Drug Court, Treatment, Supportive Housing and Employment are Recipe for Success
Toby Ziegler is our housing monitor at the Pioneer Transition House (PTH) in Mount Vernon. He shared his story of going through Pioneer’s residential treatment, transitioning into PTH as a housing resident – and then becoming an employee.
PTH serves residents with a documented mental health and substance use disorder diagnosis. Housing is approved on a month-to-month basis without a maximum length of stay. Services include connecting clients to mental health or substance use disorder treatment, DSHS benefits, employment, probation completion, maintaining sobriety and helping to obtain and maintain permanent/stable housing upon exiting the program.
Toby shared, “Both Stefanie Carranza, who was my case manager in Pioneer’s residential treatment program; and Kimberlee Rios, who was a Pioneer supportive housing specialist at the time, were there for me and wanted to make sure I successfully transitioned back into the community.”
“When I first met Toby, he was a client and I was his case manager at the former Pioneer Center North (PCN) residential treatment program,” said Stefanie Carranza, current Foundational Community Supports (FCS) housing support specialist. She continued, “I remember that he had been struggling with a medical condition, and despite experiencing severe pain, he still pushed himself to attend his sessions at PCN with me and his counselor, and he made sure to be present and engage in all the PCN classes. He didn’t complain and was very gracious throughout his stay at PCN. To me this emphasized Toby’s tenacity, drive, and fighting spirit.”
Toby battled a substance use disorder and had experienced the revolving door of arrests and jail time for decades. The last time he was arrested, he faced prison time, but was offered the Skagit County Drug Court diversion program and he chose it. The drug court program first sent him to Pioneer Center North for inpatient treatment and when he finished the program he was able to stay on a little while longer until he secured clean and sober housing.
Toby said, “This was my fourth time in treatment but this time it was different. It was during COVID and staff handled the situation very professionally. I engaged in the program and found the inpatient program way more beneficial than one-on-one counseling. It was like starting over – the staff taught me the tools to use and I applied them. The next step after finishing the program was securing stable housing and I was worried. However, Stefanie and Kimberlee really worked hard to find housing options for me and did not let me get discouraged.”
Stefanie Carranza stated, “At the time, I don’t think that there were any housing funding resources available, which means that Toby only had a few choices for housing when he finished the program at PCN. Thankfully, PTH had an opening for clean and sober housing. You can imagine the stress that Toby must have been experiencing during this time and instead of letting that weigh him down, he decided to lean into trusting me.”
“PTH requires that applicants for housing have a community case manager, and fortunately Kimberlee Rios, was on the FCS team at the time and was coming in to meet with a few clients,” said Stefanie Carranza. She continued, “Kim agreed to work with Toby and was able to finalize his housing application for PTH. I remember that when he found out he was accepted and would be housed, he became very emotional. I appreciate Toby’s gratitude, but really, he was the one that did the work by leaning in with trust, grace and acceptance. It’s been great to watch his progress from the sideline.”
Kimberlee Rios, is now a case manager at Pioneer Transition House. She shared, “I was an FCS supportive housing specialist for FCS that worked with Toby at the former Pioneer Center North (PCN) when he was admitted for residential treatment. He was serious about his recovery and really engaged in the program. Toby needed supportive housing upon his completion of the treatment program and I assisted him with getting accepted as a resident PTH.”
Once Toby was settled in PTH, he also started at Skagit Community College online and continues to work towards his certification to be a peer counselor. While in school, he also worked part-time at Goodwill unloading merchandise.
Kimberlee continued, “After the closure of PCN, I took the job as case manager at PTH and have now worked here for two years. It has been great to have the opportunity to continue to work with Toby as a case manager while he continues on his recovery journey. I watched Toby successfully meet several goals and continue to be impressed as he sets future goals for himself to stay on course.”
Toby has stayed on course with drug court, attending motivational classes, the prescribed intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) and moral reconation therapy (MRT), along with supportive sober meetings. Due to remaining in perfect compliance with the regulations and requirements of drug court, he is looking at graduating in July.
Kimberlee added, “When a job opening for a resident monitor position became available at PTH, I urged Toby to apply. He is now employed here and doing an amazing job while he inspires other residents. I am proud to have witnessed all of his progress - it’s a wonderful feeling.”
Toby shared, “I feel very grateful to have the resident monitor position here at PTH. It is a recovery-based job that comes with my own apartment. The house is great and in such a nice neighborhood. All the residents are focused on clean and sober living and there is a sense of community living here.”
He added, “Kimberlee is a major part of my ongoing recovery journey. She is part of the bedrock under my feet and helped me to get through with my mom’s death. I know I am fortunate to have her support.”
Toby has two children that believe in him and did not give up on him during his struggles. Drug court has strict travel restrictions so Toby is excited to graduate in July so he will be able to visit his children easier.
When asked what he would share with others that have substance use disorders, Toby commented, “I have a sponsor and a strong support group that I will be involved with forever. You need to seek out other people in recovery and avoid being isolated – boredom and isolation are dangerous. You also need to be able to humble yourself – cut your ego – you cannot do this alone and need to surrender to getting help." He added, “Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help. As you get sober, your shame and guilt will fade. We are all a miracle and it is amazing to be part of a support group. I am proud to share that I am someone who struggled for years with addiction and I am now in recovery.”
Everyone at Pioneer is proud of Toby’s dedication to his recovery and we are excited for his drug court graduation. It is another goal he can check off his list!