AUSTIN (KXAN) — For Joy Jiles’ son, Miguel, often the only access he has to mental health treatment and housing is the time he spends in jail. And he’s done a lot of that.
Jiles said her son suffers from Schizophrenia. And despite her best efforts, Miguel hasn’t gotten the professional help he needs. It’s led to a lifetime of bouncing in and out of jail and homelessness.
“And it’s doing him no justice. So I’ve advocated, I’ve tried to talk to different organizations, different people. And nothing is being done,” Jiles said.
There are concurrent efforts by Travis County and the City of Austin right now to get people suffering from mental health illnesses more help. While Travis County works through a plan to build a mental health diversion center , which could divert people from jail to resources, a big factor in the city’s approach will be the reopening of the updated Austin State Hospital.
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