The March 2003 homeless census by the Tri-Jurisdictional Collaboration
was in two parts: the census count and the survey of about 1000
people. The census simply counted people. The survey provided information
about the homeless from which we can obtain extremely limited data
about those with a mental illness.
The survey was based solely on information provided by the homeless
people—self-reporting and that was by design. What is surprising
is that the sample was not random, nor were the number of people
surveyed in proportion to the numbers on the streets versus sheltered,
male vs. female, etc. The report acknowledges this when it states ”the
extent to which the survey respondents compare to or differ from
the homeless population in general is unknown.” Hopefully,
the findings will be used cautiously and not as if they were fully
reflective of the 6956 homeless people in the census.
The survey, based solely on self-reporting, showed 6.2%
of the 993 who were asked, “What are the primary reasons that caused
you to become homeless?” mentioned “mental illness.” It
was the purpose of the survey to get the opinions of the homeless
men and women themselves.
Most national experts estimate that about a third of the nation’s
homeless population has a mental illness. An estimate is all we
will ever have since it is not possible to determine either the
mental condition of every homeless person and even if it could
be done, no one could determine if that condition was the main
reason that caused homelessness. Those who conducted the census
and survey understand that self-reporting is not reliable in determining
what percent of homeless people became homeless due primarily to
a mental illness. Though the one-third estimate appears to be generally
accepted, does the one third apply to the entire homeless population
or just adults? Does it include anyone with a mental illness, or
only those with a serious, chronic mental illness? These questions
are rarely answered by anyone.
If the one-third estimate is applied to the total homeless count
taken during the March 2003 census, then it can be said there are
2295 homeless people with a mental illness. If the one-third is
applied only to adults, then there are 2042 with a mental illness
(6190 adults vs. 766 children) If the self-reported 6.2% of the
homeless as having a mental illness is accepted (the percent of
homeless in the survey that specifically mentioned “mental
illness” as the primary reason for their being homeless)
and that percent is applied only to adults, then there are 383
homeless people with a mental illness.