Most people are a bit scared by erratic or unusual behavior and might be reluctant to approach someone displaying it, whether it’s a homeless person or a member of their church.

"There’s a palpable silence" about the subject in most churches, said Lani Tsuneishi Frederick, director of nursing at Leahi Hospital. "People have got to be open about that. It would be a real cultural change to get people to change their mindset and attitude about mental illness."

Tsuneishi Frederick addressed the issues of homelessness and mental illness during a United Church of Christ pastoral workshop last week at Makiki Christian Church.

Her advice: "Approach with caution but with a good, open heart. If you are frightened or suspicious of them, they can sense that. Most communication is nonverbal, and if you don’t want to be around them, they’ll pick that up."

It comes down to establishing a one-to-one relationship, and "a lot of it is being genuine, wanting to help," Tsuneishi Frederick said. "Sometimes all they’re looking for is someone to talk to."

In the case of a senior dealing with issues such as dementia, Tsuneishi Frederick recommended that pastors support the formation of a network of friends to supervise a person not ready to enter a nursing home.

Chris Eng, pastor of Waiokeola Congregational Church in Kahala, said he often interacts with homeless people, many of whom are mentally ill.

"The simple approach is, as a Christian, if someone is on church grounds or is asking for something, you have to take the time to talk to them. I really try to understand them and try to help guide them to where they need to get the resources," Eng said.

"It’s easier to give them a few bucks or give them some food," he noted, but that sort of enabling might prompt some homeless individuals to continue their transient lifestyle.

"There are people who are actually willing to come out and help out the person who is really struggling," such as the Institute for Human Services, but the person has to be willing to be helped, Eng said.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately 26 percent of homeless adults staying in shelters across the country live with serious mental illness, and an estimated 46 percent live with severe mental illness and/or substance use disorders.