This is a good example that a lot of people don’t realize. Like for example, my uncle is a massive schizophrenic and has been homeless a couple of times. He repeatedly refuses to go to any type of shelter because he doesn’t trust anyone there.
Then my cousin got into drugs and refuses to go to any type of shelter because of their strict no-drug policy. So he would rather be on the street than get help because when he’s on the street he can at least get drugs. he would rather jump from friends place to friends place or sleep in a vehicle than try to better his life and use the shelter as a jump point.
Of course these are niche cases. I do think the majority of the people who are homeless would rather have it as a jump point or a place to get started. But there are definitely cases of people who aren’t going to go regardless.
gibmiser@lemmy.world 5 days ago
I worked homeless services for 10 years. Most homeless people are “normal” and get help and get off the street. The chronically homeless are like the people you described.
My feeling is that for both the substance users and the mentally ill the only thing that really works is being ready to help them when they finally are ready. Sometimes that happens in jail or the hospital. Sometimes they get fed up and want to try to change. Either way, forcing them to change doesn’t really work.