planning: https://qz.com/698928/why-suburbia-sucks