Testimonials

Alyssa

I came to the Hope House on a Friday in February of 2010. I was pretty much hopeless and distraught. I had forgotten how to be a successful member of my family and society. I had no desire to quit drinking, nor any of my old behaviors. Hope House has brought me to believe in myself. The tasks I've had to do, the people I've met and the tools I've learned I will never forget! They were a guiding hand when I was lost. They have helped me to believe in myself. They pushed me out into the world which I ignored and gave my life structure and friendship. I love that place so dearly, and I thank God for letting me make it there. It is a blessing to know that Hope House exists. There are so many people out there who are just like I was and can learn so much and maybe even more than I did. The best nine months of my life were spent at Hope House. I plan to continue to go back and help others who have lost their hopes and dreams too. But they shall not be lost forever.. we do recover!

Angela

Attributes such as responsibility, accountability, and confidence were non-existent in my life. Hope House paved the way for my life to have meaning and showed me how to become the person I was meant to be. I am deeply grateful for the gift Hope House has given me and forever indebted.

Comments from our 30th Anniversary

I came to the Hope House after being arrested for drugs. I finally realized that I needed help for my addiction. I wanted to change my life and Hope House has helped me do that. I love life now that I'm clean. I'm working and looking forward to getting my own place and my daughter back with me. The program here has helped me get all of that. - Anonymous

My 34 years on this planet have been filled with a rollercoaster of addiction. Needless to say this brought a lot of chaos to my life. For me, coming to the Hope House is a life changing experience. I didn't just come here to stay out of jail. I came here to save my life. It gives me that chance to stop the chaos and create a foundation for my recovery. I'm able to be in a safe place to rebuild my world and my inner being. Since I've been here, I'm more confident about myself, my recovery, and my future. I am very grateful for Hope House and the caring staff. - Terria

I was court ordered to come to the Hope House; however, it is truly the best thing that could have happened to me. I believe it was God that brought me here, not the courts. I have become more accepting of my addiction and know what it means to be clean and sober. I am truly grateful to be here. I finally have goals and dreams for my life and plan to accomplish them. I have a whole new outlook on life! - Anonymous

Kacey

Before Kacey came to Hope House she had little to rejoice, but these days Kacey is full of reasons to Celebrate.

Kacey started drinking and smoking marijuana at age 13, her friends and their older siblings contributing to her habits. By the time she was a senior in high school she was missing a lot of school. Because of this she was one credit short for her diploma and was unable to walk across the stage with her classmates at the graduation ceremony. Not walking across that stage motivated Kacey enough that she spent the summer in school, and earned her High School Diploma.

Kacey went to visit a friend one day, who had relatives that smoked and dealt crack/cocaine. At the age of 18 she smoked crack for the first time, thinking that it was “not a big thing”. Kacey was gone for a week. Her family filed a missing persons report because they hadn’t heard from her.

For the following 2 years these binges were a part of reality for Kacey and her family. She often went for weeks at a time without eating or sleeping, just smoking crack. Kacey admits that she stole from her family and that it did not bother her because she thought she had to do whatever she could to get high.

During this period Kacey had her first run in with the law. She was picked up on a minor consumption charge, which was dropped by the court. After two years of this “insanity”, she was picked up for possession of cocaine. She was released on bail, and of course went back to using, until her court date. Kacey had been up for days and showed up for court half stoned, stating that she was hardly able to keep her eyes open while driving. Looking back, Kacey is horrified that she drove in that condition with her grandmother, who she loves dearly, in the car with her. Kacey was sentenced to jail, and that is where she heard about Hope House. Kacey says she wrote a letter to Hope House and on June 2006 at the age of 20 she moved into Hope House.

After eight months she completed Hope House Transitional Living Program and moved into our Post Transitional Living Program, Hanna House. Kacey lived there in her own apartment for a year, and then moved in with her fiancé. Kacey and her fiancé recently purchased a house. She is getting ready to move into her 1st New Home, along with her fiancé and their two beautiful dogs Lola and Max.

