The Link Between Homelessness & Mental Health
According to Dr. Peter Darr, out of the more than 500,000 people making up the homeless population in the United States, at least 25% of them are seriously mentally ill and 45% experience any mental illness. Is there a correlation between the two? The simple answer is yes, however, it is a complicated two-way relationship that differs for every individual.
An individual’s mental illness can certainly interfere with daily activities and create trouble maintaining a steady income to afford stable housing. On the other hand, the trauma that accompanies homelessness can also exacerbate an existing mental illness or cause one. The psychiatric distress can also cause increased levels of drug and alcohol use which leads to addiction.
Programs that provide stable housing and behavioral health services have the highest likelihood of improving one’s situation. According to Dr. Darr of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, “services that deliver cognitive and social skill training, particularly in developing and maintaining relationships, would be useful in helping people with mental illnesses and homelessness regain housing.”
What is RISE?
RISE is one such program offered to individuals and families struggling with homelessness or unstable housing and addiction in Cumberland County. The program aids these families in finding and keeping stable housing arrangements as well as provides resources to better their lives and find their future. Essentially, a team of case managers and peer recovery specialists will provide wraparound care that focuses on developing your goals to achieve a Recovered, Independent, Supportive, Empowered lifestyle.
What are Wraparound Services?
Wraparound services refer to a combination of many services that encompass the individual in all fronts of life. RISE offers wraparound services in the form of job readiness, accessing social services, accessing mental health and substance abuse treatment, accessing transportation, accessing childcare, budgeting, and more so that stable housing can be obtained and maintained.
If you or a loved one is struggling with maintaining stable housing or substance abuse, visit our RISE program page to learn more about how Acenda can help or call 856-494-8484. RISE is SAMHSA-funded program that provides services free of charge for individuals in the Cumberland County area.
Sources:
https://www.bbrfoundation.org/blog/homelessness-and-mental-illness-challenge-our-society