In 2016, Utah’s annual estimate of people experiencing homelessness was 13,460. Since 20 to 25 percent of the homeless population in the United States suffers from some form of severe mental illness that means that (approximately) 2,700 homeless people in Utah are mentally ill.
People with poor mental health are more susceptible to factors that can lead to them becoming homeless. They are more likely to be poor, disaffiliate themselves from their family and friends (and people in general), and most likely feel extremely vulnerable. I believe that these people need extra help. With even a little bit of extra help, their chances of getting off the streets (and survival) would be much higher.