Mental illness is a devastating problem that affects one in five people. In California alone, an estimated 50,000 mentally ill people sleep on the street each night and thousands of others go to jail or a crisis hospital. Stigma, shame, and discrimination keep an estimated 80 percent of the mentally ill from seeking treatment.

This film sheds light on this difficult subject, showing how it impacts families, the personal battles it creates, and the resources available to those who suffer from it. We meet several people who have mental illnesses and who are intermittently homeless. One is Ray Guevarra, a Latino who survived an abusive childhood, gang life as a homeless teen and a constant struggle with his bipolar disorder. He overcame his illness with the support of his family and proper treatment, and is now an outreach worker and speaker at mental health conferences across the country. African American Sandra Washington ran away from her family in Mississippi 16 years ago. With the help of a social worker she recently reconnected with them. John Joseph suffers from schizophrenia and was homeless for five years until a flower vendor took a chance, gave him a job, and got him off the streets.

Ken Lim, a mental health care professional featured in the film has focused for 13 years on the mentally ill homeless population. His consistent relationship-building with his clients has helped him persuade several to seek treatment and get off the street. The film looks beneath the tattered clothes to show that recovery is possible with access to treatment, medication, and quality care.