I have read very convincing studies that show turning derelict properties into housing for the homeless or very low income housing is not great.

These old houses often have a lot of issue that people who aren’t accustomed to maintaining a home or who have access to quite limited resources, just can’t address. These houses just continue to deteriorate into squalor but now with a person in them.

I think in many cases it is cheaper and overall better to knock down the run down house and build a couple of new cottagettes or mini homes on the lot to then use for these purposes.