For individuals and families facing the challenges of homelessness, hope can seem out of reach.

Lakeview Center was named a United Way Emerald Coast partner agency for 2024 with a grant towards the PATH team – or Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness. Lakeview Center’s PATH team supports mental health clients struggling with homelessness in Okaloosa and Walton Counties.

Lakeview Center’s PATH team goes directly to where homeless clients are to provide much-needed mental health care and case management they would otherwise go without, due to barriers such as transportation. As a United Way partner agency, Lakeview Center will help clients with temporary shelter or assist with apartment down payments, in addition to providing resources such as bus passes, bedding and clothing needed for obtaining and keeping a job.

Through the tireless efforts of Lakeview Center’s PATH team, supported by United Way Emerald Coast, stories of transformation and resilience shine as beacons of what is possible with the right support.

Providing a safe haven

For over three years, one elderly client lived in her vehicle with her emotional support animal, struggling to meet her basic needs, including medical care and mental health services. Homelessness became her daily reality until Lakeview Center’s PATH team stepped in.

With unwavering dedication, the team helped her access essential resources like food stamps, mental health services, and medical transportation. Support from United Way Emerald Coast provided housing assistance, covering the first month’s rent and deposit for an income-based one-bedroom apartment.

She has since moved into her new home, a permanent and affordable space where she and her dog could finally find peace and security. This milestone marks the beginning of a new chapter for her, symbolizing the profound impact of PATH and United Way in helping people rebuild their lives.

Supporting stability

After relocating to Florida for a job opportunity that fell through, a couple faced the devastating effects of income instability. They found themselves living in a shed and later in a motel, struggling to afford weekly shelter costs while working through a temp agency. Despite securing full-time employment, the gap between paychecks left them without enough funds to cover housing.

Lakeview Center’s PATH team stepped in. Through emergency shelter support provided by United Way Emerald Coast, the couple had a safe place to stay while awaiting their first paychecks. The PATH team also connected them to critical services, including mental health appointments at Lakeview Center and referrals to a low-cost medical clinic.

The couple is deeply grateful for the help they’ve received, stating, “We are so grateful for everything PATH has done for us.”

Taking the next step

Homelessness affects families in deeply personal ways, and one single mother with three children faced a difficult transition as she worked toward stability. Staying in a local motel while making payments on a trailer she planned to move into, she found herself needing additional support to bridge the gap.

The PATH team provided emergency shelter assistance, allowing her the time needed to finalize her move into a permanent housing solution. To ensure a smooth transition, they also covered the first month’s rent and deposit for the RV park where her trailer is located.

Thanks to this assistance, the family now has the stability they need to thrive. Their story is one of perseverance and the incredible difference that PATH and United Way Emerald Coast continue to make in the lives of those they serve.

To support Lakeview Center’s PATH program and our outreach for homeless clients struggling with mental health issues, please give a gift on our website.