Is it legal for the mentally ill to be left on the streets? So many are homeless. What services are available?

Question

These poor people can't take care of themselves. Are there public services that can help shelter them?

Answer 1

Some--not all--of the homeless do have psychological problems and can't take care of themselves. Until the 1970s, these were usually institutionalized--virtually imprisoned. Advocates at the time pushed fo an end to this ssstem--instead, they favored a support system that would allow these people to live more normal lives. Athough its a little more involved than this, a central strategy was to create resedences where these people could live--with adequate supervision, thus enabling them to take some responsibility for themselves and in many cases, hold down jobs, etc.

In the 1970s, however, while the "de-institutionalization" mvement did succeed in ending the abusive institutionalizization practices (and they were abusive),policy makers reneged on promises to set up the kind of support systems needed. And that's where things stand today.

Except that no one in public office--Democrat or Republican--is willing to acknowledge our failure as a nation to address these problems--or to keep that promise of support that haas never been fulfilled. Its easier to blame these unfortunates than admit our own failure.

Answer 2

The question is not if its legal, but "is it humane"? There are mental health agencies in every principality and city. The thing is there should be someone who is interested enough to take the person or have the authorities pick them up. Some people are mentally ill and really don't realize that they are. They are depressed, suffer from bi-polar (manic depressive), ADD, etc. Medication, permanent shelter, and a payee (someone who is responsible for handling their income) usually is a start to overcoming these problems. If you really want to help, learn more, the government offers funding to help with this type of thing. You don't have to be a mega-agency to help. I know a person who has been saying that they are going to do something of this nature for years, and have not had the time or made the time to do so. I am sure there are people who would be willing to help if they are made aware of your feelings regarding the homeless mentally ill.

Answer 3

I work at a homeless shelter and we always get people that need help becuase of thier mental issues they can't take care of themselves and usually haven't had thier medicine in a while so once we have a big issue with them we call this agency to come and take them and to do a evaluation but usually they just give them a week of meds and put them back on the streets or in another homeless shelter....i wish they would stop closing mental hospitals and we wouldn't have this big of a problem, but we're to worried about what other people are doing in other countries that we aren't helping our own people.

Answer 4

Not only is it legal, but our federal government caused it many years ago by shutting down support for mental health facilities. New laws say that a mentally ill person cannot be forced to take medication or stay in a facility. Many of them were OK as long as they were on medication, released, ceased taking medication and now are on the street, refusing public shelters available due to hallucinations and paranoia. It is a pitiful situation. T

Answer 5

ij the US it is a pitiful shameful situation for the mentally ill. They need shelter and regualr medications ,often a structured life but instead are placed in prison or the streets to lanquish and become victims of drug use and predators. Then they are readmitted to an acute facility and are chided and disparaged for not following their treatment plans. Bite me.
We have abandonned them and their families and said-you are not worth it. Better if you were mentally retarded or handicapped than mentally ill The dark ages attitude of being possessed is more the norm now than any form of modern evidence based treatment and services. I never cease to eb amazed at the horror families go through as the system fails their lvoed ones over and over again, with smugness-as if mental illness will never strike them or their kin.