

Title: Quote from Emma Lazurus’ “The New Colossus”

You increase your step as you walk by, looking anywhere but their face. Eye contact just encourages interaction, and you don’t have time to explain why it is you don’t have a quarter to spare for the bus. So much is assumed from a glance. Dirty. Alcoholic. Drug addict. Unstable. It is easy to forget that they’re people, too. People who are suffering, and not necessarily because they refuse to get a job, or chose homelessness as a lifestyle. In wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hooks Elementary, a nationwide discussion on mental health and mental health care has occurred and the weak points of current mental health care options have been debated. When discussing mental health and the impact of serious mental health issues on living an uninterrupted life, it is crucial to examine homelessness and its relationship with mental health services. There are more chronically homeless people in America than there are people in Wyoming, about 630,000. Approximately three million people will experience temporary homelessness in a given year in the United States, which is about 1% of the population. The difference between those who briefly experience homelessness and those who live on the streets year after year is environment and ability. Those who experience homelessness for less than a year are most likely experiencing economical hardship, whether it be pressure to pay bills, or a lagging paycheck. These are temporary setbacks that have available solutions. People who experience temporary homelessness are for the most part, mentally capable of caring for themselves without assistance. Those who become and remain homeless not by choice face much more serious problems that cannot be easily solved with a job or even by finding housing.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, in the United States about 5% of the general population suffers from serious mental illness. Among the homeless in America, 25% meeting the criteria set by the DSM- IV for serious mental illness, with 66% of homeless people reporting some degree mental health problems. In 2006, the percentage of homeless people experiencing serious mental illness increased to 30% . 80% of homeless report a lifelong struggle with substance abuse. It can be assumed with such high rates of substance abuse coupled with high rates of mental illness that a portion of the population is self-medicating through addictive substances. Drug addiction is a battle of its own, but coupled with serious mental health problems, it is not surprising for homelessness to be the end result.

In addition to high rates of mental health problems, homeless people are much more likely to suffer from general health problems. In 1996, Samhsha’s National Mental Health Information Center reported that 46% of homeless people suffer from untreated chronic health conditions. Of the 3,341 homeless shelters across the United States, few if any offer long-term mental health care services. As general population increases, so does the homeless population. Cities like Santa Cruz, California have experienced massive increases in homelessness in recent years, rising 22% between 2009 and 2011. Santa Cruz County offers a wide-range of health services to its homeless community. During the wet winter months, more shelters open up to accommodate for the influx of bodies in need of a warm place to spend the cold nights. The Homeless Garden Projects offers job opportunities to homeless individuals looking to reenter the workforce, while also maintaining a garden open to the community. Organizations like the Homeless Persons Health Project aim to help improve the physical and mental health of the homeless through substance abuse counseling, and self-care assistance, which includes education on medication management, safe sex practices, and first aid. As a major college town and hot spot for young adults, it is especially crucial for these services to be available in Santa Cruz County. Since the recession, the homeless population has grown, especially among young adults who make up the majority of those suffering from unemployment and ultimately the consequences of long-term unemployment. While these services provide valuable information and support, more locations with more options for mental health care services need to become available not only in Santa Cruz, but across the country.

Mental health counseling in combination with other available homeless services help can only benefit the quality of life lived by homeless individuals. Become involved in improving the lives of your local homeless community by either volunteering or donating to your local shelter, soup kitchen, or community outreach program, and make a difference this year. Share how you make a difference or plan to make a difference in the comment section below.

To become more involved with the Homeless Services Center, visit scshelter.org

To volunteer in your area, visit http://www.projecthomelessconnect.com/volunteer.