When Charles stepped into the office for the TIP program, he was anxious but determined. He didn’t know exactly what to do but he was so relieved he had finally come upon some kind of opportunity… a ray of hope in a seemingly hopeless situation.  Charles had recently experienced some significant challenges with trying to tie together the final coursework in a Masters program. He was close, but just could not get the final classes to work out.  He was certain without these final courses and his MA in Education; he would have no opportunity for any kind of job. He felt frozen.  Charles had worked all his life and made good money, but early in 2009, he found himself jobless with seemingly no ability to get a job. Bills were stacking up and even the bare necessities were becoming an issue. He and his wife were able to get food stamps, but were at risk of eviction if they couldn’t pay their rent. The thought of actually being homeless horrified Charles.  For him, it wasn’t seeking help with resources as he looked for employment, but it was more the stigma associated with it all. He had applied for food stamps, gotten involved with Pikes Peak Workforce Center and AARP work programs. He had done what he needed to do and felt good that the system was working to help him out of this situation. He was moving forward… but slowly.  When Charles was accepted into the Transitions to Independence Program, he finally felt like he had an advocate.  His case manager explained TIP like this: She said “Charles, if you are in a 12 foot deep hole and I am in the hole with you then, we have a problem. But if you are in the hole and I am on the ground outside the hole… we can work together to get you out of this situation. Since I am not stuck in the hole, I can move around and gather resources (in this case a rope seems appropriate). I can extend the rope, but you must grab that rope and pull yourself out of this situation. I don’t know if you have ever climbed a rope but, it is not easy and this will not be either, but you can do it.”  Maybe this is a silly metaphor but it’s a simple way to illuminate how TIP works. It’s  a relationship between the participants and the agency… where resources are provided and accountability is expected. Instead of untangling the knot that kept him from his MA, he and his TIP case manager focused on the more than twenty years of work experience he had in law enforcement and as a paramedic, they determined he could easily learn phlebotomy. Charles had gone from spinning his wheels to being focused on a goal.  He researched and located the school he wanted to attend within days. He has since finished his class and received his Phlebotomy Certificate. Charles still plans on completing his MA in Education in due time and now that the crisis is over, he can see clearly and plot an actionable path.  While Charles still may not  have all the answers, he does have a plan and feels grounded. Charles put it this way, “I found an organization that made me feel valued and valuable. I found people in that organization who helped me understand my assets and how to maximize them to garner employment with both short-term and long-term solutions. I am grateful for this program and for the opportunity to realize some new things about myself. I am actually extremely resourceful, intelligent and I’m a great motivator! I look forward to applying the training and life skills I have realized through TIP.  The Transitions to Independence Program is all about getting involved in your own journey… being your own solution. It’s not a handout; it’s a hand up for resourceful and innovative thinkers.”