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>It was eye opening how rampant mental disease is among the homeless Something I read some time ago that really resonated and I'll (badly) paraphrase: We thin

>It was eye opening how rampant mental disease is among the homeless Something I read some time ago that really resonated and I'll (badly) paraphrase: We think that a person becomes homeless when they spend their last dollar and have none left for housing. But that's not true, and in fact they become homeless when they spend their last social connection and have none left for housing. Framing it this way, for me, it became easier to understand why, in societies without strong safety nets for those with mental illnesses, homelessness and mental illness is so strongly correlated. Such people run out of doorways they can darken, couches they can surf, and then have no further fallback option short of being out on the street. This isn't the only situation someone becomes homeless, of course. But it seems a common one.

smelendez 9y ago
This is an important point. And weak ties get broken, too. (I've never been homeless, but I've seen it happen to friends and acquaintances). Things like going to church, browsing in a bookstore or stopping by the corner bar to watch the game or Game of Thrones are doable when you're just poor: go light on the collection plate, read a book and put it back, or nurse a $1 Coke all night. Walking in with all your possessions and in need of a shower is a different story. You might have friends who will let you wash up and drop off your bag, but can you get to them easily? Are they going to be home? Maybe you should just head to your campsite early and save that favor for when you really need it.