Myths vs Reality
True or False: Most people experiencing homelessness are houseless by personal choice.
False
Many people experiencing mental illness, end up in ______ instead of treatment.
Jail or prison.
What model gives housing before requiring treatment?
Housing First.
Name one common misconception about mental illness.
Examples: "People experiencing mental illness are dangerous," "Mental illness = weakness," etc.
Pretty much anything you just said. LOL
What is one everyday action a person can take to reduce stigma around mental illness?
Listening, using respectful language, advocating for care, supporting policies, AND MUCH MORE!!
Good Job!
Myth or Reality: “People could get help if they truly wanted it.”
Myth — access barriers (cost, beds, insurance, stigma) are very real.
People experiencing houselessness are often treated through emergency rooms instead of what type of care?
Ongoing mental health treatment / outpatient care.
Instead of police, mental health crises can be handled by __________ teams.
Mobile crisis teams / mental health crisis teams.
What does society misunderstand most about houselessness?
Examples: It's mostly caused by structural factors, not “bad choices”; mental illness and trauma are major drivers.
Good Job!
Name one group disproportionately impacted by houselessness.
Veterans, LGBTQ+ youth, people with disabilities, Black and Indigenous people.
True or False: Mental illness is only an individual problem, not a societal one.
False — it affects whole communities.
What is one major barrier preventing people from accessing mental health treatment?
Cost, lack of insurance, transportation, waitlists, stigma.
Which model treats mental illness as a community responsibility rather than an individual failure?
Public health model.
What emotion do YOU feel when you see someone experiencing houselessness?
Example: empathy, sadness, discomfort, frustration, compassion.
What does the acronym “CPS” stand for in social services?
Child Protective Services.
Name one factor outside personal control that contributes to houselessness.
Examples: housing cost, disability, unemployment, trauma, lack of family support.
“We don’t have enough beds” reflects what kind of issue?
System underfunding/underinvestment.
Name one long-term support proven to reduce houselessness.
Permanent supportive housing, peer support, harm reduction, case management.
What does “community responsibility” mean to you in the context of mental health?
Any thoughtful definition related to shared care will do. :)
True or False: Social workers often serve as first responders to mental health crises.
True.
30–40% of the houseless population lives with what condition?
Severe mental illness.
Which level of government could significantly expand mental health services?
Federal (State acceptable).
What country dramatically reduced houselessness through Housing First public policy?
Finland.
If you had $10 million to improve mental health care for homeless individuals, what would you fund first?
Housing First, mobile crisis teams, clinics, peer support, outreach, etc.
Which U.S. city has one of the highest houselessness rates per capita?
Los Angeles or San Francisco (Honolulu also acceptable depending on source).