Client Testimonial

Inspiring Others on the Road to Sobriety

After 35 years of struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, Michael hit rock bottom. He became homeless, sleeping on trains, in the street, wherever he could. Then one day, he decided that his life had become a dead end.

He began a 28-day detox program and eventually transferred to a separate live-in program for nearly a year to continue his recovery. Then he came to LSSI’s Kenmore Health Start Recovery Program as a client after he’d already begun working part time and saving money. At Kenmore, he earned the position of House Manager, part time to start and eventually full time with the opportunity to help other men struggling with addiction. He worked a second job to help save more money.

Eventually, he became a Case Aide at Kenmore, starting his shift late in the afternoon at a time when he could motivate the male clients he worked with to remain sober as they finish their jobs and return to the property. On Mondays, he’d make sure they get to an AA meeting. On Tuesdays, he’d share job leads with his clients. And at 5:45 p.m. he noted, some clients go to an intensive outpatient program.

 “The feeling I have inside me every day now—a drug cannot give me this,” Michael said of his time as a Case Aide before moving on from LSSI. “I’m so grateful I was able to give back. We help the clients, we mentor them. When clients would come and sit down and talk to me about their day, I would make the guys laugh.”

Clients of the Kenmore program, especially during more intense COVID restrictions, attended a regular webinar online. They accessed one-on-one mentoring, received help building their credit, learned about financial planning and how to open a bank account, and navigated ways to work with student loans. Different topics were covered every week.

Michael recalled with pride one day on his road to recovery when his niece offered to let him stay at her house. “That’s a big deal, because before I got sober, that never would have happened.”

When asked what he values about the Kenmore program, he said, “LSSI treats everyone the same no matter who you are. A lot of clients come here with nothing: no jobs or social security cards. When they start our program, their confidence comes back.”

Last August 17, Michael hit a significant milestone: 5 years sober.

“I would see the growth in our clients every day,” he said of his time working at LSSI. “I know this is my calling. I want to do this work for the rest of my life.”

Learn more about LSSI’s work in Outpatient Substance Use Treatment.