A lot of that homeless-phobia is the fact that most white collar individuals are closer to living paycheck to paycheck than they're willing to let on. They're afraid of the homeless and see themselves distinct from them because "those lazy bums lost their jobs" and "I have to keep working so I don't end up like them". It's classic class warfare (fomented from the top) as a way for those at the top to end up with obedient workers who do not want to rock the boat for fear of the consequences.