11/26/2025
Numbers that should stop all of us in our tracks: 26% of adults living unsheltered in 2024 were identified as having a serious mental illness. Another 26% were living with chronic substance use disorders. When more than half of the unsheltered population is carrying a heavy clinical burden, this isn’t a coincidence; it’s systemic failure.
These aren’t projected figures--they're the results of a recent study from Kaiser Family Foundation:
https://www.kff.org/mental-health/a-look-at-the-new-executive-order-and-the-intersection-of-homelessness-and-mental-illness/
Behind each statistic is a person trying to survive without treatment, stability, or safety. Families searching for answers. Caregivers burning out. Communities overwhelmed and unprepared.
S&PAA won't wait for perfect policy fixes before we act. People need practical information now—something to cut through the maze of housing terms, eligibility rules, and levels of care.
That’s why we built the S&PAA Housing Toolkit: a straightforward guide to understanding levels of need, evaluating options, and navigating the fragmented housing landscape that so many families face alone.
If you’re trying to figure out what “supportive housing,” “residential care,” or “supervised living” really mean—or what’s appropriate for your loved one—this can help you take the next step with clarity.
Access the Housing Toolkit: https://sczaction.org/toolkits/housing-resources/ Please share—someone in your network needs this!
Leave a comment to tell us where you live and what the housing situation is like where you are. We're here to help.
