many people also choose to be homeless; whether or not this is a result of another issue like drugs or mental illness is irrelevant. This statement is a

many people also choose to be homeless; whether or not this is a result of another issue like drugs or mental illness is irrelevant. This statement is an oxymoron. If anyone chooses to be homeless their reason is relevant: otherwise they haven't made a choice. Many mentally ill people would rather deal with the disease than the treatment. This is hyperbole. It is also plain wrong. Mental illness is not a lifestyle choice. No-one who has experienced mental illness would choose to live with it. Those that do live with it often don't live for long. Many mentally ill people are incurable. Many mentally ill people are too ill to find treatment. Nobody chooses to live on public transport. The mentally ill are vastly more likely to be the victims of crime: assault, battery, rape. If you were confused and persecuted and in fear for your life: where would you go to seek safety? Seeking refuge from persecution and violence is not my idea of 'choice'.