Phoenix House Venice
“I thank the entire staff at Phoenix House. This is a wonderful program and without it I would either be doing a life sentence or be dead.”
Manager, Lumber Yard, Santa Monica, California
My name is Leo. I’m now a 49-year-old male Hispanic. I say “now 49,” because there was a time in my life when I never would have believed I would make it to this age. At age 11, I started smoking marijuana, which started the ball rolling. I didn’t start drinking until the age of 18, when I received my first drunk driving charge, but that didn’t stop me. I continued on, and I was arrested for drunk driving six more times.
During this time my drug use continued and only got worse. By then, I was using much stronger drugs, like acid, PCP, mushrooms, cocaine, and heroin. My addiction was totally out of control. I lost many good jobs due to my drug use and the time came when getting loaded was much more important than family and friends. No longer working, I turned to crime to support a totally out of control lifestyle of robbery, burglary and muggings; anything to get high one more time. This behavior went on like what seemed forever.
In the year 2003, after many arrests and parole violations, I was offered the opportunity to turn my life around. I started to think after 33 years of negative behavior if this was possible. With my background I wasn’t too sure about the Substance Abuse Program while I was in prison, but I thought I would give it a try. Best thing I could have ever done. I finished a one-year program at Corcoran and was offered admittance to a Phoenix House aftercare program upon release from prison. By this time I noticed my life was already changing and I took the opportunity with open arms. Best thing I have ever done!
Upon my parole, I entered Phoenix House Venice where I was accepted with open arms. The Phoenix House family made me feel comfortable right away. They saw something in me I never knew existed that was always there. I became the house coordinator and the position taught a lesson about self control, really quick. I enjoyed the responsibility. After six months at Phoenix House it was time to move on, but I did not want to go. I now had a family I did care about. The entire staff were people I totally related to and they were all like me. They all had real knowledge and experience the same way I did.
Phoenix House offered a live-out program for one year and I accepted, again the best thing I ever did. It’s true — third time is a charm. I completed the live-out program and am proud to be a Phoenix House alumnus. Yeah! Job search phase is part of the program and through that process I landed a labor job in a lumber yard. After three years, I now manage that lumber yard in the City of Santa Monica, California. Phoenix House taught me I can be in control of my own life by showing me there are many tools to be used. I use such tools every day.
It has been five years since I started with Phoenix House and I am still active in the program. Phoenix House is my life and always will be. I thank the entire staff at Phoenix House in Venice. This is a wonderful program and without it I would either be doing a life sentence or be dead.