Serious Mental Illness and Homelessness

Research Summary

Homelessness

People with serious mental illness (SMI) are more likely than the general population to experience homelessness and be victimized by others, become involved with the criminal legal system, experience health complications, and experience premature mortality while unhoused. There are many factors that contribute to elevated rates of homelessness among people with SMI including a shortage of affordable housing units, a lack of timely and effective treatment options, discrimination in housing, and the criminalization of both mental illness and homelessness.

Read the research summary below to learn more about the causes, prevalence, and impact of homelessness among people with SMI.

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