Indicator 2: Proportion of homeless adults
who have serious mental illness (SMI).
National Target: 19 percent.
National Baseline: 25 percent of homeless adults aged 18 years and
older had SMI in 1996.
Target setting method: 24 percent improvement.
Data source: Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness
(PATH) Annual Application, SAMHSA, CMHS.
Persons with mental illness comprise 40-60 percent of the homeless population.
It is estimated that there are approximately 3,600 persons who are homeless
and have a mental disorder in Travis County (CAN, 1997). In order, to achieve
the national objective, Travis County would need to assist an additional 2,400
persons who are homeless. Currently there are new strategies that have been
utilized over the last decade to assist in lowering the number of persons that
are homeless. These support strategies include: outreach, housing, medication
monitoring, psychosocial rehabilitation, and case management. Traditional community
responses have called on persons who are mentally ill and homeless to get jobs
and find housing. These responses do not take into account the mental disorders
that cause some to remain on the streets. In addition, without the appropriate
support services it is unrealistic to expect most persons with mental illness
who are not capable of functioning in mainstream society to maintain their
housing and employment.
Top Of Page
Health Indicators Home Page
Adult Mental Health Home Page
