Rachel was 25 years when her family kicked her out of her home. It was an act of tough love. Her family was hoping she’d seek help and get clean.
Flooded with emotion, Rachel escaped the pain she felt by indulging in drugs and alcohol, one of the ways of coping she had relied on since age 12. On her own, Rachel cycled through moments of sobriety. Her life was lived out of a backpack, couch surfing to find refuge at night. No longer did Rachel have a familiar place to call home, and her family ties were weakened from years of negative habits that hurt those closest to her. She felt lost.
“I was a young kid at the time, you know. I was thinking what do I do?” said Rachel. “I was scared. I had never been on my own like that before.”
Rachel knew she needed help, and called up her sponsor with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). That’s when Rachel first heard about Volunteers of America of Massachusetts (VOAMASS). Rachel’s AA sponsor took Rachel to Transitions TSS in Mattapan and told her she was going to get help on Boston’s Long Island, a dedicated piece of land providing a recovery campus for individuals in the region. In 2008, it was home to a significant portion of VOAMASS addiction recovery and transitional housing programs.
Rachel didn’t push back, she trusted her sponsor. Without wasting time, they drove together to the bridge, which connected the mainland to her recovery oasis. Rachel got out and breathed in the salty air as she looked at the bridge; a lifeline between crisis and recovery.
Rachel began her nine month recovery at VOAMASS Women’s Hello House (WHH), a recovery home for women with substance use disorders. Arriving at WHH, reality settled in. Compared to other facilities, VOAMASS programs place the responsibility on the client. Rachel knew that if sobriety was what she wanted, she had to commit to the journey, even the ugly and difficult parts along the way.
Fortunately, Rachel was greeted with compassionate care and dedication from clinicians and staff alike. “At WHH, empathy is tangible,” said Rachel. “They don’t just give up on you if you make a mistake. They want to be there with you, through all of it.” Rachel had good days and bad days while in recovery, but she never felt alone with her problems like she had in the past. “There was a never a time WHH didn’t have my back,” said Rachel. “I kept telling myself that good things will happen if I do the work.”
At WHH, clients receive support in addressing issues such as medical stability, court and DCF involvements, homelessness, and any other concerns that may impact their ability to be successful in recovery. Clients are also expected to learn necessary life skills for long-term success, including maintaining employment.
“Before, WHH, I didn’t know the importance of showing up on time, eating regularly, or what self care looked like,” shares Rachel. “WHH taught me a lot about what it means to be a responsible person.” Discharge is based on client goals, and the typical recovery time is anywhere between 3–6 months or more. Rachel graduated from the program in 2009.
Like many individuals in recovery, re-entering the community and staying clean came with its challenges for Rachel. Rachel relapsed two times after recovery at WHH.
The second time Rachel left treatment sober, she felt ready to make a big change. In 2013, Rachel started her Certification for Addiction Counseling at University of Massachusetts in Boston to learn how to help others with their addiction recovery. On top of her career pursuit, Rachel also gave birth to her son who was born in 2014. Balancing family, work, and school, Rachel relapsed for the second time in 2015. Her son was almost one year old.
This time, Rachel didn’t hesitate. She sought refuge again with WHH, a program she knew worked for her.
“WHH loved me when I couldn’t love myself,” shares Rachel. “That’s what I remember the most about being there as a client.”
A lot was on the line, including custody of her son. Her baby boy was everything to her, and Rachel was committed to doing whatever it took to get him back in her arms. “I knew I had to get clean again to get my son back,” shares Rachel. “The process of recovery isn’t perfect, and WHH was there to help me process the situation, and start over.”
While recovering for the second time at WHH, Rachel spent much of 2016 working with her loyal Case Manager, Ursel to find solutions she could apply in her day-to-day life to remain stable while balancing multiple responsibilities. Hard work paid off. In 2017, she graduated from WHH, ready for the opportunity to become a healthy, fully functioning mom, citizen, and community member.
Almost five years sober today, Rachel spends as much time as she can with her son, who is now six years old. Rachel is also mending her relationship with her family. Earning their trust back has been a gift for Rachel. When Rachel isn’t with her family, she is helping women struggling with addiction as a Case Manager at WHH. Her firsthand experience as a survivor and her palpable positive outlook on life strengthen her ability as a Case Manager to improve outcomes for her clients.
One of Rachel’s favorite events at the WHH is the annual holiday party. “I come back for the holiday party every year,” shares Rachel. “These women need the reminder they are not alone. They deserve to feel special, too.” Rachel is hope, hope for individuals who are lost to their addiction. She is the reminder that there is a way out, and that they are not alone. VOAMASS is here for them, no matter what.
