RESPONSE to “IN MY OPINION: Clean and Sober”

RESPONSE: to “Clean and Sober”

By David Shadrick

Introduction

Hello, my name is Reverend David Shadrick but I’d appreciate it if you would just call me Dave. I run a small non-profit called Street Level Resources. I would like to respond to Jennifer’s Troy’s two recent articles; “Homeless Helping Homeless” and her follow-up article, “Clean and Sober.”

For Education

Education is my goal, not conflict. Most people understand that a large part of the homeless population are mentally ill, or are alcoholics or drug addicts, or all three. The reality of homelessness is that 85% of the chronically homeless are mentally ill.  “Chronically homeless” is a category that describes people who are homeless in excess of one year.

Who Are We Talking About?

I’m not sure how the homeless participants for the Kenton Women’s Village were selected.  Did the project contain only handpicked people who complied with certain prerequisites?  Were they required to be clean and sober? Were they on prescribed anti-psychotic medications? The reason I ask is because Jennifer’s results are very good when the demographic for the homeless is applied. One to two participants out of such a group of 14 is good.

85%!!!

As I mentioned a full 85% of the homeless have a diagnosed mental illness.  If that statistic is applied this project’s attendance was amazing.  The Kenton Women’s Village had 14 homeless shelter participants and if 85% of them were mentally ill then statistically only two of them would be able to work in the NewSolutions workshop, or produce a quality product consistently.

Mass Eviction

Mass eviction. That’s what I said. I hope that fact doesn’t surprise you but I’m afraid it will be a revelation to many. Ronald Reagan’s decision to repeal President Carter’s Mental Health System’s Act has proven to be one of the most disastrous decisions by any modern-day president. The repeal was accomplished by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981. With a wish to cut the federal budget and little thought to the long-term effects on the mentally ill, Reagan cut federal funding to mental health and in effect de-institutionalized mentally ill patients nationwide. The effects were disastrous to the  patients, their communities, social service agencies, hospitals and police departments that have been left to deal with the devastating results forty years later.

Locally

In 1995 budget cuts begun with President Ronald Reagan in 1981 landed like a ton of bricks on the financially starved state of Oregon. As a local example Dammasch State Hospital was closed due to funding shortages.  It took nearly a year to move the approximate 1,000 patients living at Dammasch into private sector housing. In many cases that effort failed and many were released directly on to the street.

More And More Homeless

For many patients that had been institutionalized their new home became the streets of Portland. In the passing years the 100 new patients per year that would have gone to Dammasch went without that option. If you, your spouse, or any loved one is diagnosed as mentally ill there are very few beds available in the Oregon.

Compassion

Now back to Jennifer Troy’s articles. Jennifer seems to believe that some people are getting something for nothing and should be working like the rest of us. The mentally ill aren’t in many cases able to work and forcing them into sewing classes or other structured work environment is not the compassionate thing to do. These folks are too fragile to be handled this way.  Although most of them are willing to work, many can only work in areas that don’t exacerbate their illness.  A hard work ethic to get housing cannot be the standard to use when a mentally ill person is involved.

Not At My Rental!

In fact, many of them have disability payments of some sort coming to them, but many are unable to get housing despite being able to afford it.  Landlords don’t like to rent to someone who starts fires in the bathtub or floods the kitchen.

Effin’ Bums

The mentally ill as Jennifer pointed out often suffer from the perception of them as “homeless drug addicts” but in many cases that’s a misunderstanding of what is actually happening. The homeless mentally ill are not on medication or following a care plan. They in fact suffer panic attacks, bi-polar events, voices and delusions. These problems when left untreated can have devastating effects on a person’s overall health. In order to calm their conditions they frequently treat their mental illness with street drugs. This is a phenomenon known as “dual diagnosis”. Many of the homeless suffer not only from their untreated mental illness but also from addiction to street drugs including cocaine, opioids, methamphetamine and heroin.

The Movement

Chronically Homeless

Thanks For The Lazy Journalism

The myth of the homeless drug addict is actually perpetuated by the press who interview the homeless. Their focus is on the 15% who can give them the sound bite they need. In the meantime, there is a schizophrenic, with diabetes, living in a tent watching the gangrene take over his foot.  Since 85% of the mentally ill will never be interviewed by the news media. They don’t exist on TV.

It Still Applies To The 15%

Jennifer is right, getting the homeless housing and employment is essential for the 15% of the homeless who do not suffer from mental health issues.  However, the root problem of finding adequate housing for the mentally ill will have to be done through political lobbying and a political movement that demands  housing for the mentally ill.

Lawsuit In The Works?

In addition, a class action lawsuit pursuing care for the mentally ill, through the Americans With Disabilities Act may need to pressed. Uncle Bill, who has Cerebral Palsy, is not going to die of exposure; but for Aunt Susie it’s okay if she freezes to death because she’s bi-polar.  Be outraged. It should be equal treatment for the physically and mentally ill. The mentally ill are among the most vulnerable populations in our society because most are unable to make sound or reasonable decisions about their own care because of their compromised mental state.  Mental illness should not be a death sentence, but often it is. It’s not fair to let the mentally ill die because they are impaired.  Lawsuits brought against the federal and state governments on the behalf of the mentally ill in this country may be necessary.

That Huge Percentage

Please remember many of the homeless are mentally ill and often physically disabled.  They desperately need housing but they’re not going to be much help with gardening and milking the cows.  I’m not disparaging Jennifer’s beliefs, zeal and passion in any way. In fact I admire her work ethic and her commitment to helping people. I just want to remind everyone who the people are that actually live in those homeless camps.

Thanks, Reverend Dave