Mental Illness Does Not Cause Homelessness

7 hours ago

Homelessness rates across U.S. metropolitan areas are primarily predicted by housing market conditions like high rents and low vacancy, not mental illness or addiction.
Mental illness and addiction act as selection mechanisms determining who becomes homeless when housing is scarce and expensive, rather than being root causes at the population level.
Treatment-first approaches are misguided if homelessness is a housing problem; Housing First, which provides housing without treatment preconditions, is more effective and evidence-based.
Structural factors like rising housing costs drive homelessness globally, with no corresponding increase in mental illness or addiction rates in high-income countries.
Solutions include building social housing at scale and using Housing First, as seen in Finland and Scotland, rather than relying on private markets or mandated treatments.

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