Finding Hope After Homelessness, Prison, and Addiction
“If you don’t know what a miracle looks like – look at me. I have fallen in love with sobriety and Pioneer Human Services has been crucial in my recovery.” Antonio
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We are very happy to share Antonio’s journey through drug addiction and prison, and finally into recovery programs and sober living. Antonio came through the Skagit Community Detox program that Pioneer operates and was referred into residential treatment. He was then referred into the Pioneer Transition House where he has been living for several months. Our Foundational Community Supports (FCS) housing specialist has also been working with him on his next transition into permanent housing and employment.
Trauma and Incarceration
In Antonio’s youth, he experienced severe trauma from sexual abuse in a boy’s scouting organization and from the death of his father from a heroin overdose. He turned to drugs at a young age to numb his own pain and by the time he was in high school, he was addicted.
Antonio was a functioning drug user as he finished school, worked, married twice and fathered four children. However, as his drug use continued and grew over the years, it destroyed his marriages, relationships with his four boys, and led to many arrests and prison.
After serving three years behind bars, he tried life back in the community but fell back into drug use again. “I found myself homeless and broken. I bought methamphetamine that was laced with Fentanyl and accidently overdosed,” Antonio shared.
Detox and Treatment
“After I overdosed, I was revived in the hospital and the medical staff asked if I wanted to go into a detox program and get help. In my entire life, I had never been in any treatment program or offered any services and was not aware of the recovery services available if you didn’t have money,” commented Antonio.
Pioneer staff from the Skagit Community Detox program picked up Antonio from the hospital and brought him to the center. “I agreed to detox and that’s when I was introduced to Pioneer Human Services’ programs and resources that have been a lifeline for me,” Antonio stated. “The awesome detox staff explained to me about recovery in detail and were very informative about what support and services they offered. After hearing about the medications available for my withdrawal symptoms, I tried one med in detox, but I didn’t like the way it made me feel. I decided to go cold turkey and the staff supported my decision and helped me through it.”
After detox, Antonio was referred into a residential treatment program. Our FCS supportive housing staff reached out to him to help him get into a clean and sober housing program when he completed treatment. There was an opening at Pioneer Transition House and Antonio moved in. Kimberlee Rios, Pioneer Transition House case manager, welcomed him and set him up with all the resources available.
“Pioneer Human Services has been crucial in my recovery, and staff are always sharing information about available resources and other support organizations. I really had no idea of everything that was available to me,” commented Antonio.
Antonio is also grateful to Catholic Community Services who worked to secure a bed in residential treatment, the six-month Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and the aftercare relapse prevention program – all he has graduated from and refers to in his daily life.
Pursuing His Passion
Antonio always had a passion for food and cooking that was nurtured by his Nena (grandmother) and mother in their family kitchen. He comes from a large Mexican family and he used to help in the kitchen, absorbing all their cooking tips, while his sisters and brothers played outside. Antonio used his skills in cooking throughout his life cooking in restaurants and owning his own Mexican Grill called, “Nena’s,” but the COVID epidemic ruined his business.
He shared, “In my sobriety, I am now using my skills and passion for cooking to prepare meals for other residents at the Pioneer Transition House. I volunteer my time, money and utilize food banks and other resources to pull together nutritious meals. It gives me such joy to feed others and have the ability to use my cooking skills again.”
Continued Support
Debra Thompson, FCS Supportive Housing specialist, reached out to Antonio at Pioneer Transition House to provide continued support in his recovery and assist him in finding permanent housing. “She checks in on me and is always suggesting employment and housing options to consider. It is comforting to know that Pioneer has my back,” Antonio said.
Antonio shared that he now has a spiritual foundation, “I know that God loves me.” He also has built wonderful relationships with his four children and five grandchildren. “I can now be in their lives fully. They are proud of me for turning my life around – it is never too late!”
“Today, I can also share what I have learned to help others in recovery because you can lose focus in the twinkling of an eye. In recovery, I have learned that you need to stay focused, stay busy, and stay plugged-in to support groups and other resources,” shared Antonio.
He concluded, “I am a big believer in second chances and so grateful there are organizations like Pioneer on the frontline. I know that the longer you stay focused on sobriety – the easier it becomes.”
“Today, I celebrate every organization that has helped me in my personal journey in recovery. I can boldly say that Pioneer has been instrumental in saving my life. I want to thank everyone who is employed, affiliated or volunteers with Pioneer for their labor of love. On behalf of my family and me, thank you so much for giving me hope when I had lost it – blessings to you all.”