An Overdue Conversation

Homelessness is a multilayered issue.There are certain elements that are difficult to miss unless a person is intentionally ignoring the obvious. We often make assumptions toward people based on their physical situation. A man with a bundled up sleeping bag and a few boxes sleeping in an ally might be homeless. A woman walking down the street with a shopping cart filled with personal items could also be homeless. But these examples are extreme and often mask a larger issue that needs to be discussed: mental illness.

While chronic homelessness (refusing services) is easier to spot that episodic homelessness (when a person is suddenly homeless due to an unexpected event), there are facets at work which require deeper investigation as to why a person would choose to live a homeless lifestyle. What if choice was not really a viable option because the person was unable to make a rational decision?

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 20-25% of the homeless population suffers from some form of severe mental illness. In comparison, only 6% of Americans are severely mentally ill. The chasm and disparity in numbers are staggering and an indicator that addressing mental health is paramount to addressing the overall issue of homelessness. When a person is mentally ill, certain essential functions of their life are unable to be carried out, causing difficulty and challenges not encountered by other people. Social interaction is effected and interpersonal decision making can lead to dangerous consequences.

If a person is unable to mentally manage their life, then those close to them suffer, whether they are a spouse, sibling, or children. Mental illness does not yield isolated results. In a survey by the US Conference of Mayors, 20% of cities listed better coordination with mental health service providers as one of the top three items needed to combat homelessness.

As Samaritan House endeavors on its 5 year plan to end homelessness in Kalispell, please be aware that this battle cannot be waged alone and we are asking you for help in unraveling the issue of homelessness in all its complexities. Mental illness is simply the beginning of a conversation that is long overdue.

-statistics courtesy of National Coalition for the Homeless