Let's not forget that during the Reagan era there was a big push to de-institutionalize the mentally ill, and that push came from mental health care providers w

Let's not forget that during the Reagan era there was a big push to de-institutionalize the mentally ill, and that push came from mental health care providers who recognized that the hospitals for the mentally ill were terrible places. They pressed to move people in the smaller homes in communities where they could get support and care and still be near their families. President Reagan and his administration, of course, were fully behind closing the publicly-funded mental health institutions, but were also not about to spend money on anything to give the necessary care. As a result, untold numbers of people were turned out of hospitals and left to fend for themselves. There was no safety net, no place to go. Reagan demonized the homeless and came up with the myth of the welfare mom driving a Cadillac. And here we are today. Millions needing care but nowhere to go, living on the streets and unable to get stable enough to make a living or even afford their medications. The system is dysfunctional, yes. It was designed to be that way.