mental illness
Mental health challenges are both a cause and a consequence of homelessness. In the United States, a significant portion of the homeless population lives with serious mental illness—conditions that often go untreated due to a lack of stable housing, coordinated care, and access to services.
According to the 2024 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress, nearly 25% of people experiencing homelessness live with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, chronic depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Other research indicates that up to 45% of individuals experiencing homelessness have some form of diagnosable mental health condition within a given year
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How Mental Illness Contributes to Homelessness
Serious mental illness can interfere with a person’s ability to:
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Maintain employment or steady income
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Navigate public benefits or healthcare systems
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Form and sustain relationships with family, friends, or caregivers
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Manage basic tasks like medication adherence, hygiene, and household upkeep
Without proper treatment and support, individuals may experience disconnection from social networks and repeated hospitalizations or institutional stays, increasing their vulnerability to housing instability or homelessness
The Vicious Cycle of Street Life and Psychiatric Crisis
Living without a home worsens mental health conditions. People experiencing homelessness are frequently exposed to trauma, violence, sleep deprivation, and stigma. Without safe, stable shelter, it's nearly impossible to manage medications or attend appointments.
This leads many individuals into cycles of crisis care—emergency rooms, psychiatric centers, detox facilities, and incarceration—systems that often fail to provide long-term recovery or housing solutions.
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Supportive Housing as Mental Health Care
At Housing and Services, Inc. (HSI), we believe housing is healthcare. Our permanent supportive housing model is built to address both mental health and housing instability—offering people not just a place to live, but a place to heal.
We provide:
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On-site social services and care coordination
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Access to behavioral health support
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A trauma-informed, Housing First approach
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Stability without preconditions, so tenants can engage in care when they’re ready
Supportive housing helps individuals living with mental illness regain independence, restore relationships, and improve their quality of life—while also reducing costly emergency service use and shelter stays.
53% of HSI's tenants come to our buildings with histories of mental illness. 100% of them now have on-site
access to psychiatric services.