Mike

Hi, I am Mike and I am an alcoholic. I am not a nice drunk and missing my father’s funeral led me into deep guilt and depression. It wasn’t until 2007 when I found the Mission and sobriety that I began the work needed to turn my life around. The Mission staff did not judge me, most of them have experienced homelessness and are in recovery but encouraged me to be honest about my past and work on making better choices.
When I was ready to leave the Mission, I moved to New Bedford, found a job, an apartment and met my girlfriend. I worked at a substance recovery program and stayed sober for 8 years. But in 2020 for no good reason, I started drinking, lost my job and wound up on the streets. My girlfriend helped me to go to detox but it was the Mission I needed.
Today, I am sober over a year, closer to finding permanent housing and working 20 hours a week at the Mission. I have learned that if I focus on the past I will drink again. Since Covid, not one client at the Mission has relapsed, and I thank the staff for keeping us healthy and sober.