We are proud of the many success stories that have come out of Danny's House. Our residents have gone on to lead fulfilling and productive lives free from addiction. Read some of their stories here.
When we first met Brianna at 24 she had a long history of trauma and being hospitalized for mental health and addiction. She completed yet another residential treatment and moved into Danny’s House. She followed the Danny’s House Program, got a sponsor, started doing step work and began to work and
save money. After the first house manager moved on to reunify with her children, she became the house manager and took much pride in this role often stepping up even more than the position required. Brianna had a long-time boyfriend and after some time at Danny’s House, become pregnant. She
remained at Danny's house throughout her pregnancy. After giving birth, she returned to Danny’s House and to her job. She learned how to parent and be in recovery. A few months later she moved in with her child's father. She remained in recovery, got a new job and was promoted to shift manager.
Today, Brianna has multiple years of recovery, 2 beautiful children and is working as a fast-food manager. She has repaired relationships with her parents who are active in her children’s lives.
Cindy grew up in Northeast Philadelphia. She had to raise her two younger sisters because their parents struggled with addiction. She certainly did not plan to grow up to be an addict – quite the contrary. Like all teenagers, Cindy experimented with alcohol and drugs. After graduating high school, she worked a full-time job. But things began to unravel as she could not keep her alcohol and drug use under control. Cindy could not stop herself from making daily trips to Kensington for drugs. When her extended family would no longer allow her to continue ‘couch surfing’ among them, she found herself homeless and living on the streets of Kensington. After a year of living on the streets, she was arrested and in jail for 1 year. Cindy was offered treatment by the judicial system; she accepted and was mandated to treatment and halfway house. During this time, Cindy embraced recovery and practiced a 12-step program. By the time she completed the 6 months of treatment, she was committed to her recovery and working part-time successfully. But she could not afford to pay rent, and living with family was not an option. She found subsidized, safe, supportive recovery-focused housing at Danny’s House. After a year at Danny’s House, Cindy was able to afford to rent an apartment, and is now working full time as a pre-school teacher assistant and going to college at night. She has mended relationships with her sisters, parents and grandmother. Best of all, Cindy is now two years sober!
Jill was in and out of jail numerous times on drugs charges. She was stuck in a cycle for years of drug use, jail, treatment, and relapse. Jill tried many times to get sober and completed 10 residential treatment programs. But upon discharge, the stressors of independent living and limited sober supports resulted in a return to drugs in Kensington. She lost custody of her three children. Frustrated and exhausted, Jill decided to do something different the last time she went to residential addiction treatment – instead of going back to live with her long-term boyfriend, she chose Danny’s House and agreed to follow its recovery program. She spent the year turning her life around. Jill slowly rebuilt the estranged relationships with her children – whom she hadn’t talked to for 2 years as they would not return her calls. She rose from a cashier to a manager position at her place of work. She saved enough while at Danny’s House to afford safe housing afterward. Jill is two years sober and finally off probation!
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