What We Do Montgomery County
In September of 2017 Pathways to Housing DC was chosen as one of thirteen programs nationwide to be awarded a five-year innovation grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Pathways DC partnered with Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for this project, called “Pathways Home”.
Using a client-centered approach, the project targets Montgomery County’s chronically homeless individuals with substance use and/or co-occurring mental health disorders whose service needs are not being met by existing programs. By creating a unique Housing First Integrated Behavioral Health Team, this project is designed to target a very specific and underserved population of people. Pathways DC is the lead in the Pathways Home project with Montgomery County’s DHHS providing access to housing through their division of Special Needs Housing, a full time nurse, and access to the county’s psychiatric services for the individuals being served.
Pathways Never Gave Up On Me
Anthony is a reminder of the power of second chances. As a teenager, he was introduced to drugs and used marijuana, cocaine, and eventually crack to deal with undiagnosed mental illness. After being sent to prison for possession, he saw a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. When Anthony was released, his conviction made it nearly impossible to find employment, and he soon became homeless. After several years on the streets, he found housing through #PathwaysDC. Pathways staff helped him stay sober and deal with the trauma of incarceration. Anthony shared, “I think about how fortunate I am, how many chances I had,” he said. “I was so blessed. Pathways came into my life and helped me turn it around when things were looking pretty bad.” Anthony is a living example that people can thrive when you do not give up on them.