“The shelter system, a key element in San Francisco’s strategy for addressing homelessness, is far from a perfect solution. Not only are the shelters difficult for those with mental illness to navigate, the shelter environment could also make their problems worse.
Like many other cities, San Francisco has embraced a “housing first” policy, pulling people off the streets as a first step to address their other physical, behavioral and psychological challenges.”
http://sfpublicpress.org/news/2014-11/how-homelessness-can-compromise-mental-health