Our communities are plagued with daily issues, such as violence, crime, and public nuisance. Our government agencies and media outlets continue to misclassify the individuals responsible labeling them as “homeless” or “unhoused” which suggests they are merely in need of a home. 

This broad classification not only stigmatizes those who are genuinely homeless but also fails to address the root causes of violence, crime, and mental illness. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year. It's crucial that we differentiate between those who need housing assistance and those who require mental health support or criminal justice intervention.

You might say, "but these people ARE homeless," which is correct. However, homelessness is not the root cause of the violence issues our communities continue to face due to the mentally ill living on the streets. You might also say these people are "jobless" as well. These people are many things… but to classify them strictly as “homeless” creates a false sense of addressing the issue and ignores those who could actually benefit from assistance after suffering from an unforeseen event, such as job loss, injury, rising costs, inflation, or any number of economic issues that could cause a mentally healthy and non-violent person to end up without a home. The homeless who could really benefit from government resources are not receiving them because the mentally ill are overwhelming the system.

The bottom line is that the mentally ill need dedicated resources directed to help resolve the issues related to the problems they are experiencing, specifically medical assistance and treatment centers. Mental illness cannot be cured by simply providing a mentally ill individual with a place to live. When the government places a mentally ill person in an apartment, home, or hotel, they endanger the other residents within the community.

By signing this petition, you urge California's government and media outlets to adopt more accurate classifications that will lead to better-targeted solutions for both homelessness and public safety concerns. 

Sign this petition if you believe in fair representation for all members of our communities!