The homeless are often drug addicts, for whom contact between themselves and their family/friends has been severed through their own actions. It is often the case that, when provided with the opportunity to sleep in a shelter or complimentary hotel room, they will chose to sleep rough because it allows them easier access to drugs on the street. Why should we provide assistance to those who reject it, often resenting us for offering it in the first place? If the left beleives that these people should not be forced off the street against their will (“criminalizing homelessness”), then surely they must be of the opinion that they have a right to die on the street if they wish. There is no “in between” or compromise between letting them die of their own volution or forcing them into state institutions to be rehabilitated against their will.
Then again, the homeless are moved around California to farm votes and maintain the current (corrupt) power structure, so there is that factor, too. Its highly likely that the powers that be don't give a fuck either way as long as they can get a signature from them.
