No doubt some people become substance dependent because of homelessness, but it’s hard to pin down statistics and causation. One big problem is that all the studies depend on self-reporting. My own personal experience with homeless people I have encountered is that substance abuse and mental illness are prevalent. It’s difficult for the homeless to get the medical and psychiatric care they need. Some people say that we need more shelters. One young woman I met on the streets said that a shelter was the worst place, because of the risk of assault and theft. (She was paranoid or schizophrenic, I believe. But highly intelligent.)
“One young woman I met on the streets said that a shelter was the worst place, because of the risk of assault and theft.”
Even many men feel the same.
My wife worked in the mental healthcare system for 35 years.
I myself volunteered when possible.
There are three levels basically.
The third level are the criminal.
The second are the mentally ill.
Those two levels have several sub levels and cross over into each level.
The first level are those who are homeless because of economic reasons. Very rare those to be criminal, but sometimes resort to drugs-to forget/cope with their misery.
Finland has nearly solved their homeless crisis. The number one issue is HOUSING. HOUSING, HOUSING.
From there, the help can be brought to solve most of the issues for the First level and the second level.
Its layered in the third level as well as the second.
The criminal element has to be addressed through the justice system.
The Second through mental healthcare and BTW, the present private/contracted mental heathcare system is extremely corrupt. That is why we quit.
Just look at the cost to house a inmate in the system these days. So, we want to make all homeless criminal?
Follow Finlands example.