ADDICTION, MENTAL ILLNESSES CONTRIBUTE TO HOMELESSNESS

Earlier this month, Dr. Roger Nooe of the University of Tennessee released
the results of his bi-annual study of homelessness in Knoxville and Knox
County, and the numbers show that the problem isn't getting any better.

Nooe's 2004 report, titled ``Homelessness in Knoxville/Knox County,''
examines many factors contributing to homelessness in Knoxville and Knox
County, but of particular interest to me was the examination of substance
abuse as a contributing factor.

According to Nooe's studies and his examination of findings by colleagues
scattered across the nation, 75 percent of homeless people at an inner-city
soup kitchen reported they had used illegal drugs in the preceding month --
and this was back in 2000. In addition, government policies have placed an
additional burden on substance abusers.

``For example, those who are addicted may be more impacted by the decrease
in SROs [single-room occupancy hotels],'' Nooe writes. ``Likewise, the lack
of health insurance may be a barrier in dealing with addiction. Recent
changes reducing eligibility for SSI based on chronic substance abuse have
likely increased the risk for homelessness.

``Similarly, policy changes that result in persons convicted of drug
abuse/sale being barred from public housing have created additional
dilemmas. Use of drugs other than alcohol has increased dramatically among
the homeless.''

In addition, Nooe reports, ``Many individuals are dually diagnosed,
suffering from both a major mental illness and substance abuse. These dually
diagnosed individuals frequently fall between the cracks because neither
mental health nor substance abuse treatment facilities provide comprehensive
services.''

Nooe goes on to profile an inmate at the Knox County Jail who, released
after serving his sentence, is intentionally arrested the next day, because
he has no other means for housing and three hot meals.

Shortly after Nooe's report was released earlier this month, Knoxville Mayor
Bill Haslam announced a 10-year campaign to end chronic homelessness.

Good luck, Mr. Mayor. It won't be an easy task.

Substance abuse is a way of life that's been a part of urban society for as
long as there have cities. Whether it's the morphine epidemic after the
Civil War to the opium dens set up when the Chinese settled the West Coast
to the ever-present spectre of alcohol, there's always going to be a need
for something to alter the consciousness of those who don't want to face
reality.

The problems with homelessness and substance abuse run much deeper than the
surface of society. It's easy to dismiss the wino living under the bridge or
the junkie panhandling downtown -- clean them up, get them a job and
everything's OK, right? If only it were that easy.

Most of the time, those substance abuse problems date back to childhood.
Trauma, abuse, tragedy and other psychologically damaging events create a
tidal wave of emotion that the human mind has trouble coping with. Many of
those who later wind up on the streets or in shelters have no access to
therapy to deal with those emotional problems; many of them have no idea
that's what they suffer from.

To deal with substance abuse, there has to be more done than just
detoxification. To end homelessness, more has to be done than simple
education and the creation of new jobs. We're not talking about damaged
furniture -- these problems can't be solved with a good sanding and a coat
of varnish.

We're talking about damaged human beings -- people who are emotionally
wounded in ways most people can't even imagine. Recovery gives them the
tools to deal with that damage, but even the rooms of recovery can't give
those with severe mental problems the help that they need.

It can, however, be the beginnings of a new way of life. Having lived in the
neighborhood where Volunteer Ministries, the Knox Area Rescue Ministries and
the Fifth Avenue Motel were located, I've seen countless homeless faces
wander those downtown streets. I've seen many make it to a recovery program
and find a new start, thanks to love and support and compassion. I've see
countless others scoff at that compassion, or never even find it, and sooner
or later, those faces disappear into the shadows.

I don't know if the homeless problem can ever be ``solved'' or ``ended.''
Ditto for the substance abuse problem in this country. I have nothing but
admiration for those who try, however, and I'm consistently in awe of how
those in the treatment field never give up, no matter the odds stacked
against them.

Because for every 25 people who don't make it and wind up addicted and
homeless again, there are the few who do. And to see lives transformed like
that, to see the damaged and abandoned be taken in and become human again,
is a reward bigger than anything money can purchase.