Why are so many severely mentally still homeless. Community mental health centers are inadequate, underfunded, and are often the victims budget-cutting.
Mentally ill homeless people have special problems for health care workers. They may not be as cooperative and motivated; because of their limited or nonexistence of resources, they may have difficulty getting transportation to treatment centers; they frequently forget to show up for appointments or take medications. Among people with severe mental disorders, those at greatest risk of homelessness are both the most severely ill and the most difficult to help. Many of the homeless mentally ill lack the insight, and do not realize they are sick and they are in need of regular treatment. Others have given up, believing that the system cannot or will not help them.
Most homeless people when asked what their greatest needs were, they listed affordable housing, safety, education, transportation, medical and dental treatment, and job placement. Mental health and substance abuse services were regarded as unimportant.
Solving the problem of the mentally ill homeless cannot be done without resolving the problem of homelessness totally. State institutions for the mentally ill are no longer available by law to help them. The mass closure of state hospitals has caused more homelessness. Food and shelter the basic needs of life versus mental health needs, the homeless and those trying to care for them choose the basic needs.
Many cities in taking action against homeless crisis have criminalized homelessness, which shifts the problem to the over-filled jails. Religious institutions provide shelter and food, and basic needs without addressing the reason why the person is homeless.
A national effort is needed to eliminate homelessness; the problem is getting worse, particularly in these economic times. The mentally ill homeless have no place to go, no way to provide for themselves and have little hope in the present situation.
Not all people who are unemployed are looking for jobs and some homeless people, who do not want to work, think that getting money without working is the best way of living makes up only about 25% of homeless people 50% to 60% has a job; approximately 50% get some money which, is not enough for even basic needs.
Alcoholism is also a major cause of homelessness; 50% of all homeless is an adult who has a drug or alcohol problem, but it is not the only cause of homelessness. Also alcoholism contributes to unemployment. This means that, regardless of sex, to get a job is more difficult for alcoholic homeless people than nonalcoholic homeless people.
About 1/3 of the single adult homeless population suffers from some kind of severe and persistent mental illness. At least a half of mentally ill homeless people are dually diagnosed with an alcohol or drug problem. According to studies done only 5-7% of homeless persons with mental illness need to be institutionalized, so mental illness is not the major cause of homelessness.
There is no single reason for homelessness, but the severely mentally ill are unprotected by the agencies that put a large majority of the in the situation. With regular treatment this can be avoided and the mentally ill need not suffer on the streets or in shelters. Without adequate housing and only short term hospitalization the mentally ill will continue to make up a large part of the homeless population. The transition from hospital care to clinics and available treatment needs to be addressed to give the severely mentally ill a chance at life free from symptoms. These people deserve a life that is rewarding and gratifying when given the chance to be stabilized on medications the country would see fewer homeless mentally ill.
