INVEST Entrepreneurship Program & Aspen Terrace Housing Build Up Morgan’s Life

Morgan (pictured) has lived a very full life and there are no signs of him slowing down. He is a Veteran that currently lives in our Aspen Terrace permanent housing on Capitol Hill in Seattle and recently celebrated a graduation from the  INVEST entrepreneurship program, an innovative initiative that we offer in partnership with Vault89.

“The INVEST program gave me back the faith in myself that I need to follow my dream. In class, I was provided the opportunity to really fine-tune my business idea of opening another nonprofit recovery center. I have operated many centers over the years on the fly. However, this program provided the structure I needed and a better understanding of what steps to follow when opening a new business. It was also a refresher course on grant writing and building lifetime goals,” Morgan said.

He added, “My business plan is complete and the program gave me the opportunity to speak to other successful business owners regarding moving my plans forward. The other thing that makes this program so unique is that they offer two years of wraparound services after you graduate. It’s not just a class that you attend and then have to figure it out on your own when you have questions or issues down the road.”

Past Business Experience

Morgan’s past experience includes owning a construction business and a towing company, working as a commercial fisherman in Newport, and later owning and operating 14 recovery centers in Snohomish County. While working as a fisherman, Morgan came up to Seattle one day to pick up a $50,000 check owed to him from the fishing company. When he picked up his check he called his girlfriend and told her he was coming home! But, she had other plans and broke up with him on the phone. Morgan felt there was no reason to return to Newport now so he stayed in Seattle and spiraled down into drug use and living on the streets for the next eight years.

Addiction and Treatment

After several arrests, his public defender showed him kindness and compassion and talked the judge into allowing Morgan to enter a residential treatment program. Morgan had never been in treatment. However, the judge wanted to make sure Morgan stuck to the program so he ordered that Morgan start treatment in a prison-based Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative (DOSA) program. The court-ordered program is for eligible drug offenders, offering either prison-based or residential treatment options instead of full prison time. DOSA focuses on substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in exchange for a reduced sentence. It also includes strict supervision, with failure to comply leading to re-incarceration.

After nine months in the DOSA program, Morgan finished and was released. However, back on the streets his old habits started to rear their ugly head. “I relapsed and my probation officer gave me the chance to get serious about my recovery and join outpatient meetings. I got really involved in AA and ended up running the emergency hotline for over four years and heading up AA meetings in Snohomish County at the DOC.  I also ran meetings at the Denny Juvenile Justice Center in Everett for nine years,” Morgan stated.

Opening Recovery Centers in Snohomish County

Morgan saved up his money and in 2009 he rented and renovated a home to become his first recovery center with a partner. The partnership did not last, but Morgan went on to open 14 recovery centers (four centers were exclusively for Veterans) that he operated in Snohomish County until 2021. One home was called the Engagement Center where individuals in recovery trained to become recovery coaches. Morgan had gone through extensive training through the Connecticut Community for Addiction and Recover (CCAR) in Connecticut and was able to coach and teach the students.

Morgan heard Ralph Bruksos, a member of the original founders of Pioneer Human Services, speak at an event and connected with him about shared passion. Ralph told Morgan that he had faith that Morgan could be successful in creating his own vision of supporting people in recovery.

Relapse

Then in 2021, a severe tragedy struck involving one of the recovery center participants and the horror of it crashed Morgan’s spirit and took him down – he relapsed after being clean and sober for over 12 years. Morgan felt he had failed and found himself in physical and mental pain on the streets where Fentanyl was easy to find. The drug relieved his pain and sucked him down into addiction where he overdosed at least 10 times and was brought back to life.

Morgan had adopted a service dog during this time that he named Obi-Wan Kenobi (pictured) and one winter night they were practically freezing to death on the street. Morgan was also very sick. “A woman drove up and opened the back door of her car. She was like a kind angel. She took me and Obi to Providence Hospital where I was treated overnight and then connected with a VA doctor for my drug addiction,” shared Morgan.

Partner Organizations and Pioneer

Mor Recovery and Second Chance Foundation connected Morgan with Bridgeways for funding opportunities, and the VA connected him with Catholic Community Services and brought Morgan to Pioneer’s Aspen Terrace apartments to see about housing. Morgan commented, “I met with Jennifer Defatte, Aspen Terrace’s apartment manager, and she just stared at me. Then she said, ‘Don’t you remember me?’ Jennifer had called asking about my recovery center a few years back. It is so amazing how things can come full circle.”

Morgan was accepted into Aspen Terrace and Jennifer immediately told Morgan about the INVEST entrepreneurial program as she knew Morgan had been a very successful entrepreneur. “I am inspired again to open my new center that I have named the M&I Recovery Engagement Center. I see it as not only having recovery coaches and treatment services, but it will also offer holistic wraparound services and employment opportunities,” said Morgan.

Morgan concluded, “Believe in yourself and accept help from others. We can recover and a strong comeback brings nothing but joy.”

Read lyrics from “God’s War,” a song written by Morgan.