caregivers searched for more humane and effective ways of treating the mentally ill, partially out of concern for their patients’ civil rights (Nichelason 1). Their efforts resulted in a plan to transfer the care of mental patients from state institutions to community based mental health centers. Instead of being institutionalized, mentally ill people who were not considered a threat to themselves or others, could live in their homes and receive out patient care at mental health centers in their own communities. Out patient care was care given through regular visits rather then admission. This was a system that would also save taxpayers money (Nichelason 1). As a result, thousands of mentally ill people were released from mental institutions with the promise of support from community mental health centers. Patients were released from state mental institutions with their small bundle of belongings, a weeks work of medicine and bus fare. Many who had no place to go and no one to go to ended up on the streets (Nichelason 1).For many of the homeless their misfortune was caused by external forces. Although many people lost their homes in fires or other natural disasters, more have become homeless because of over 1million SRO (single room occupancy) units (Hurwitz 3). These SROs were lost in the 1970s. SROs were demolished to make way for urban renewal, upgrading of neighborhoods, and the construction of condominiums and luxury apartments.There is no single reason that people become homeless. Some are alcoholics or drug addicts. Some have just been released from jail and have no job and who where to go. A fire or natural disaster may have destroyed a family’s house. Someone else might have AIDs, is unemployed, and cannot pay the medical bills. These are just a few out of many of the circumstances that can cause people to become homeless.Along with the rise in the number of homeless and the change in composition of t...
