I have a problem with the term homeless. As far as I am concerned, the term homeless means somebody whose house burned down or who suffered some emergency. The term now has come to encompass drug addicts, mentally ill (who belong in institutions) plus a few others. (Have any of you had to run from a mentally deranged homeless person? Well, I have).
Longhairgal (and anyone else who may feel this way), I seriously hope that you reconsider your statement above. Since some have already written about drug addicts/ alcoholics and this is not part of my personal experience, and since I have been labeled "mentally ill", I feel a need to respond to this.
I hope that you don't really feel that the "mentally ill" - whether on the streets or not - belong in institutions. If you've ever been in one in the States, you might even feel that no one belongs in an institution - they are a nightmare and foster a violence. I have never been a violent person, and was labeled with mental illness. Most labeled with mental illness are not violent, homeless or not.
I was almost on the streets. The only reason why I wasn't was because someone kindly let me live with them until I could get public housing. I was very lucky regarding this, as I didn't have family to stay with. Before I found someone to stay with, I called up all the homeless shelters in the area and they were either full or I didn't qualify because I wasn't a part of a certain population being targeted. There's a long waiting list for public housing, so that was not an option. I was on public disabilty benefits and it was impossible to find an unsubsidized place to live within those means.
I realize that you no one on this board has come out and said that "mentally ill" people are more dangerous than the rest of the population. However, to me, the number of statements regarding violence have implied this. Here are some links to consider. There are far more, but these two get the point across.
Link to National Mental Health Association. The study listed finds that people labeled with mental illness are no more violent than the general population. http://www.nmha.org/position/ps17.cfm
Here's a link to a study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, a study done by Northwestern University that shows that shows that peole labeled with mental illness are more likely to be *victims*, rather than perpetrators of violence. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-08/nu-smi072505.php
Just one more general note on public housing. The idea of public housing is a great thing and works very well for some people. However, it doesn't always turn out that way. I live in a subsidized building and am being stalked by someone in my building. I am not getting appropriate assistance with this matter, even though people know that it really is happening. It is very scary. Because of this situation, I was given a Section 8 voucher (a public housing voucher that moves with me, the rent subsidy I have now is only good in this building). Unfortunately, most landlords around here won't like those, even though not taking the vouchers is illegal. I was unable to find a place with the Section 8 and then my voucher expired (I no longer have Section 8 and can't get another for several years). No one is either willing or able to help me with this situation. Putting it extremely mildly, this does not put me in a very good situation.
I really hope that generalizations can stop. I know that my situation absolutely does not speak for everyone with current or former housing issues, but I also know that I'm not the only one who goes thru stuff like this. Thanks to whoever takes the time to read this. :)
Peace,
Sushi Crow
