Homelessness & Violence Can Go Hand In Hand
Did you know domestic violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness? Homelessness and violence all too often go hand in hand. At Hollywood Addiction Center Emergency Mental Health Response (EMHR), we want to help break this cycle.
That’s why our team receives training in violence de-escalation. If you’re an unsheltered individual and you’re in a violent situation, please don’t hesitate to call our line so our trained, caring team can help.
We Focus On
Ending Violence First
Because violence often leads to people ending up in unsheltered situations, it all too frequently carries with them. Without a place to shelter, homeless individuals are more exposed to the potential for violence.
In some situations, that can lead to them becoming violent themselves. Oftentimes, this violence isn’t as unsolicited as it may appear. It’s commonly used as a defense mechanism. Without four walls and a roof to keep them safe, the individual has to rely on something else to safeguard themselves. That individual might choose aggression.
At that point, law enforcement is often called. We hope that the next call will be to our team so we can help in the situation, too.
Mental Health Expertise For First Responders
We want to help when unsheltered individuals become violent. While law enforcement officers are experts in managing violent situations, they may benefit from having a mental health specialist at the ready to come alongside them. By calling into Hollywood Addiction Center, our trained mental health crisis responders can help guide the situation.
Rather than stopping the violence by simply restraining the individual, we aim to connect with them on a personal level. We believe that the violent incident can be a stepping stone into something new for that person. We hope that by providing them with compassionate care and mental health resources, we can support them in seeking their own wellness. With improved mental health, we believe we can directly combat the tendency toward violence.
By providing our team with homelessness violence training, we hope to break the cycle of violence and help unsheltered people make strides toward their mental wellness.
