Colorado Coalition for the Homeless

Out of the darkness and into the light

“I feel like I walked out of a tunnel. The PATH program staff saved my life."

As a victim of severe mental illness, Julie lived on the streets with her dog, Sophie, for seven years. A Colorado Coalition for the Homeless outreach worker found her and connected her to Stout Street Clinic for psychiatric treatment. Today, Julie takes medications to control her mental health disability and receives Social Security Disability payments which help with rent and other bills. The Project to Assist in the Transition from Homelessness (PATH) program continues to be Julie’s primary connection to the Coalition's services.

Julie is an avid guitarist. She gives guitar lessons and plans to take her talent to local venues.

Julie loves to play James Taylor’s "Fire and Rain" and feels the lyrics are special for any homeless person:

Won’t you look down upon me, Jesus
You’ve got to help me make a stand
You’ve just got to see me through another day
My body’s aching and my time is at hand
And I won’t make it any other way

The PATH program provides comprehensive, clinical and case management services to mentally ill homeless adults and teens. Services include outreach, advocacy, housing assistance and employment assistance integrated with psychiatric evaluations and mental health treatment.