poverty in the us 3

Poverty and homelessness are increasingly problematic throughout United States. As many of you have noticed, Sacramento has not been spared with more people unable to afford decent shelter. Watch the DW Documentary below.

How poor people survive in the USA | DW Documentary (Links to an external site.)
Minimize Video

1) Does increasing poverty and homelessness pose a threat to the broader economy? Why or why not?

2) What, if anything, is the role of all levels of government(federal, state and local governments) in reducing poverty and homelessness in United States?

Responses to the above questions should be in no less than 250 words (both questions combined). Also, I am not interested in political leaning responses but those that address poverty and homelessness from an economics point of view.