Over 48,000 people are homeless in Los Angeles, with a high concentration in the Skid Row area. Mental illness is much more prevalent among the homeless population, with 32.7% suffering from a mental illness compared to 15.7% of the general population. The community aims to help the mentally ill homeless population of Los Angeles by providing services such as therapy, healthcare, and job counseling to get them off the streets and establish a new life.

1. The Mental Health Community by Brooke Harrison
Staggering Statistics:
o Los Angeles, CA, estimated 48,000
people homeless, 50 block area called
Skid Row has more homeless people
than the whole homeless population
of San Francisco.
o 32.7% of people on the streets suffer
from a mental illness, compared to
the 15.7% of non-homeless living
with mental illness (Audrey).
o 11% of homeless patients suffer from
Schizophrenia (Audrey).
o 14 million Americans have a period of homelessness throughout their life time
(Coldwell).
o 30%-60% of individuals with a serious illness are not taking the medications they
need to
o 15.3% of jail inmates have been homeless in the past year, 7.5-11.3 times higher
than the general U.S. population. Among those homeless inmates mental illness, was
10%-22% more prevalent than non-homeless inmates (Greg).
The Community:
o Mission: to get the mentally ill off the streets and have the opportunity to start a
new life
o Target those with psychosis problems in Los
Angeles, CA
o Patients will be given responsibilities differing
by how much they improve
o A staff of licensed clinical psychologists and
psychiatrist will look after the patients
o Services we will provide: individual therapy,
group therapy, psychiatric help, health check-ups, job
counseling, family therapy sessions, and more
o We would like to give these people a healthy lifestyle, safety, and peace of mind.