The specific recommendations outlined in our position paper speak to the need to pay special attention to the multitude of barriers faced by individuals who are homeless and have a mental illness. Once achieved, the committee believes that the entire Chicago area will be better positioned to make significant strides toward helping individuals who are homeless and have a mental illness or a co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder gain access to needed services across the region and break the cycle of homelessness.

1. Endorse best practices in the field.
2. Increase the availability of comprehensive outreach and engagement services to individuals and families who are grappling with the issues of homelessness and serious mental illness.
3. Maintain emergency services as a means of meeting basic needs and to facilitate linkage to permanent supportive housing.
4. Direct all existing ACT and CST teams to function as local service platforms from which outreach and engagement to people who are homeless can be mounted.
5. Create more permanent supportive housing units, greater housing accessibility and broader eligibility requirements, and adequate funding for supportive services.
6. Establish presumptive eligibility that would grant Medicaid benefits to people with an obvious serious mental illness.
7. Create specialized funding and technical assistance for special populations who are experiencing homelessness and mental illness.

Download the complete Homeless Action Committee Position Paper here. (PDF)
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