Technical Report Writing: Homelessness and Mental Health Analysis

This technical report investigates the significant correlation between homelessness and mental illness in the United States. The report begins with an executive summary highlighting the prevalence of homelessness and the challenges faced by homeless individuals, particularly those with mental health issues. It emphasizes the need for research to inform effective intervention programs. The report analyzes primary data from a survey and secondary data from existing studies to establish the link between homelessness and mental illness. Key findings include the high prevalence of mental illness among the homeless population, the lack of access to treatment, and the fact that those with mental illness are often victims of violence. The report also highlights the importance of integrated interventions that address both homelessness and mental health issues. The report includes a source analysis of a journal article, summarizing its findings and emphasizing the need for a combined approach. The report then presents a memorandum to the city council advocating for increased funding for supportive and independent housing to combat the adverse impact of homelessness on mental health. The author proposes greater funding for supportive housing and independent housing for people struggling with homelessness issues to help eliminate the adverse impact on mental health.

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Technical Report Writing
Name
Institution

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Part 1: Executive Summary
Homelessness is a critical issue in the US. Reports indicate that close to half a million
individuals spend their night in inhabitable places such as shelters, abandoned buildings,
sidewalks, and parks. Typically, these individuals encounter extreme difficulties and trying
situations. Multiple policies and interventions have been created by government agencies, non-
governmental organizations, and other social work agencies in an attempt to address the
situation. However, the situation keeps exacerbating, with more and more homeless people
facing challenging situations upon each passing day. There is a consensus that there is a need for
additional research such as this one. This is to generate more knowledge on the problem and
hence lead to a solution. The primary basis of this report is the analogy that certain factors
contribute to homelessness. Additionally, these elements must be considered in designing
intervention programs to enhance the efficiency of these policies. One such critical factor, which
is the main focus of this report, is mental illness. Research indicates that mental illness is one of
the key contributors to homelessness. Also, on the vice-versa, the strain associated with
homelessness increases people’s vulnerability to mental illness. Therefore, this report attempts to
establish a clear link between the issue of homelessness and mental illness, thus show that the
two problems reinforce each other. The primary goal here is to convince policymakers to factor
in this link as they create interventions to address the two issues.
The author gathers data from two essential sources. First is primary data, where they
conduct a survey by administering a questionnaire to 30 participants present in two regions. The
second information source entails secondary data where they present findings from previous
studies carried out on the relation between mental illness and homelessness. The results are then
presented through a combination of both text discussions and visuals to enhance their clarity and

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conciseness. From the research, there were five essential insights acquired. First, is that one in
four homeless individuals have a mental illness. Also, across American cities, mental illness
ranked as the third leading cause of homelessness. Another insight is that most homeless
individuals who have mental illness lack sufficient access to treatment and care. Additionally,
while individuals with mental illness are stereotyped as violent perpetrators, the study found out
that these individuals are significant victims of violence. The final finding, which is a critical
finding, shows that better outcomes are achieved when mental illness case management efforts
are merged with housing interventions. Notably, from these findings, it is clear that homelessness
is significantly interlinked with mental illness. Thus, policymakers must create interventions that
address both issues to guarantee a better outcome for individuals experiencing these issues.

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Part 2: Source Analysis
Source
Narendorf, S. (2017). Intersection of homelessness and mental health: A mixed methods study of
young adults who accessed psychiatric emergency services. Children And Youth Services
Review, 81, 54-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.07.024
Quotation
According to Narendorf (2017), “Homelessness was both a facilitator and a barrier to
successfully accessing mental health services to manage mental health symptoms. Findings
highlight the interconnection of homelessness and mental health and their common relationship
with additional underlying risk factors.”
Paraphrase
As per the source, there is a strong interlink between homelessness and mental health.
From this interlink, various risk factors related to the two issues have emerged. Where, for
example, evidence shows that homelessness significantly affected access to mental health
services. Whereby, it can act either as a facilitator or a barrier to access to these services.
Summary
The journal article by Narendorf (2017), seeks to establish an intersection between
homelessness and mental health through a mixed approach. Narendorf (2017) examines cases
and data related to young adults going through homelessness and mental health issues. As per the
article, the factors contributing to psychiatric crisis and homelessness were similar. This includes
factors such as inadequate support networks, substance abuse, and trauma. Also, the majority of

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people with mental illness who were also homeless were not keen on accessing treatment.
However, in some cases, homelessness acted as a motivation to seek help and treatment. The
article thus establishes a strong relationship between the two issues. Therefore, the author calls
for an integrated approach when designing and providing interventions to the two problems.