This Government Program Is Kicking Homelessness To The Curb
(DailyDig.com) – Although people may become homeless for a wide range of reasons, certain types of mental illnesses can make it extremely difficult to avoid homelessness without assistance. The PATH program provides funding that can be used to provide a wide range of services for these individuals.
What Is the PATH Program?
The Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) program aims to provide the additional support that individuals with certain types of mental illnesses may need to avoid homelessness. Because serious mental illnesses (SMIs) can make it extremely difficult for individuals to afford and maintain a safe place to live, this government program aims to fill in the gaps that can help these individuals move off the streets. This program provides funds to each state or territory, which are passed to local organizations that provide specific types of services to homeless individuals that have an SMI that is preventing them from qualifying for and keeping a home on their own.
Qualifying for the PATH Program
Individuals must currently be homeless to participate in the PATH program, although there are other government assistance programs available to help households that are at risk of experiencing homelessness. Participants must also be diagnosed with a serious mental illness (SMI) to qualify, as this program is designed to assist individuals who are primarily experiencing homelessness as a result of a specific mental health condition.
Services Provided By the PATH Program
Organizations that participate in the PATH program provide a wide range of services to the specific homeless individuals the program is designed to serve. Although the specific ways the money is typically used can vary based on the highest needs in a particular area, PATH funding typically goes toward finding individuals that qualify for the program (outreach) and assisting them with mental health treatment, screening and diagnosis, substance abuse treatment, job training, educational services, housing services, and other areas in which many individuals with SMIs struggle when attempting to obtain and keep a stable home without assistance.
SMIs can make the basics of everyday life much more difficult, especially when it comes to staying off the streets. The PATH program can be a helpful bridge for providing the support qualifying individuals need to successfully find and remain in a safe home.
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