In an era of continuous budget cutting and idealogically driven mandates, we can expect that mental health services for the most vulnerable people are going to continue to be the first things to go. Few actually care, and when mental health coverage was stripped from MinnesotaCare one legislator actually said on the floor that mental illness was a sign that God is punishing you, so why should we have to foot the bill?
Given that this will get worse, we can expect more mentally ill people on the streets. And, with the state of the economy and soaring rent, we can expect a lot of healthy people on the streets -- and as Andrew pointed out, I'm sure they will be "ill", or at least maladjusted, in short order.
This burden will fall heavily on cities like ours, and perhaps especially ours because we have so many services for the homeless. But that also means that along the railroad tracks and in the various alleys we can expect to see more homeless in the near future.
It is all a direct result of policy. It is being forced on them, and in turn the burden of their need to survive falls on us. No one actually gives a damn, either.
Erik Hare [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://home.comcast.net/~wabbitoid/ Irvine Park, West End, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA, North America, Earth
Fine Amish furniture, cedar chests, and crafts http://www.harmonycedar.com
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