Kacey has been employed with the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo for 3 years now and for the past year Kacey has been “giving back” by working part time at Hope House. We are so proud of you Kacey!! We are celebrating you now!

Megan Feldhan

Because of Hope House I have gained confidence. I have learned a new way to live without the use of drugs or alcohol. I have a huge support group of people. I have my daughter back living with me after being apart for two years. I have a house, a car, and I am enrolled in a Bachelor's degree program. I am 26 years old and now I can live life to the fullest. I know I can get through whatever life has to offer, and it all began the day I entered Hope House and came to know the people associated with it.

Sasha

On December 9^th I was arrested for possession of marijuana, paraphernalia, and a controlled substance. I didn’t really realize how huge the consequences would be…

I didn’t have much structure growing up nor trouble with the law. My family was always really good at enabling my bad habits, whether they realized it or not. So, I went to jail and was bailed out within two hours. I went home and picked up right where I left off with my bad habits and drug use. I did want to change, but it seemed nearly impossible. I was addicted to pills- any kind- and thought that I couldn’t go to sleep at night without smoking pot. This was my life for two years. My son was almost three at this time. I always took care of him by making sure he was fed and clothed, but I was not present mentally. I couldn’t sympathize with how he was feeling, and sometimes I just didn’t care to listen. My mind was so gone and preoccupied focusing on the next drug. I never meant to turn my life into that, but I am an addict and I now know that drugs can take over my life before I even realize what is happening.

A month after my arrest, I had to appear at Criminal Diversion Services to meet with a case manager to do an assessment and provide a urine sample for drug screening. I told the case manager that the sample would not be clean because I was addicted to drugs. As the assessment went on, I admitted to being under the influence at that time. They cut the assessment short, and I was given a court date. On January 11^thI went to court still under the influence of drugs and was held in custody with no bond and no out date. I was totally shocked and didn’t understand why that was happening to me and had such a “poor me” attitude. Luckily, I only stayed in jail for two weeks (which felt like forever) when my case manager got me into a halfway house. I had no clue what I was getting into, but I knew that I didn’t want to sit in jail.

On January 25^th I signed into the Drug Court Program and agreed to complete everything that they asked of me. I was clean, and I was happy to start something different and to better myself. I came to Hope House on January 26^th a little scared and curious. It was the best thing I ever had to do! Hope House gave me structure, security, and hope! I got a job after three months of searching, got my license back, and started taking care of my responsibilities that I had let go for so long. I was able to see my son freely as long as I took care of myself first. I was so grateful for the good and the bad, because I finally felt capable of making that change and having a choice to do the right thing.

I left the Hope House on September 17^th and moved into my own house that I rent. I can put my son to bed at night, enjoy all our time together and enjoy just watching him grow. He is so smart and just shocks me every day, which reminds me that I don’t have to miss all the miracles around me anymore. I can actually get past myself and help someone else out. I have healthy relationships with my family and have gained so many new ones since being in recovery. I appreciate my life today and thank God for the many doors he has opened up to me. And for that I am blessed!

Susan Nevil

My name is Susan Nevill. I am 38 years old and thanks to Hope House I have another chance to live a clean and sober life. I was a meth addict who lost everything I had, including my family. I was at my worst ends. I knew it was time I had to do something for myself. I searched the internet and found out about Hope House. So I called and talked to Cindy. I had to call daily or whenever she asked me to, so that they knew I was really serious about getting help and recovery.Throughout my stay at the Hope House I gained employment, learned budgeting tools, got a sponsor, attended counseling and learned a new way of life. Today I can actually say that I still have a job, my own vehicle, a good realationship with my family memebers and that I am clean and sober. I owe thanks to all staff at the Hope House and other residents there also. Today I can actually say that I am happy and know that no matter what, I can accomplish things in life no matter how bad things get for me as long as I stay clean and sober.