Also, the homeless do not generally go around assaulting regular folks. Most assaults are among themselves and they are more likely to be a victim of a violent crime from a regular citizen than a perpetrator.
my wife was spit on by a vagrant because she didn't give a cigarette. a vagrant spit in the mouth of a co-worker of mine. a vagrant thew a bag of fecese into our reception area. I've seen betters kick cars, vandalize home in areas that had their shanty towns removed. Women have been assaulted in park that are now known as rape trails. You can't walk the streets of portland without eventually seeing some one sturng out yelling profanity and threats in every direction.
you assumption might have been true in the past, but things are changing. The drug addicts are acting crazier because no even bothers enforce any laws against them, and pandhandlers are getting more aggressive.