Homelessness, Mental Illness, and Substance Abuse

Casey Burke

Homelessness in the U.S.

• 67.5% of homeless individuals are male• 76% of homeless individuals are single

• 42% of homeless individuals are African American• 39% of homeless individuals are Caucasian• 13% of homeless individuals are Hispanic• 4% of homeless individuals are Native American• 2% of homeless individuals are Asian

Homelessness in the U.S.

• 26% of homeless individuals are considered mentally ill• 13% of homeless individuals are physically disabled• 19% of single homeless individuals were victims of

domestic violence• 40% of homeless individuals were Veterans• 2% of homeless individuals were HIV positive• 38% report issues with Alcohol abuse• 26% report the use of other drugs

Homelessness in the U.S.

• 3.5 million people are likely to experience homelessness in a given year.

• Differing definitions of homelessness include people sleeping on the streets or in shelters, staying with friends or family members, in temporary housing, in hotels/motels, in campgrounds, or in jails, hospitals, or other institutional settings.

Homelessness in the U.S.

• Chronic homelessness is defined by a person living on the street or in the shelter system for at least 6 months out of the year.

• There are between 150,000 and 200,000 chronically homeless individuals in the U.S.

--Statistics from the National Coalition for the Homeless (nationalhomeless.org) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (homelessness.samhsa.gov)

“Give the homeless the kind of change they can really

use.”

“Give the homeless the kind of change they can really

use.”

“Give the homeless the kind of change they can really

use.”

Which Came First?

or the

Is a person mentally ill because of trauma they have suffered?

Or

Has the person suffered trauma because of their mental illness?

Which Came First?

Do people with mental illness use illicit drugs to self-medicate?

Or

Has illicit drug use caused the person’s mental illness to begin with?

Which Came First?

Did the person become homeless because of mental illness?

Or

Did they become mentally ill because of the trauma of homelessness?

Which Came First?

The Origins of Mental Illness

• Predisposition to Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Disorders

The Origins of Mental Illness

• Predisposition to Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Disorders

• Orchid and Dandelion Children

The Origins of Mental Illness

• Predisposition to Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Disorders

• Orchid and Dandelion Children

The Origins of Mental Illness

• Predisposition to Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Disorders

• Orchid and Dandelion Children

• The Westernization Mental Illness

The Origins of Mental Illness

• Predisposition to Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Disorders

• Orchid and Dandelion Children

• The Westernization Mental Illness

What Can We Do?

• Encourage your city’s government to look for more person-centered solutions to solving homelessness

What Can We Do?

• Encourage your city’s government to look for more person-centered solutions to solving homelessness

• Receive people living on the streets with compassion, rather than fear.

Thank you.