Robert's Story

For a while there, I was sleeping behind two buildings in a paper box, and they took me to the dump, and I wasn't sure if I was going to the shredder or not. Sometimes I'd find something in the trash to eat. It was a terrible life, I'm telling you.

This is how Robert Smith describes his life before coming to the Mental Health Center of Denver (MHCD).

Homeless for almost 10 years, Robert left home at fourteen. His father beat him severely and locked him in a closet, often for days at a time. He didn't attend school because he had too many bruises.

Drifting from job to job, he started drinking to drive away the pain. Robert says his drinking got worse until his whole life revolved around alcohol and he ended up homeless and mentally ill. Then MHCD saved his life.

Right now MHCD brings one homeless person off the street everyday. That means housing, treatment, and medication for 365 people a year. At any given time in Denver, there are hundreds of people who are homeless and suffering from mental illness, alcoholism or both. People like Robert, who was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and alcohol dependence.

Today, thanks to the Mental Health Center of Denver, located in Denver, Robert is living independently with his dog, Buddy, and is working on his GED.