Impacts of Mental Health In Transitional Housing

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Imagine yourself balancing on the ever-shifting ground, there is never enough time to stabilize yourself, to catch your balance, to feel safe. This is what it is like for a houseless person to suffer from mental health in Oregon. 


Transitional housing offers security to houseless individuals, but it's not without its challenges. A significant number of houseless people find themselves entangled in the legal system, with 52% of arrests in 2017 involving houseless individuals (Woolington & Lewis, 2018). Many face recurring arrests, like Brian Lankford, who has been arrested 219 times (Woolington & Lewis, 2018) for offenses often driven by unmet needs rather than malice (TedTalk, 2016). Transportation is a critical obstacle, affecting court attendance, appointments, and the transition to transitional housing.


A staggering 63% of transitional housing residents report mental health issues, yet 20% of those suffering from mental health problems have remained untreated since 2019 (Hayden, 2022). The stress of houselessness, coupled with the challenges of transitional housing, exacerbates the situation.


This predicament disrupts access to education. The lack of reliable internet, cell phone programs, and transportation creates additional hurdles for those seeking to improve their lives (Hayden, 2022). Mental health issues undermine motivation, reliability, and access to education due to the exorbitant costs of medication (Hayden, 2022).


I believe to effectively combat houselessness, we must address unmet needs such as food, water, transportation, mental health support, and education. By providing a stable community with comprehensive resources, we can enhance the dedication and reliability of houseless individuals in fulfilling commitments such as court dates, educational pursuits, and employment. Addressing these layers of the issue is pivotal to the betterment of society.


There is not just one answer to supporting communities, but, being a part of the change is so important!

If you would like to learn more about mental health in the houseless population and volunteer, please click here:

https://joinpdx.org/mental-health-challenges-in-the-homeless-population-the-role-of-public-divestment-in-care-related-resources/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwhL6pBhDjARIsAGx8D5-0IZoGSGfSUY1-WywYkT3Dci0_hhwWkrox20R6ZYTKW_p_9teJoVcaAtDQEALw_wcB



References

https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2022/06/63-of-homeless-portlanders-report-suffering-from-mental-health-issues-and-say-they-need-more-help-false-promises-survey.html


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUa0bIqZ0XU


https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2018/06/portland_homeless_accounted_fo.html



Image Source 

https://www.edutopia.org/article/using-pbl-teach-about-homelessness/

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