Hiring mentally ill citizens should be done with lots of common sense and honest advice from involved professionals if it is to succeed. Education about mental illnesses must be provided to current employees . New York has /had one work program that helped to sustain work like this for mentally ill citizens.  A mental illness professional met with the  group, made sure they got to work and then stayed with the group to work along with them.  Later he/she made sure they got home--to a shelter, group home or family home.  I think there are citizens who want to help this well planned way to keep SMI employed. Perhaps some of your readers already know about this kind of program.