It creates a cost for spammers. They have to have an account with a Telco, which isn’t free, which in a lot of countries comes with some sort of National ID to register. That’s the reason.

Precisely. Not sure why their example isn’t being replicated in every city and suburban town.

Why not just build tiny homes? Built to code, 200sqft, well insulated, power, running water, and phone/internet, close to public transit. A fixed address with access to a social worker and a nurse on site, and the ability to get back up on their feet.

The idea would be to give people something between ‘tent’ and ‘apartment’ as transitional housing. Nobody freezes to death, nobody gets caught in the rain and loses everything they own. A community centre for socializing / education / laundry / showers, etc. There’s a ton of unused / underutilized lots in most cities - buildings ready for demolition, behind on taxes, and better used to deal with the housing crisis.

This isn’t rocket surgery. Someone please take this idea and run with it!