Mental Illness Does Not Cause Homelessness
6 hours ago
- #public-policy
- #housing-crisis
- #homelessness
- 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.