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A full 15 percent of Americans with serious mental illness are currently homeless, a much higher figure than suggested by previous research, a new study finds. The researchers, from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, urged more action to reduce this problem. They believe homelessness among those with serious mental illness could be reduced or prevented by providing individuals with substance abuse treatment and helping them obtain public-funded health benefits. Because the homeless mentally ill are more than twice as likely to be hospitalized as mentally ill people with housing, improving care for homeless people with serious mental illness may be cost effective, the researchers add. At the very least, they say, improvements in care should improve outcomes with only moderate increases in expenditure. The researchers tracked 10,340 people with serious mental illness -- both homeless and those with housing -- in San Diego. [more]