2. Invitation to the 1st Annual Conference on “Justice and the rights of
homeless persons with psychosocial needs”
31st
of August – 2nd
September 2016, in Chennai, India
Homelessness as a result of mental illness and vice versa has far reaching negative
consequences on the physical, psychological and social functioning of individuals, and
causes a great deal of distress and isolation. Studies show that up to 35% of homeless
persons across the world are afflicted with at least one severe mental health problem and
comorbid substance abuse. In low-medium income countries (LMICs), there is persistent lack
of access to mental health care, limited options for long term support for persons with chronic
conditions, inhibitive and ambiguous laws regarding involuntary admissions, stigma, and lack
of political will and state support for mental health. Given the complex nature of mental ill
health and homelessness, and the multiple entrenched and unyielding structural barriers,
progress towards justice and equity for those marginalised is not always linear or
straightforward.
Some initiatives such as the Housing First in United States, the Trieste approach in Italy and
our own programmes in Tamil Nadu have attempted to reduce distress experienced by
homeless people with mental health issues through innovative and culturally appropriate care
models, with the aim of enabling individuals to achieve personal recovery, which may or may
not include symptom reduction, gainful employment, personal relationships, and contribution
to society as enfranchised individuals.
There is a need to better understand these models, what they mean to clients accessing them
and how person centered and need based approaches to care may help to build appropriate,
collaborative and robust responses to address distress. These innovations need to be shared,
discussed and adapted across similar sociopolitical contexts through joint research,
implementation and capacity building. With these objectives in mind, The Banyan and BALM,
in collaboration with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and New York University’s
McSilver Poverty Institute have organized this international conference, with a focus on the
‘Global South’.
We will launch at this conference:
1. The Global South Initiative (GSI) on mental health and social vulnerabilities,
anchored by The Banyan, that aims to bring together practitioners working in the
field of mental health, deprivation, poverty etc, from low resource settings to share
best practices and challenges.
2. The India Homelessness Resource Network, anchored by the Centre for Policy
Research, similar to the GSI in philosophy, with a deeper focus on
homelessness and associated problems.
We would like to invite researchers, practitioners, users, carers and academicians from
different cultural backgrounds to share their experiences in the context of homelessness and
mental illness; explore challenges involved in executing interventions, state responses and
policies, and most importantly address concerns around dignity of care and ethical dilemmas
surrounding involuntary commitment of persons with mental health issues.
We look forward to having you with us in this effort.
Best Regards,
Dr. KV Kishore Kumar Mrinalini Ravi
Director, The Banyan Conference Organizer, The Banyan

3. Messages from Conveners
Vandana Gopikumar, Ph.D
Founder, The Banyan and The Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health (BALM)
Professor, School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)
Having worked with poor and homeless women with mental health issues for over the past
two decades, I often wonder why and how certain people are relegated to the margins by
both State and Society. The culture of “othering”, “invisibilisation” and discrimination certainly
have to be better understood, particularly where they occupy an almost blatant and
unapologetic presence. This conference to be held on a yearly basis from 2016 will bring
together work of practitioners, the State, policy makers, homeless persons with mental health
issues, civil society organizations and researchers to both consider challenges ahead of us as
much as share good practices and approaches that enthuse or encourage social mixing,
compassion and appropriateness in care.
The Banyan and BALM are committed to presenting locally relevant, culturally sensitive and
pragmatic working models. In keeping with this line of vision, we will in this first Conference
initiate the Global South Initiative in Mental health and homelessness (GSI) and the India
Homelessness Resource Network (IHRN). Both fora are geared to bring together diversity of
experience and participation.
I look forward to a lot of retrospection and meaningful discussions and engagement over the
three days and warmly welcome all of you.
Deborah K. Padgett, PhD MPH
Professor of Social Work, Public Health and Psychiatry
Homelessness is a global epidemic that affects us all. As a committed researcher on
homelessness who also embraces social justice, I have witnessed the devastating effects of
being un-housed and socially unwanted on the sidewalks of New York City and Delhi. For
persons with serious mental illness, the consequences are dire as they struggle with stigma
as well as severe deprivation.
This conference represents a collective effort to address homelessness by bringing together
experts in research, practice, policy and lived experience to share what we know and to learn
from one another. Decades of research and public spending in the West have not ended this
problem and in some cities such as New York and Los Angeles the numbers of homeless
persons are higher than ever. As a hopeful counterpoint to otherwise discouraging growth
trends, many visionary innovations such as Housing First and the work of The Banyan show
how much can be done to help others in distress. Transforming systems is no easy task. To
paraphrase the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu--every journey begins with a first step. This
conference is a first of what we hope are many steps in the right direction.
On behalf of my home institutions at New York University—the Silver School of Social Work
and the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research—I am delighted to join my
colleagues in working together to advance the goal of ending homelessness.
Thank you for joining us in this important gathering!

