Most of us write off homeless people as being one or more of
the many traits depicted above. When we see homeless people in their tents, or
out in the road begging for money, I think it’s fair to say most of us assume
(or hope) that we wouldn’t end up in that situation. The reality is, it’s much
easier than you’d think. The problem with homelessness is that it’s not easy to
pull oneself out of. For just a moment, close your eyes and think about what it
would be like to not have a home. You don’t have a shower, so your skin and
hair are constantly dirty and exposed to germs. There’s no laundry, there’s no
personal hygiene. There’s no scrolling on social media (for the most part). No
nights out, no dating, no binging TV shows. No heat in the winter. No way to
brush your teeth. No way to know where your next meal will come from. If you
started off homeless without a mental illness, it’s almost a guarantee you will
develop one.
This is why the need for community mental health is so
needed. Oregon doesn’t have it perfect, there are many flaws in the system and
room for improvement – but let’s focus on the positives. I urge you all to
become familiar with the resources available for community mental health in
your county. Not only can this help any homeless people that you feel the urge
to help, but can assist you or a loved one in the future. The only way to improve
community mental health services is to be aware of the systems in place,
analyze how they are broken, and taking action from there.
I encourage all of you to refer to the website for whichever county you live in, and become familiar with the services. Look at volunteer opportunities for the Crisis Line in your county!
I encourage all of you to refer to the website for whichever county you live in, and become familiar with the services. Look at volunteer opportunities for the Crisis Line in your county!
For Washington County, Oregon:
For Multnomah County, Oregon:
For Clackamas County, Oregon:
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