From Caregiver to Overcomer: Jarrod’s Next Chapter

For about five years, Jarrod’s life revolved around caring for his dad. He managed hospital stays, doctor appointments, and the day-to-day needs of someone whose health was slowly declining. In the process, he put everything else aside, his job, his stability, and even his own recovery.

“I’d been kind of in and out of recovery,” Jarrod shared. “Some seasons of doing well, and some seasons of failure. But all my time and energy were going into taking care of my dad.”

By late last year, the pressure had built up. Jarrod knew he needed to get back to work, regain some stability, and find solid ground again. But around Christmas, the emotional weight and exhaustion caught up with him. He relapsed. “Only for a few weeks,” he said, “but it made me realize that what I was doing wasn’t sustainable. I was trying to juggle everything, and it just wasn’t working.”

As difficult as that moment was, Jarrod now sees it as a turning point, “a blessing in disguise,” he calls it. It forced him to face the truth: he needed help, structure, and a place to rebuild.

Jarrod had known about House of Refuge Sunnyslope for years. He had gone through Teen Challenge and had friends who completed the program. He even did a walkthrough of the campus with a former staff member. When it became clear that he needed a “home base” again, he knew where to go.

Walking into the program for the first time, Jarrod felt hopeful. The structure stood out immediately. “Honestly, I was excited that the program focused on structure instead of just my addiction,” he said. “The rules and expectations, I knew they were there to help me, not just control me. Compared to other places, House of Refuge felt like a healthy balance. It’s serious about recovery, but it also prepares you to live and work in the real world.”

Wednesday night Bible studies quickly became an anchor for him. The teaching, the conversations, and the small group of men who mentored him made a profound impact. “Those guys helped me a lot,” Jarrod said. “They gave guidance, discipline, and just spoke into my life. It was huge.” He is also strengthening relationships with his family and with the men he’s grown close to in the program.

Today, Jarrod is thriving. He’s working in construction, a job he loves and finding joy in using his skills to fix and build things. He is rebuilding his credit, prioritizing financial stability, and preparing for the next chapter of his life.

And now, that next chapter is here.

Jarrod graduates from House of Refuge Sunnyslope and moves into stable housing on December 4th.

He is stepping forward with confidence—grounded, hopeful, and grateful. When asked how House of Refuge Sunnyslope changed his life, Jarrod didn’t hesitate: “It gave me a place to refocus.”

And when people ask why they should give or get involved with House of Refuge Sunnyslope, his answer is simple and sincere:

“If someone comes here wanting to change, House of Refuge gives them the structure and support to do it. Residents get the chance to rebuild, and those that give get to be part of that transformation.

Jarrod is grateful for stability, for community, for the opportunity to rebuild, and for the future he’s stepping into with confidence. He is proof of what is possible when someone chooses to change and when a community surrounds them with the support, they need to walk it out.