This past week we discussed the many problems that people with homelessness face and how much of it is correlated to mental illness. My hometown of Baltimore Maryland struggles greatly wit this problem. Baltimore Maryland has more than 4,000 men, woman, and children that experience homelessness. Families represent one-third of the homeless population nationally and especially in Baltimore.
Homelessness in Baltimore isn’t a new thing, it has been a ongoing problem for years. Until recently Baltimore has been trying to help the homeless verse relocate them. A common issue was the relocation and use of force to push homelessness out of the public eye away from stadiums and places frequently traveled. Another issues that accommodates the homeless population of baltimore is the opioid crisis. Opioids has taken the nation by storm and have greatly affected Baltimore especially the homeless who turn towards drug use as a coping mechanism for there mental health or where prescribed it and became addicted.
The times are changing though as people have come to the realization that this problem isn’t going to go away just by ignoring it. You must treat the homeless like people not animals. Listen to there stories learn from there experiences and move forward with change. Helping the homeless with mental illness isn’t just helping our city, but also helping us understand mental illness and how it affects people.
Baltimore has taken steps to prevent homelessness as well. By assisting families and people to help keep their homes and keep them off the streets. By providing financial assistance to prevent evictions people can stay off the streets. Also once people do become homeless there are organizations and churches ready to step in and help.
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