HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL ILLNESS

 In Toronto, 30,000 people use shelters annually with many 1000’s more sleeping on the streets or in parks and ravines. There are 70,000 households on social housing wait lists. An additional 150,000 households are at risk of becoming homeless (defined as paying more than ½ of income for rent).[1]

In a much quoted study,[2] it was found that approximately 66% of homeless people on Toronto’s streets had a lifetime diagnosis of mental illness, roughly 2 – 3 times the rate of the general population. Sixty-six percent had a substance abuse problem with many having both. In total, 86% had either a mental illness or an addiction. To counteract the perception that closing psychiatric hospitals led directly to a rise in the mentally ill homeless, it was found that only 6% had been in an institution in the year immediately prior to becoming homeless, whereas 30% had been in trouble with the law. In a more recent study,[3] a survey of homeless people found that 1/3 became homeless because they couldn’t afford rent and another 1/3 stated that their physical or mental illnesses prevented them from obtaining and keeping housing. The study revealed high levels of physical illness among the homeless with the group being:

• 29 times more likely to have hepatitis C
• 20 times more likely to have epilepsy
• 5 time more likely to have heart disease
• 4 times more likely to have cancer
• 3 ½ times more likely to have asthma
• 3 times more likely to have arthritis or rheumatism and,
• Twice more likely to have diabetes

The research also showed that in the past year:

• 50% had experienced severe depression
• 1 in 10 had attempted suicide
• 1 in 3 had been physically assaulted
• 1 in 8 had been assaulted by police
• 1 in 5 women had been raped or sexually assaulted

This report’s findings on homeless women (21% who were Aboriginal) highlighted the extreme danger of the streets.[4] It found that:

• Homeless women were 10 times more likely to be sexually assaulted
• 37% had been physically assaulted in the past year
• 21% had been sexually assaulted or raped one or more times in the past year
• Homeless women were two times as likely to have been diagnosed with a mental disorder – 50% of those surveyed had a psychiatric diagnosis – the most common diagnosis was depression and anxiety
• 12% had tried to commit suicide in the last year 

[1] Wellesley Institute (2006). Blueprint to end homelessness. Available at: http://wellesleyinstitute.com/theblueprint/

[2] The Pathways to Homelessness study as referenced by Riordan, T. (2004). Exploring the circle: Mental illness, homelessness and the criminal justice system in Canada. Available at: http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/prb0402-e.htm

[3] Street Health Report (2007)

[4] Women and homelessness (2007). The Street Health Report – Research Bulletin #2.