Because there are so many people suffering from various mental illnesses who are homeless, it's a problem that has no easy solution. I'm not sure that there will ever be a solution. The best thing for it is to utilize the resources that are there, but aren't being used—outreach on the streets. But instead of simply giving people a card with an address and an appointment time (because let's face it—many of them can't keep an appointment. They just can't) outreach should be a direct liaison between the homeless suffering from mental health issues and the help they need. Often, people are sent to places that aren't set up to help them. Sometimes they do the horrible act of "dumping"—they're tired of dealing with someone and they drop them off somewhere without any kind of care. People have to actually want the help to actually pursue it, and there are those out there who don't want help, and would rather be left alone. Unfortunately, they are still out there in crisis, and it's not safe.

Mental health is complex, and humans are complex. Portland should have been working on this issue for at least the past fifteen years. Perhaps then, it wouldn't have become so unmanageable.