How far? Like housing them and treating their physical and mental health issues? Legalizing drugs so that we don't criminalize addiction? Can you really go to far too help people in need?
Montreal, I'm a 10 minute walk from the Olympic stadium, so I think I technically have all of those things except a shopping mall within 15 minutes walk. That said, I have everything I might need from a shopping mall within 15 minutes.
It's both, you can't fix the problem by only attacking one of the two biggest causes.
Renting a space for people to live in should be a privilege and not a right. We should have a board that limits what your rented space and its amenities can be rented for. I would even go as far as a permit and if you violate it you must sell the property within 90 days or jail time. We shouldn't fuck around with the basic human right to affordable housing.
*résumé
I really tried to let it go, but I am regrettably a French.