I'm with you in thinking that at least a trial of something similar would be worth it, given the amounts being spent. e.g., create a community/farm in a regional area with easy tasks for those who didn't want to idle, and various drug and mental-health support services. Give people a chance to trial it and then return if they didn't like it. Allow them to trial it in groups so they weren't leaving behind friends.

Completely optional but hopefully a better life for those who tried and liked it. If their peers were there and the weather wasn't problematic, surely something could be superior to a life on the streets.

If other states were shipping people in to take advantage of it, pool resources.