2010 Third Quarter Newsletter:
Hello Friends,
We're writing to give you an update and share some exciting news about how things are going at Serenity Homes of Oregon. We continue to achieve remarkable successes with residents and have targeted mid-September to open up house five. We have recently made some revisions and improvement to our processes and policies and with some valuable input from current and former residents, we have put new policies in place in our efforts to continually improve our program and the success rates of those who come to us for help. Some of what we have implemented has increased the accountability for everyone in the program and empowered house presidents to take on larger roles within each home. We have also allowed current residents to take part in the interview process for prospective residents in an effort to maintain continuity and the likelihood of compatibility for those living in each individual residence. As strange as it may seem, placing increased emphasis on structure and demanding more accountability has been met with unbridled enthusiasm and we are very excited about how this will benefit everyone moving forward.
We continue to receive inquiries and referrals from the top treatment facilities throughout our community and across the country. This generous support is helping to make real differences in the lives of our residents, real change, right now. Serenity Homes of Oregon has been able to help five residents (Zachary, Michael, Stephen, Arvind, Andy) get back into school to further their education at local colleges and universities. Six SHO residents were able to gainfully find employment with our help. All of these successes are happening with their newly adopted behavior and lifestyle change that Serenity Homes of Oregon's program offers to all that are willing to sign up for. These are indeed brave guys who want to do something with their lives. Our unique recovery program has five successful alumni (Tom, Adam, Ben, Andy, Brian) who have moved on to bigger and better things. I have attached a testimonial letter from one of our graduated residents that I encourage everyone to read and reflect on. It illustrates and encompasses the reasons and drive behind what we do and what Serenity Homes is all about. It is truly touching and moving and should inspire all of us to continue the great work we do.
For those of you who don't know, the fourth home was added to Serenity Homes of Oregon in April. It has five bedrooms (room for six, 2.5 baths, beautifully landscaped and serene backyard with water feature, located on a bus line and less than a block from Gabriel Park in SW Portland. We have added relationship counselors as a new service we refer our residents to. Serenity Homes of Oregon also continues to bridge new relationships with facilities in New York, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Georgia. If we are able to receive the continued community and donor support we have received in years past over the next few months and through the end of the year, we will be able to get five home opened and achieve our goal.
As we look to open house for and get ever closer to sustainability, the reality of the current funding situation hits home. We truly are victims of our own success. Although we continue to receive inquiries and new residents, our success in helping those who come to us has left in need of additional financial support from our donor base and the community as a whole. It is incumbent upon everyone to ramp up our efforts to bring in the vital support SHO needs to not only get house five open, but to get us through the current situation we find ourselves in. It's the proverbial Catch 22. We've realized so much success in helping our guys achieve their goals and find their way back to clean, sober and contributing lives that we find ourselves staring at a funding gap that must be filled in order to continue to make the difference for those in need. So, once again, we need your help in finding donors and supporters for SHO. It starts with you; you know our story and how valuable the work we do is. You know how we've been able to change lives, to bring families back together and give good men a second chance at becoming valuable, contributing members of our community. All of the donations and support we hope to raise over the next few weeks will greatly increase our chances of receiving a matching grant from the Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund. Please do what you can to help support and encourage others to do the same as we draw ever closer to our ultimate goal of sustainability and changing lives for years to come.
Thank you all for your support and love, we couldn't do this without you and we are eternally grateful. And as always, if you find yourself wanting to become a more integral part of Serenity Homes of Oregon beyond the New Beginnings Society or volunteering, we are looking at increasing the amount of members of our Board of Directors and would love to hear from you. Thanks again and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
God Bless.
William and Gregg
SHO Resident Testimonial:
Matt H.
Thought I would send this to you as a courtesy for everything you have done for me and my friends here.
I was lost, living in a parallel universe which I assumed was reality, but really was a world I created in my head through lies and deceit. It took me a while, but I realized after time my problem in life was drugs and alcohol. I decided my best bet was to go to treatment, and so I went. I completed 90 days in a recovery center, but was terrified to leave because I didn't have any conception of what the real world was or how I could handle it. I had visited some sober living homes and wasn't too thrilled about them and I knew I was not ready to live completely on my own. Again, I was lost and scared. Then, a friend shared with me the approach Serenity Homes takes at sober living. Immediately, I knew this was the place for me. I popped out of bed the next morning and made the call to William and Gregg, and after a short over the phone interview, I hung up and felt a sense of comfort. I was no longer frightened because I knew there was a place for me with people who would support my recovery and guide me on a PERSONAL basis.
Living in Serenity Homes has saved my life, and I don't say that lightly. It has given me a safe atmosphere to come home to, while at the same time not micro-managing me and allowing me some freedom. It is the perfect place to transition and learn how to live life one day at a time, and also the perfect balance of both personal accountability and accountability from your fellow roommates and addicts/alcoholics alike. I can’t say where I would be now if I had not chose Serenity Homes as a transition from treatment, but I know I wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet the people I have met and enjoy the blessings I have, if I had gone somewhere else.
Finally, William and Gregg are wonderful individuals with strong ties to the community in every aspect. They are there for you when you need something, (William has answered my phone calls at midnight with an open ear and mind) and will leave you alone when they feel figuring something out by yourself would benefit you. They both have substantial time in recovery and will lend their advice if they have it and if they don't have the proper advice for you, they will dig into the contact book and send you to someone who does. Any concern I have had has been thought through and addressed promptly. Their primary concern is you and your well being and they WILL NOT sleep, until your problem, whatever it may be, is taken care of.... correctly.
All and all, Sunday night dinners with all the houses, the Blazer games, the Timbers and Beavers games, golfing with all the guys, etc, etc. I would not trade those experiences for anything. My advice, move in, follow the suggestions, bond with your fellow sober living mates, and you will have a life beyond your wildest dreams. Thank you Serenity Homes, like I said, I can honestly say you have saved my life.
Other News:
Gratitude
Reflections on the program from a friend of the organization
Driven to Drink
Story printed in the February 20th, 2009 issue of Just Out
Roofer Free of Alcohol Abuse
Story printed in the Business Journal September 12th, 2008
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