The homeless mentally ill are the product of the best of intentions followed by the worst of operations. Their are 3 key reasons why homelessness is so pervasive in our country 1 about 1/3 of us homeless have a untreated brain disorder2 1/3 have a drug-alcohol probleam
and 1/3 are homeless because of a variety of economic explotations.
Unril the late 1950's most seriously mentally ill lived in state mental hospitals. With the introduction of new drugs people were discharged and some could work or live on their own
This is known as deinstitutionalization and it relied on promises using community mental health centers
The growing shortage of low income housing, exacerbated by Reagan Administration policies has also contributede to homelessness. So have changes in the commitment laws whereby it is difficult to get help for brain disordered
Original: Brain Disorders and Homeless Facts