Homelessness is on the rise in the United States and here in Utah. The Utah Housing Preservation Fund has played a major role in preventing homelessness mainly through their commitment to keep housing affordable. Mental illness is a pervasive issue affecting almost half of people who are homeless. Research shows that the prevention of homelessness is a much more effective antidote in preventing mental illness than the inverse theory. Recognizing the humanity in people who are homeless is a powerful start to alleviating the mental health effects of the homeless population. Maria Guido writes about the homelessness issue, "If we were able to see the humanity in others, the world would be a better place. Some people have endured enough pain for two or three lifetimes. You never know who a person was before life began to break them, and none of us are immune to tragedy."
While mental health is widely found in people who are homeless, the book Homelessness is a Housing Problem: How Structural Factors Explain U.S. Patterns by Professor Gregg Colburn and neuroscientist Clayton Aldern argue that “absolute rent levels and rental vacancy rates are associated with regional rates of homelessness”. Furthermore, common misconceptions that drug use, mental illness, poverty, or local political context do not account for regional variation.
Colburn and Aldern's research also found that rates of homelessness tend to be lower where poverty rates are higher. This is because housing tends to be more affordable in places where poverty rates are higher2 as illustrated by Figure 1. Mississippi's average home cost in 2023, as shown on the graph, was about $175,000 in 2023, with about 3 people who are homeless for every 10,000 people. Mississippi's poverty rate is the highest in the country at 19.7%. Even though there are thousands of people living below the poverty level, housing is affordable enough for them to have a roof over their heads. Utah's average home cost in 2023 was a bit more than $500,000 with approximately 10.9 out of every 10,000 Utahns experiencing homelessness on any specific night. This number is primarily driven by the Salt Lake County population. This represents an increase from the 2020 data that shows that about 9.6 out of every 10,000 Utahns experienced homelessness. It's important to note that the increase in count may be attributed to increased availability of emergency shelter beds in the 2022-2023 winter, and greater coordination and volunteer efforts to participate in the count4. With housing prices on the rise, Utah is finding itself battling the sad truth that homelessness is also on the rise.
Figure 1: Rate of Homelessness v Housing Costs by state in 2023
The Utah Housing Preservation Fund (UHPF) has committed itself to being at the forefront of this battle. It has partnered with St. George City to reserve 4 units in its recent project for transitional housing. These units are for people who were homeless, and have taken steps to getting back on their feet. In addition, The UHPF fights to acquire various types of housing and keep the rent low, avoiding the displacement of individuals who cannot afford high rent rates. Woodlawn and Wasatch View, apartment complexes in Salt Lake County, were owned by a local family before UHPF purchased them. The family only increased rents by $25 per year for tenants, which made rents $300 more affordable than similar apartments. The owners needed to sell the apartments to retire. Instead of selling to a for-profit buyer, they sold to the UHPF who will ensure that the rents will stay affordable to tenants.
Unfortunately, we are seeing that people who cannot keep up with rent rates are unable to find housing. For example, Holladay Hills, an apartment complex in Holladay, Utah, has been receiving a low-income housing tax credit because of its commitment to keep rent affordable. The owners of this complex decided on a more profitable route this next year that includes renovating the complex and raising rent. UHPF sought to buy this property to prevent the displacement of the tenants living in it, and unfortunately were denied sale because the owners wanted to keep the property. The owners are not renewing contracts for their tenants in preparation for their plan to renovate and raise rent. Tenants being displaced were offered affordable housing opportunities from the Fund's available units in the area to avoid potential homelessness.
Statistics show that among those who are homeless in Utah, 40.7% of them are adults with mental illness4. This is an alarmingly high percentage that should not be ignored. While research shows that mental health is not necessarily a leading factor in determining homelessness, its prevalence in the homeless population begs the question: What about homelessness causes mental illness? Dr. Peter Tarr reports, "Depression and bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse disorders are among the most common types of mental illness in the homeless population" The relationship between homelessness and mental illness is complicated. Most researchers agree that a person's homelessness can lead to cognitive and behavioral problems that make it difficult for them to find a job and keep a stable income, thus feeding a vicious cycle where they struggle to escape homelessness because of lack of employment. Many people who are homeless struggle with the loss of relationships with family and friends leading to depression and substance abuse. Less-than-ideal living conditions make it difficult to manage preexisting mental illness, as well as prevent newfound stresses from seriously affecting brain function. Those who are homeless struggle with a lack of restful sleep because of an uncomfortable environment and insomnia due to anxiety. Research shows that a lack of quality sleep can lead to anxiety, depression, and suicidality. It also shows an increased likelihood of mania, psychosis, or paranoia.
