Finding His Way Back to Family

Chris spent most of his life working hard and staying busy. He served twelve years in the Coast Guard and later built a steady routine working in the restaurant industry before eventually finding employment at Goodwill. Life was not perfect, but it was stable, and for many years he kept moving forward the only way he knew how, by focusing on work and responsibility.

After leaving the Coast Guard, Chris returned to be closer to family. During that season he walked through the difficult loss of his mother. Her passing deeply affected him, but like many people who are used to carrying on, Chris pushed forward and kept himself busy with work.

Eventually Chris relocated to Phoenix, where he continued building his life. For nearly ten years he lived with a couple who welcomed him into their home. He maintained steady employment and developed a routine that gave him a sense of stability. But that stability ended abruptly when tragedy struck again.

Chris shared that the day his roommate died from an aneurysm, everything changed. The loss shook him and the living situation quickly unraveled. Without that home, Chris suddenly found himself trying to figure out where he would go next. For a period of time he moved from place to place, searching for somewhere he could stay.

During that time Chris came across a hotline that mentioned House of Refuge Sunnyslope. He made the call, came to the campus for an interview, and was accepted into the program. For Chris, that moment marked the beginning of a new opportunity to rebuild his life.

When Chris arrived at House of Refuge Sunnyslope, he committed himself fully to the program. He continued working at Goodwill, where he had already built a strong work history, and began focusing on rebuilding structure, stability, and direction in his life. Over time the environment of accountability and community helped him slow down and reflect on things he had not allowed himself to face for many years.

One of the most difficult realities Chris began thinking about was the distance that had grown between him and his daughters.

“Being at House of Refuge Sunnyslope gave me the space to think about the relationships I had lost along the way. I had not seen some of my family in twenty years, and I even had grandchildren I had never met. For the first time in a long time, I began thinking about what I wanted my future to look like.”

During his time in the program, Chris began seriously considering reconnecting with his family. Eventually he made the decision to reach out. He made the phone calls and began speaking with his daughters again. Their response brought him encouragement and hope. He described their reaction simply as having their arms wide open.

Throughout his time at House of Refuge Sunnyslope, Chris continued to grow and remain steady. The daily rhythm of community life made a significant impact on him. Being surrounded by other men who were also working toward change created accountability and encouragement. The daily meetings and the community allowed him to see others graduating and moving forward in their lives, which motivated him to stay focused.

Chris also reflects on something that still surprises him. Although he struggled with drugs and alcohol in the past, he says that during his time in the program he has not even thought about returning to those things. Today he has been sober for more than two years.

Mentors and staff also played an important role in encouraging him during this season and helping him stay focused on the path ahead.

Now, as Chris graduates from the program, he is looking ahead to a very different future than the one he once imagined. His plan is to move to Alabama, where he will reunite with his daughters and finally meet his grandchildren for the first time. After years of distance, he now has the opportunity to rebuild those relationships and begin a new season of life with his family.

Looking back on this journey, Chris says one of the most important lessons he has learned is not to put off the things that matter most. For him, that means choosing to move forward, reconnect with his family, and build a future that once felt out of reach.

Today Chris leaves House of Refuge Sunnyslope with steady employment, savings set aside, transportation for the road ahead, and restored relationships waiting for him.

Most importantly, he leaves with renewed hope and the opportunity to begin again, stepping into a future where he can be present with his daughters, meet his grandchildren, and continue building a life rooted in stability, purpose, and connection.