Honestly that’s some pretty complex calculus. I think it has more to do with the fact there are Hoovervilles all over the west coast due to the extreme cost of housing. Being in NY I get it, you don’t really see them there. But but you should come visit the best coast and check it out - the homelessness problem is like a Great Depression scene. Literally every public open space in seattle is encamped, every road is lined with broken down RVs that folks are living in, etc. It’s gotten worse over the last 5 years to the point there’s something obviously wrong. While the insane and drug dependent are the most visible my understanding is this new wave of homeless are simply priced out of housing.

The only solution is to build more homes. It doesn’t get more complicated.

Note, these homeless already live here and are entitled to vote. Putting them in a home won’t change the demographics.

That said, I’m generally not in favor of radical housing and zoning reform. I think there are middle path solutions. But it’s not a gerrymandering induced issue, it’s an extreme homelessness induced issue.