This is a homeless initiative that has popped in many places the local government or charities are giving them the vests so that they don't get run over at night, it's easier for police to spot them and the homeless need every layer they can get and most long-term homeless will wear them because they know another homeless who did or nearly did get run over.

In some places they've made it the law for 'safety'. They won't provide housing for them, or help get them jobs, or get them into drug rehab, or in many places they won't even let you feed them; But they can provide them with a fucking safety vest so they don't get hit by cars. Derp.

In Europe they wear these vests and sell magazines to get some income. You can see how this works in the movie "A street cat named Bob".

Weird, now that I think about it I saw 2 today

Those are just retired Carpenters...

Yes. Enough to make me wonder where all of these people are buying these clothes and why they are always dirty.

I haven't seen any.

no not really