National Homelessness Awareness Month:
Navigating the Complex Relationship Between Homelessness and Mental Health

The intersection of homelessness and mental health is a crossroads many face daily. During National Homelessness Awareness Month, as with every month of the year, The Harris Center for Mental Health & IDD is dedicated to confronting this stark reality head-on and finding ways to contribute to solutions.  

Red Ribbon Week is celebrated annually from October 23 to October 31 to raise awareness about the dangers of substance use disorders and the importance of living a substance-free life through substance use disorder prevention and education efforts. This initiative provides a unique opportunity for parents, educators, and communities to amplify the drug-free messages they impart to their children and youth throughout the year.

At The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, their steadfast commitment to trauma-informed care is uniquely positioned to assist people in Harris County coping with their individual traumatic events – whether it’s an accident, shooting or natural disaster. This includes the severe end of the trauma spectrum, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

Evelyn Urdiales Locklin, MA, LPC, Director, Emergency Services and Residential Programs, and Trauma Informed Care Implementation Team Lead at The Harris Center, serves as a knowledgeable guide in this complex landscape of trauma.