Week 8: You Don’t Need a Degree to Change a Life
An 8-part series on the intersection of homelessness and mental health with input from Dr. Katrina Amber-Monta, a third-year psychiatry resident at Lehigh Valley Health Network (PA). Dr. Amber-Monta completed her undergraduate degree at Bennington College (VT) in 2003 where she studied music, and in 2022, graduated from Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (NJ).
Over the past eight weeks, we've explored the complex intersection of mental illness and homelessness—from the fallout of deinstitutionalization to the trauma of street life, from criminalization to the healing power of community. We've looked at policy failures, cultural gaps, and personal stories.
Let me ask:
Have you ever had a season where anxiety or grief left you struggling to function? Lost a job, a relationship, or your sense of direction, and felt the ground drop out from under you? Held back from asking for help because you didn't want to seem weak or be misunderstood?
Most of us have. And if life had gone just a little differently—if the support didn't come in time—our stories could look very different. Mental illness doesn't impact "those people." It impacts all of us!
So where do we begin? We start small. We start right where we are with what we have.
1. See the person, not the stereotype
When you see someone on the street who seems unwell, don't rush to judgment. A nod, a "hello," even just eye contact can remind them they still matter. Acknowledging someone's humanity doesn't take much—but too often, we avoid it out of fear.
2. Stay educated
Take a Mental Health First Aid course, spend some time on the National Alliance on Mental Illness website (nami.org). Learn about PTSD, schizophrenia, or depression—not to diagnose, but to empathize. The more we understand, the less we fear. Dr. Amber-Monta explains that research shows that direct communication about suicide can actually help:
"Often, just the act of bringing those thoughts and feelings to the light is the first step to getting the help someone needs. Don't be afraid to talk about these things or share information on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, if you think someone is in a mental health crisis."
3. Volunteer in spaces that center dignity
Come join us on the street! You don't need credentials to offer hope. Just a willingness to show up. If you're not in our area, look for local organizations near you that serve your unhoused neighbors. Your community needs your contribution, no matter how small or large it may be.
4. Interrupt the shame
When someone opens up about their mental health, resist the urge to fix it or change the subject. Just stay present. That alone is powerful. Listening without judgment creates space for healing. Sometimes, the most radical thing you can do is simply not walk away.
5. Use your voice
When you speak up—in your community, your workplace, your faith space—you help shift the story from blame to belonging. Dr. Amber-Monta says it plainly: "People don’t recover in isolation. They recover in community. Your voice and your presence could be the reason someone chooses to keep going."
There's no silver bullet. But there can be a spark. You may not be able to end homelessness yourself, but you can remind someone that they're not alone. You can be the kind of person who shows up—and brings others with you.
Healing doesn't start with a system. It starts with a person. It starts with you. Thanks for walking this journey with me.
Next week, I will talk about the summer heat and how we can leverage collective compassion to save lives!
With Gratitude,
Josiah Haken
City Relief, CEO
