[Between asylym and shelter: Points of reference.]

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the importance acquired by the issue of homelessness in the mental health debate over the last thirty years as well as propose references for the elaboration of practices according to conditions of this reality. The author discusses the social and historic context of mental health that he describes as a 180 degree reversal in the risk of institutional lockup to lockup in homelessness. On a psychosocial level, he proposes an understanding of homelessness as one of powerlessness over freedom. Drawing from his clinical and professional experience, he then presents three areas of service development: how to intervene in a context of social emergency, continuous support and improvement of living conditions and finally social participation.