Sophie Diaz’s mission to help Tarrant County’s homeless population get access to essential supplies — and even homemade hats — started as something simple and personal.
In her son’s early adulthood, he was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and paranoia disorder, mental health conditions that prevented him from getting a job and, ultimately, put him on the streets for two years after he refused treatment.
Diaz, a Colleyville real estate broker, eventually got her son care through My Health My Resources of Tarrant County, or MHMR, a government agency providing services for youth and adults with mental health conditions, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders.
“He was able to finally receive treatment,” Diaz said. “He got off the street and, little by little, got his life back together.”
Diaz wanted other homeless individuals to have similar journeys to help.
Welcome to 52 Faces
52 Faces of Community is a Fort Worth Report weekly series spotlighting local unsung heroes. It is sponsored by Central Market, H-E-B and JPS Health Network.
At the end of the year, these rarely recognized heroes will gather for a luncheon where the Report will announce one honoree to represent Tarrant County at the Jefferson Awards in Washington, D.C.
She now leads Backpacks for the Homeless, a nonprofit that delivers between 1,000 and 2,000 supplies-filled backpacks to MHMR every fall and encourages individuals struggling with homelessness to find mental health services.
Diaz’s effort started just over 10 years ago with visits to her son at an MHMR facility to give him clothes, food and other items. She noticed a need among other patients and homeless individuals, so she started bringing spare socks, snacks and bags to share.
The need wasn’t shrinking, so she organized a small group with the goal of gifting MHMR about 50 bags. That year, the group ended up donating 200 bags filled with toiletries, blankets, hats and socks.
The next year, her new goal of 200 backpacks turned into a delivery of 500. The following year, her goal of 500 delivered 1,000.
Finally, her goal having grown to 2,000, she’d found a good cap.
Diaz’s efforts to break down stigmas around mental health and homelessness earned her recognition in 52 Faces of Community, Fort Worth Report’s weekly series highlighting unsung heroes.
“A lot of the people that are in this situation do not have a family, and we realized just the basic needs for them to have just that backpack and those items … makes a difference,” said Diaz, who immigrated to the U.S. from France in the 1990s.
Diaz’s nonprofit receives donations from the Colleyville Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club and Walmart. She works with volunteers to fill backpacks with toiletries, blankets, hats and socks, Diaz said. Individuals from across Colleyville contribute, including an 80-plus-year-old who knits about 100 hats per year for the effort.
Catherine Carlton, chief of staff for MHMR, who submitted the 52 Faces nomination, said she’s seen Diaz’s efforts touch and uplift people experiencing homelessness. While a backpack may seem small, it can be a lifeline, Carlton said.
“By meeting people where they are, at one of our clinics, this initiative helps restore dignity and stability.”
Catherine Carlton, nominator
To receive a backpack, individuals must be receiving MHMR’s services. Diaz hopes this requirement will encourage more people to seek help.
She talks openly and optimistically about her son’s condition — an attitude she hopes will inspire others to talk more freely about their own experiences with mental health issues.
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When her son first struggled with mental health, Diaz said, she felt the need to keep up the image of the “perfect little family in town” with a successful business and children.
“Well, guess what? Things happen to everybody,” Diaz said. “It became clear that we actually have to talk about it, so that other families realize before it’s too late that there are things that you can do.”
Diaz said she returns from every backpack handout inspired to do another. She feels that, little by little, every conversation about mental health and homelessness makes people more open-minded to help others or seek help for themselves.
“Every drop in the bucket counts,” Diaz said.
Drew Shaw is a government accountability reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at drew.shaw@fortworthreport.org or @shawlings601.
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