How Michele Rebuilt her Life with Support from Community Transitions

October 4, 2024

Falling on Hard Times: Michele’s Story

After living in Texas, Michele, a former insurance agent from Colorado, returned to her home state in November of 2017 with plans to stay with friends after hitting hard times. When her plans didn’t materialize as expected, she soon found herself living out of her vehicle for several months, and ultimately homeless when her vehicle was unexpectedly towed while parked at a fast-food restaurant.

“It was my spiraling moment,” Michele said. “It changed everything.”

Now homeless and without a vehicle, Michele spent the next several months living out of a shelter. Once she deemed the shelter’s living conditions to be unsafe, she moved out and began camping with a friend on the streets, where she relied on only a backpack and a cart to carry her belongings. She utilized community resources to access food and sought reprieve from the elements in community areas during the day.

“It was my little life,” Michele said.

A year-and-a-half later, once Michele realized how permanent this cycle of homelessness could become, she elected to return to Greeley, the town of her alma mater. “I was thinking I could get on my feet a little better in a small college town,” Michele explained.

According to Michele, she did secure housing in Greeley, but there was a misunderstanding when she arrived, keys in hand, and found herself under arrest for trespassing. While the charges were ultimately dropped, her release was pushed back again and again due to COVID-related delays in the court system.

“I never got sentenced because I never made it to court since the court date kept getting pushed out. But I sat in jail for one year and two months,” Michele shared.

Ultimately, Michele failed a competency test and was transferred to the state hospital in Pueblo, where she resided for two-and-a-half years until June 2024 when she was discharged with the support of the Momentum program of Community Transitions.

Getting Her Life Back: Connecting with Community Transitions

The Community Transitions program recognizes the sheer number of barriers that individuals like Michele face upon release from behavioral health settings, and offers support by providing individualized services and connection to vital resources to ensure a smooth transition back into society. The Momentum program, one of Community Transitions’ programs, specifically supports the transition of children and adults from various behavioral health and substance use treatment settings back to community living.

Courtney Chavez, a Clinical Care Manager with Community Transitions, visited Michele in the state hospital prior to her release to better understand her background, medical history, goals, and immediate needs. From there, Courtney created a plan to ensure that Michele could reintegrate back into the community as seamlessly as possible.

“[Courtney] was wonderful and so resourceful,” Michele shared. “She just took charge, and I really didn’t have to worry because she took care of me and allowed me to get back on my feet.”

In the initial visit, Courtney provided an overview of the Momentum program and its processes. She also made sure Michele felt comfortable by building strong rapport with her.

“She was just so gracious, bubbly, and full of life. She made me feel welcome from the start,” Michele explained.

Courtney secured several items to help meet Michele’s immediate needs once out of the state hospital, including toiletries, clothing, a cell phone with minutes, a TV, bedding, a shower curtain, towels, and more. Michele explained that when she first arrived at her new home in assisted living in Pueblo, her room was already set up.

“It was like getting a care package when starting college,” she said. “It was such great help to re-establish myself into the community.”

Courtney also supported Michele throughout the process of setting up Medicaid, which is critical to maintaining Michele’s health and preventing deterioration of her mental health.

Michele’s room, set up with care by her Clinical Care Manager, in an assisted living facility in Pueblo.

The Path Ahead for Michelle

Michele and Courtney worked together to re-establish Michele’s life in assisted living in Pueblo from June through August 2024. In August, Michele graduated from the Momentum program. Courtney marked the occasion by taking Michele out to lunch and giving her a framed certificate of graduation of completion of the program.

“I have that certificate up in my room,” Michele shared proudly.

Soon, Michele hopes to move closer to her family in Oklahoma, Texas, or Kansas, where she’d like to get a one-bedroom apartment.

“I just want to be with my tightknit family circle. I spent so many years sitting and waiting. I just want to be around my family and be connected. I’ve missed so many things over the years,” Michele shared when asked about her hopes for the future.

Michele is also excited about the possibility of returning to the workforce. With her previous experience working in the insurance industry, Michele believes a role in customer service or in clerical work would be a good fit. As someone currently in her mid-50’s, Michele thinks working for another ten years would help set her up for success in her golden years.

Michele’s Reflections on Working with Community Transitions

Michele feels immense gratitude for Courtney and the way Community Transitions set her up for success in her transition back to community living.

“I was so taken aback by all the generosity of the organization,” Michele said.

She added that if there is anyone else transitioning from institutionalized care back into society, that Community Transitions is an amazing support. “They take care of everything,” she explained. “I was nervous at first about the process, but really, you can relax, and they will help you through the process, paperwork, and appointments to make it seamless for you.”

When asked how she’d describe Community Transitions she said, “It’s a wonderful organization that takes people at really trying times in their lives and ensures that they get the best care throughout the process.”

Getting Connected with Community Transitions

If you or someone you know could use the support of Community Transitions to safely transition out of a substance use or behavioral health setting, please visit the Community Transitions webpage on the RMHS website. There, you can find information about the program along with eligibility requirements.

To contact Community Transitions directly, call 303-636-5766 or email ctreferrals@rmhumanservices.org