Here's the solution to homelessness, housing, as you point out. If they weren't a hate group, it would be shocking that TAC doesn't mention that a large percentage of the homeless are veterans. I'm not sure how taking psych meds will give one a home. Seems like taking a major tranquilizer would make one less able to defend oneself on the streets. I'm also not sure psych hospitals today are much better than they used to be.

Glad to hear you will be helping up close and personal and also getting some more paid work writing.

Women are being discharged to homeless shelters with vouchers for somewhere to sleep. One woman told me when she got there it was full[discharged from inpatient psych ward], another one cried to me she couldn't handle living on the streets any longer. The [staff]told that woman "just because you don't have a home doesn't mean we can't discharge you." I witnessed these events myself, and had a discussion with someone within the mental health system in Wash.State re: discharge to shelters. The "system" is aware of it, knows the places are full to capacity, and "they" are stuck within an infrastructure that offers no where else to send ppl., unless it's the state hospital. Housing is rare to find, and as a parent of a nearly 20 year old in the housing system, I can tell you that I am pressured to take her home to reside with me; complete contrast to what staff tell me, is she needs independence. They need her bed open. That simple. I won't soon forget the 2 women that begged not to be sent back to the streets, and I doubt they were able to keep any medication treatement plan in place. TAC has no clue, none at all, either to MOST ALL CITIZENS that homelessness and mental wellness go hand in hand--start with asking WHY the mental health system and the homeless system entities are not working together on this problem. There is a large gap when separate entities don't pay attention to what the other does. Therefore, it baffles me that the homeless funding[shelters, etc] are not basically pissed at the mental health system for over-crowding their shelters by using them as discharge plans for their patients.

I also would like to know where the ppl. being discharged social workers and advocates are? they are also non existent, due to lack of funding. I was told that by a social worker.

I was so shocked when I heard staff telling one 20something woman that the shelter was going to be "a neat place to stay". Give me a fucking break.

Sorry this is long, but this is reality and the 10 year plan will NEVER work until this country takes on mental illess with prevention,therapy,and housing with support. Wonder why some patients are called revolving door patients? because sometimes, being inpatient in a psych unit in Seattle gets you off of the streets at night, a shower, and food. No one listens to patients! [I did].

The best job I ever had as a social worker was for a inter-organizational program which combined housing, social services and supports for people "formerly homeless, mentally ill adults."

We housed people with drug abuse problems, and mental health issues. All were homeless before they entered our program. All were free to use our services or NOT. They stayed housed. The incident of hospitalization went WAY down regardless of whether they were on meds or not. No one was mandated to say a word to us, the social services staff. If they chose to work with us it was purely voluntary.

I worked in two neighboring residences with a total of 80 people in them. Rarely did people get hospitalized. Occasionally people would have a rough time with an "episode" of some sort. We kept a watchful eye and they virtually always came through it without major incident.

It was a beautiful program and I wish there was one where I live now. I wish they existed everywhere.

Give people homes and they do a hell of a lot better. And most of them can live independently. Our people did and they are the very people TAC is talking about. I was in a major city with a ton of homelessness. It works.

TAC is a sick and fucked up organization. They don't know what humane treatment is.

The continuing paradox - State mental health directors, agencies, and programs talk ad nauseum about transformation to a system predicated on the Principles of Wellness and Recovery yet too many mental health consumers find themselves discharged to the streets or the shelters. How many of us could achieve recovery, wellness or even perpetuate our own existence under such circumstances? Would society accept similar discharges of persons not coming off psychiatric units? And why more than eight years after the Olmstead decision is so little being done to develop housing in the community?

Just once I'd like to see a required discharge plan include the following: Patient is to be discharged to the streets where he/she will be sheltered in the Potemkin Village of Recovery & Wellness. [An address where words and deeds never intersect.] It wouldn't be right but at least it would be honest.

Our own dear Sarasota (population 54,000) Florida has been named the #1 meanest city for the homeless. Bravo, Sarasota, Bravo. I think we have some kind of ordinance that fines or imprisons you for outdoor sleeping without "permission", then imprisons you again when you can't pay the fine. Sickening.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-01-13-homeless-cities_x.htm

I just scanned TAC's artilce about the homeless mentally ill in jail. I'm wondering what are they in jail for since neither homelessness nor mentall illness is a crime. Maybe the reason these people are in such distress in jail is because they are being held without reason in which case their persistent pleas to be let out according to the law might be unfortunately labeled as mental illness, or they are people who, while not mentally ill, experience severe emotional stress from being locked in jail, a normal response to being locked in jail regardless of any psychiatric label or lack thereof.