Homelessness can have traumatic effects that are passed down from generation to generation. A study done with 17,000 children in Denmark concluded that there is a higher instance of psychiatric disorders, including substance abuse, among adolescents with a mother or both parents with a history of homelessness5.
Escaping homelessness and the mental health effects of homelessness is extremely difficult. As discussed previously, mental illness is not a major factor in why people who are homeless become so. On the contrary, research shows a stronger connection between homelessness causing mental illness. The vicious mental illness cycle people enter when they become homeless is very difficult to escape. Prevention of homelessness can make a significant difference in fighting the mental health crisis in our country.
There is much to be done when it comes to decreasing homelessness in the community. You may feel like you cannot make a difference. Collaborating with government officials and organizations that create more affordable housing or fundraising for creating shelters are impactful approaches to taking on this bear of an issue. If that's not in your bandwidth right now, consider that creating change in your community starts with recognizing the humanity in people who are homeless. They are mothers, fathers, friends, daughters, sons, coaches, listeners, givers, the list goes on. This video campaign called “Project Human Dignity” created by Do Good beautifully illustrates this important point. Why is it important to recognize their humanity? When we understand that they have been subject to the hardships of life just like each of us, we are more willing to feel compassionate because we relate to them. We know what it's like to go through something difficult or be dealt a bad hand. The consequences of their life events may or may not have been in their control, but it doesn't change the amount of grief they are feeling. It's painful. It's humiliating. It's lonely. So how do we recognize their humanity? Andrew Mentok from the Grotto Network offers powerful insight on this subject. He says, "…too look into the eyes of someone who may not know where their next meal is coming from, shows a level of compassion and empathy—and might be the most meaningful thing you can give a person who has almost no worldly possessions." It may be uncomfortable to make eye contact with someone homeless because it forces us to recognize their existence and taps into our innate human ability to care. Making eye contact with them tells them "I see you." Mark Horvath, founder of a homelessness awareness organization called Invisible People, attests to this point. Horvath was once a homeless person. Since recovering from that phase of his life, he started Invisible People to create more awareness about homelessness. He named his organization "Invisible People" because he once watched a man who was homeless accept a pamphlet from a young man. The homeless man was astonished that the young man even acknowledged him and said "What! You can see me? How can you see me? I'm invisible!" Making eye contact or having a simple conversation shows a homeless person that you see them and they are worth talking to or recognizing.
Mental health and homelessness have a complicated relationship. Research supports that mental illness is a prevalent issue for homeless people, and while it can be a reason for homelessness, homelessness more often causes mental illness. Thus, prevention of homelessness is a greater weapon in fighting the mental illness crisis in our country. Utah Housing Preservation Fund has played a key part in preventing individuals and families from being displaced from their homes as they acquire properties and commit to keeping rent affordable. Local organizations like UHPF in collaboration with the state government can fight homelessness in big ways. Easy, everyday ways the average person can help people who are homeless are looking them in the eye and having a conversation. This helps people who are homeless feel seen and valued.
Resources
1 - “Humans of New York Shares One Homeless Man’s Heartbreaking Story.” Scary Mommy, August 2, 2016. https://www.scarymommy.com/humans-of-new-york-homeless-man.
2 - Colburn, Gregg, and Clayton Page Aldern. Homelessness is a housing problem: How structural factors explain U.S. patterns. Oakland, CA: University of California Press, 2022.
3 - “III.B. Overview of the State - Mississippi - 2021.” US Department of Health and Human Services. Accessed August 4, 2024. https://mchb.tvisdata.hrsa.gov/Narratives/Overview/9a62acf8-1ab6-4e9a-b92f-9037110117e7#:~:text=19.7%25%20of%20the%20population%20in,for%20the%20state%20was%20%2443%2C567.
4 - Niederhauser, Wayne. “Annual Data Report on - Workforce Services - Utah.Gov.” Utah Department of Workforce Services, 2023. https://jobs.utah.gov/homelessness/homelessnessreport.pdf.
5 - Tarr, Peter. “Homelessness and Mental Illness: A Challenge to Our Society.” Homelessness and Mental Illness: A Challenge to Our Society | Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, June 6, 2023. https://bbrfoundation.org/blog/homelessness-and-mental-illness-challenge-our-society.
6 - “Sleep and Mental Health.” Mind.org, May 2020. https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/sleep-problems/about-sleep-and-mental-health/.
7 - “Why I Always Look Homeless People in the Eye.” Help the Homeless by Looking Them in the Eyes | Grotto Network, September 7, 2020. https://www.grottonetwork.com/stories/how-to-help-the-homeless-by-making-eye-contact.
8 - Horvath, Mark. “About Invisible People.” Invisible People, January 15, 2024. https://invisiblepeople.tv/about/.