I originally come from Spain, where the weather is nicer than in the Netherlands, and there certainly are homeless people living and sleeping in the streets, or in cold occasions during winter, they can also be seen under the roof provided by an atm / bank branch.
However, having been in SFO multiple times, the number of poor/homeless people with no resources is much more evident there. My take is that generally the unemployment, healtchare, etc. benefits offered in most European countries do play a significant role in reducing the number of cases.
From what I understand, SFO has a bit of an epidemic because of their policies. The city is extremely supporting of the homeless compared to other cities in the USA, so the nation's homeless tend to migrate to SFO.
Also, weather in California is pretty nice year-round. I know I'd prefer California to Arizona or Michigan if I was homeless.
When I was in Gibraltar (a tiny tip of land at the south end of Spain under part British rule) there were no homeless people to be seen, despite some of the nicest weather in Europe.
However, having been in SFO multiple times, the number of poor/homeless people with no resources is much more evident there. My take is that generally the unemployment, healtchare, etc. benefits offered in most European countries do play a significant role in reducing the number of cases.