Poverty happens everywhere and anytime. In these economic times homelessness can land on normal people as suddenly as closing a deal or hitting the lottery. Herein lies the paradox... and begs the question - what is normal? "Normal" is often nothing more than our own image or persona projected on another. We have all said "if I were you" in an attempt to help. But how often is our advise taken? Not very. This is because we tell people what WE would and could do and not what THEY would or could possibly be ready to do. We all abide by social norms as a rule, but personal normal is as diverse as fingerprints and snowflakes.
Mental illness in the homeless has always been a snake that eats its own tail. It is the chicken or the egg, the cause and the effect. The new poor are not mentally ill but victims of society's ills.
Our task is not to compell them to be as we but to care for them as "normal" persons ought.
I've just had to take in my son and his girl-friend because they lost there ability to make ends meet. It is going to be a strugle for us all, but it's God... more
You are right about one thing. Homelessness has always meant to society a mentally ill person on a street grate in a large city. But the current recession has shown us this can happen to anyone. If you do not have family to go to you c... more