To tie it back briefly to the concept of basic income.... I think there is a lot of fear of that term, as if it's something that would be a huge program that would change our whole landscape of social services. I don't think that's what it would have to be. It could be something like what you're talking about, targeted to populations in the places where they need it, to lift people up, as you are describing, so they could start becoming part of the workforce and start accessing housing.
The other thing I would say is that what you're describing is a perfect situation where we would need support of affordable housing and the At Home/Chez Soi type of program for men like that who need a little more ongoing support to get back to the quality of life they should have.