What should we do with homeless mentally ill?
351743
These 96 hr holds are ridiculous for mental patients the Dr. don't have time to evaluate them thoroughly and then they turn them back on the streets.  They are like little children and nowhere to go IT IS SAD. Our politicians cut fundings for them.  And their isn't enough hospitals or facilities to take care of them all.  \n  They need facilities and clothing and good evaluations and to be treated humanly.  I guess since most of them don't vote politicians can afford to look the other way.sad but true.
801639
No solution. If you create free housing for the homeless, more and more people will take advantage of it. This will drive more and more homeless people to the big cities, and your free housing will always run out of space. Plus, you are encouraging more people not to work hard and just take advantage of free housing.
748526
If he has depression and suicidal thoughts....he is mentally ill. Do you want to spend the rest of your life taking care of him as he progressively gets worse?
517367
bring her at nearest mental hospital dude...
679025
You mean there are homeless shelters for other than people?
438846
Look in your local phone book for homeless shelters..or call your crisis hot lines.. Or go to a church an talk to someone there.\n\n\n\n\nGod bless
921673
When I see a vagrant, I remember quickly that most of us are less than 1 month away from being forced into that situation.  People are homeless for a variety of situations.  Alot of people have mental health issues, and lets face it, this country horribly fails at taking care of its own.
1165187
Excellent question. Though there are some homeless people who are simply lazy, the issue is much more complex than conservatives would have you think. Even if the person is a lazy bum, maybe they have children. Should their children have to live on the street because their parents are lazy? I think not. As far as being mentally ill, this is true also; however, I fail to see what it has to do with the question. So, mentally ill people should be left starving and homeless? In the richest country in the world?? It is ridiculous and it is sad that our government is more concerned with immoral wars and increasing their own wealth than helping the poorest among us. And all the while sending billions in aid to other countries. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with helping poor people from ANY country; however, American citizens should come first. No American should be homeless or hungry. No American citizen should be unable to see a doctor because of a lack of insurance. I will repeat, we live in the RICHEST country in the world and we let our own people suffer like this while at the same time rushing to "liberate" Iraq at a cost of billions of dollars. It is shameful.
497125
u should go feed homeless people for a day
324660
I'd commit that person to a mental hospital.  It seems like the only reasonable thing to do.
743999
Ask the emergency people to request crisis counselors to also respond... they might be already depending on the situation.
183886
mental illness,lack of money due to not having a job.
545556
Can't be done.  Human nature is greedy and acquisitive on one hand, and lazy on the other.  I've worked with homeless folks in a couple of large cities, and in the US at least, many of the homeless I've encountered are unemployed by choice -- they don't want to live 'the straight life.'  They don't want to follow directions from a boss; they don't want to get up early in the morning and work all day; temporary help is available to get them back on their feet but they simply choose not to do what it takes.  Some of them admit to making several attempts: getting a place to stay, getting a job, getting decent clothes to wear to work, and then after a few weeks dropping out because they didn't like the lifestyle.\nMany others are unemployable because of mental illness, retardation, or other reasons, and that's a different issue.  But the lazy and character-deficient will create a permanent underclass even if we find a way to take care of the rest.
345632
I donate frequently to the homeless shelter, work in the soup kitchen as a volunteer, etc.\nMost homeless shelters will gladly accept clothing, blankets, pillows, toilet paper, dishes, beds, and just about ANYTHING you can think of (toothbrushes, combs, soap).
281763
I'd prefer that they use the money for food, clothing, shelter, toiletries etc. Someone suggested giving out $5 fast food gift certificates instead of money and that sounds like a great idea.\n\nI certainly don't like to encourage harmful habits but out of sympathy for their psychological plight--since I know they may face hopelessness and despair-- I give to provide any kind of comfort and support I can in a hard world.\n\nYes, I do sometimes give money to the homeless knowing they will likely buy booze.
107385
Take your parent, go find a homeless person (or more than one) and ask them what they need that you can give them.  Another idea is to find the head of places that already help the homeless, and ask them either (1) what you can do to help the homeless or (2) what you can do to help the people who are already helping the homeless.  I suggest you talk to these people, you could probably do so via email or on the phone, get some ideas, and chose one of those!  \n\nOther ideas: If you are in a cold area collect coats, shoes, blankets, heavy clothes to distribute.  They need those at this time very badly.\n\nCollect money to donate to a shelter.  Have a bake sale and give anything not sold to the homeless.  Use some other fundraiser for this purpose. \n\nGood luck!
713767
Here are some things to do:\n- Go to your community services office and sign up for assistance and food stamps.\n- Go to your community MHMR office (Mental Health/Mental Retardation) and ask for a caseworker to be assigned to help you through the various other services and to qualify you for counseling\n- Go to the Red Cross and sign up for emergency food, and for gifts for your children for X-Mass.