4. Prof. S. Parasuraman, PhD
Director, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
The homelessness and mental ill health nexus can hasten a downward spiral in people's lives
and breed a sense of alienation, social exclusion and disengagement. These social
vulnerabilities have to be addressed with a sense of urgency and this conference is one of the
many steps in the right direction. ‘Koshish' a field action programme of TISS has worked
extensively for over a decade with homeless persons, including those who live in beggars’
homes and other custodial institutions, mental hospitals and streets. In the process Koshish
has positively impacted the lives of most vulnerable and deprived people, and enabled the
development of rehabilitation focused policies.
I welcome all of you to Chennai, where TISS links with the Banyan and BALM in creating
mental health professionals at all levels – to address early detection, counseling and
treatment.

5. Conference Organisers
The Banyan and The Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health (BALM)
The Banyan, one of the largest mental health service organizations in the country, adopts
both a person- centric and health systems approach embedded in a culture of upholding
social justice and equity. The Banyan has developed a range of innovative, appropriate and
comprehensive approaches to mental health care, particularly for low resource settings. The
Banyan’s functions are spread across four major verticals:
1. Emergency and therapeutic services for homeless people with mental health issues
2. Inclusive eco-systems for people with mental health issues
3. Health and mental health systems
4. NALAM: Social inclusion, skills development and well-being
The Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health (BALM) conceived in 2007,
consolidates findings, from the work of The Banyan, to arrive at models or benchmarks that
inspire appropriateness of care, particularly for vulnerable groups. BALM also builds human
resource capabilities across multiple cadres, and using emerging evidence as a tool both
replicates and scales up Banyan’s approaches / models, even as it influences positive and
progressive policy formulation .
The Banyan and BALM were invited to the central government instituted Mental Health Policy
Group, and several recommendations including the need to focus on vulnerable and
marginalized groups (particularly the homeless), integration of social care, approaches for
long term care, human resource development and developing value frameworks for mental
health service provision have been drafted into this policy.
www.thebanyan.org
www.balm.in
McSilver Poverty Institute, New York University
The McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at New York University Silver School
of Social Work is committed to creating new knowledge about the root causes of poverty,
developing evidence based interventions to address its consequences, and rapidly translating
research findings into action. Drawing on intellectual and scholarly strengths of New York
University and located within the Silver School of Social Work, the McSilver Institute partners
with agencies and communities in New York City, across the nation and around the world to
develop research projects, evidence-informed services and technical assistance, educational
programs and policy recommendations that have short- and long-term social impact.
Founded in 2007 through the generosity of Constance and Martin Silver, the McSilver
Institute recognizes the significant link between individuals, families, communities and their
external environments, as well as the interrelatedness of race and poverty.
http://mcsilver.nyu.edu

6. Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Established in 1936, The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) is India’s premier social
science teaching and research institution. Since its inception, TISS has been an institution of
excellence in higher education that has a deep commitment towards responding to constantly
changing social realities, by developing and applying knowledge towards creating a people-
centred, ecologically sustainable, and just society that promotes and protects dignity, equality,
social justice and human rights for all.
Over the years, the Institute has made consistent contributions to civil society and the
development sector through its education, research and field action programmes. TISS has
expanded significantly during some of the toughest socio-economic and political climates and
has successfully established centres and collaborations across the country (Hyderabad,
Guwahati, Tuljapur, Chennai, Ranchi, Kerala), independently and in collaboration with NGOs,
CSOs, Corporate Foundations, and the Government. Today, TISS has earned recognition as
an institution of repute from different Ministries of the Government of India; various State
Governments; international agencies such as the United Nations; and the non-government
sector, both national and international. A high degree of freedom and autonomy shape the
positive work ethos and creativity in the Institute facilitating strong linkages between
education, research, field action and dissemination.
www.tiss.edu
Logistics Partner
Chennai Volunteers
Chennai Volunteers is a not for profit initiative that works towards enhancing awareness on
the role of individuals in society and drives civic engagement by facilitating volunteers to
make meaningful skill and time contribution to the social sector.
The initiative aims to promote the values of volunteering, while building and reinforcing
volunteer networks across the cities. Working behind Chennai Volunteers, is a dedicated
team of like-minded individuals, who facilitate the process of building a more supportive
infrastructure for nonprofit organizations,and, simultaneously, enhance the experience of
volunteers and create awareness on social issues. Through a dynamic web portal, volunteers
can find various opportunities to share and care and NGOs can share resources and
exchange best practices, 24x7.
http://www.chennaivolunteers.org