Of these, about one-third are single adults with serious mental illnesses. The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1990 authorized a Federal grant program to deal with the needs of people who are homeless and have serious mental illnesses. Latest available data indicate that in Fiscal Year 1999, States engaged 366 local organizations in the provision of services. These organizations reported more than 59,000 enrollments for PATH- supported services. The PATH program is administered by the Center for Mental Health Services, a component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, one of eight Public Health Service agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Demographic data reveal the following for the clients for whom information was obtained.
Nearly 92 percent of the people served were between the ages of 18 and 64. PATH clients have some of the most disabling mental disorders. Among clients for whom a diagnosis was reported, nearly 43 percent had schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders and 36 percent had affective disorders such as depression. At least 58 percent of the clients had a substance use disorder in addition to a serious mental illness. The PATH program involves a wide network of State and local agencies that contribute comprehensive community-based services for people who are homeless and have serious mental illnesses.