Did mental health issues cause them to be homeless or do they have mental health issues because they are homeless?
Good question.
Homelessness will make their MH worse, some on the streets probably should be in hospital.
Trouble is charities like the big issue will not help them due to the nature of their rules.
A lot may have started on the road to homelessness through drug or alcohol abuse, some would have come from criminal roots and are incapable of looking after themselves.
Shelter to some is offered but they have to abide by certain rules ie no dogs. So they continue to choose to sleep on the street.
Others just await for the powers that be to get their act together and come out to explain the support available to some.