Letters to the Editor: As homelessness rises, board-and-care homes close. This is a huge problem

To the editor: Reading your editorial on the state of our homelessness crisis, one has to wonder whether the editorial board is reading its own newspaper.

The board cites the same mantra (that we need more affordable housing) as the numbers continue to rise. If only it were that simple. This crisis is born out of an ecosystem that is dysfunctional and fragmented.

For example, on July 8, The Times published an excellent article raising the alarm (again) that we are losing precious board-and-care beds for people living with mental illness.

These beds are critical for people with high acuity needs that cannot be met within the framework of permanent supportive housing. For example, these beds are often utilized for community reentry after incarceration or psychiatric hospitalization.

Yes, we need more affordable housing, but we also need to increase the continuum of psychiatric treatment and substance-use treatment beds at every stage (from psychiatric urgent care, detox, short-term hospitalization, acute treatment and board and care).

Kerry Morrison, Los Angeles

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