Comment by morserer | Hacker News Reader

Comment by morserer | Hacker News Reader

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That isn't how that works. That isn't how any of this works.

21% [1] of homeless have a serious mental illness that predates their living situation, of which an even smaller chunk is schizophrenia. The major reasons for homelessness are predominantly financial (also [1]). We think that the sequence of events is mental illness/drugs → homelessness → poverty, but the true sequence is an averse financial event + lack of support → homelessness → mental illness (as a result of the homelessness) → drugs to cope.

We saw the most pronounced examples of this in Houston's homeless program, which has a 90% success rate by providing housing first [2]. For many, having a safe home is the only resource needed to get clean.

Homelessness is torture. Anyone in that situation would turn to drugs to cope. Demonizing the drugs is flying straight over the cause of the drugs themselves. If you want to fix homelessness, give homeless people homes.

[1]: https://www.samhsa.gov/blog/addressing-social-determinants-h...

[2]: https://www.thewayhomehouston.org/

Do you have a source that suggests that mental illness/drugs do not contribute to becoming homeless?

> 21% [1] of homeless have a serious mental illness that predates their living situation

This seems to suggest that mental illness does lead to homelessness. I would agree that financial strain is a major cause of homeless, but it seems likely that this is because it leads to other behaviors that then lead to homelessness. And those behaviors are probably not exclusively caused by financial strain.

Additionally, from the conclusion of your first link (my italics added for emphasis):

> SAMHSA utilizes its national surveys and grantee data to create effective programs and services to prevent and end homelessness among people with mental and substance use disorders.

Secondly, I agree that housing is an important first step for fixing homelessness because it seems like a precondition for stability.

But this:

> For many, having a safe home is the only resource needed to get clean.

seems misguided to me. "Housing First" != exclusively housing. From your second link:

> we move people into permanent housing as quickly as possible and then provide them with supportive services (like case management, health care, substance use counseling, income coaching, and more)

There definitely are people who have mental illness, which when activated or exacerbated leads to homelessness. I have family members in this boat and I've seen this cycle repeat at least a half a dozen times.

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