A common reason I hear about why people are homeless is because they are “druggies.” The severe mental illness rate amongst the longterm unhoused is around 30% and about half of those have a substance use disorder.
Interestingly, 5.6% of the entire U.S. population will meet the criteria for a severe mental health disorder at some point in their lives – and close to half will have any kind of mental health disorder – and drug and alcohol use disorders are common across the board.
So both the unhoused and housed have mental health and drug/alcohol issues that are treatable. However, the difference between these groups lies in access to mental health services.
If you are on Medicaid, as most of the unhoused are or are qualified to be, access to psychiatrists and therapists are limited. Once you finally get an appointment, they may be only monthly, not ideal for making consistent progress.
Hope story: A 65-year-old man has a longstanding history of mental health issues (anxiety, depression, PTSD). He lived on the streets for seven years without a phone, a computer or a car. But, he was connected with a volunteer advocate who walked him through the long process of obtaining Social Security benefits (both retirement and disability combined for less than $1,000/month). He began receiving benefits, andhe moved into an apartment when he finally got a housing voucher. While it has not been an easy journey from the streets to an apartment, he has been able to keep regular medical appointments, stop smoking and using alcohol, and walk regularly to the grocery store.
Colorado Springs’ nonprofits provide street outreach workers and community volunteers that are doing an amazing job of connecting with the unhoused and providing resources for mental health and substance abuse treatment. But with funding cuts resources are being cut too.
Challenge: Remember mental health and substance abuse issues are treatable. Please support local organizations doing the outreach that is needed for the unhoused.
