Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH)

How do you reach out to someone who lives on the street and does not trust people? Along with the standard barriers, there is mental illness. Many self-medicate with street drugs. One man who was homeless in Toledo in the early 1990’s explains why he did not get help from his family:

“They were in denial – they thought I was on drugs. I was in denial – I thought everyone was hearing the same voices I was.”

PATH (Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness) works to build rapport with these vulnerable individuals, encouraging them to get help. The PATH team does outreach in the streets, under bridges, in wooded areas’s, wherever they can find homeless persons with mental illness. Once contact is made, they offer practical assistance:

  • Food
  • Blankets
  • Clothing
  • "Street corner" assessments
  • Hygiene supplies
  • Crisis intervention
  • Peer support
  • Transportation to intake appointments

Once a person accepts help, s/he needs intensive support throughout recovery, learning basic living skills and building healthy relationships. PATH facilitates access to core services:

  • Emergency shelter
  • Transitional housing
  • Mental healthcare
  • Substance abuse treatment
  • Case management