They are often unseen, living in the shadows of daily life. But we know they are there: the homeless in the Virgin Islands.  As of two years ago — the last official count — there were nearly 500 homeless men, women and children living in the territory, according to Gov. Albert Bryan. Whether that number is higher or lower today is unknown. The impact of mental illness on homelessness, however, is clear.  According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, serious mental illness disrupts people's ability to perform the basic functions of life, such as obtaining and managing a household. It may also prevent people from building healthy, stable relationships with others, and often prevents them from acting in a rational manner. In 2018, the Virgin Islands Continuum of Care, a project of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development…