“How did my life come to this?”

Josh lay on the thin mattress, staring at the fabric of the tent above as the question repeated in his head.

This wasn’t the life he envisioned – homeless, lost and without purpose. For more than 30 years, Josh was stuck in the cycle of alcohol abuse, a struggle rooted in pain that started long before his first drink.

Then he found Liberty House – and the spiral finally stopped, opening the door to a future filled with hope and opportunity.

Navy Ambitions

Josh grew up in Manchester. Like most teenagers, he loved playing soccer, hanging out with friends and driving his car.

Alcohol was always present in his life. His parents were daily drinkers. His mother passed away from liver sclerosis six months after he graduated from high school. It hit him hard, and he began to drink more regularly.

Then he found his calling – the Navy.

A childhood friend of his joined, so Josh enlisted. He trained as a machinist mate, serving in the engine room, and set his sights on becoming a Navy SEAL.

But his struggles with alcohol got in the way, and he was discharged after a short time. With it went his dreams – and sense of self.

“I Didn’t Know How to Stay Sober”

Josh tried to start over. He moved from state to state, working odd jobs. But his substance misuse issues continued to grip him. With help from his father and stepmother, he returned to New England to get his life together.

He worked at a grocery store for 10 years, ascending from part-time work to assistant store manager. But the drinking and struggles continued, taking him once again off his path. He lost his job and became homeless.

Josh stayed in a hotel room until he ran out of money. He pitched a tent at a local campsite, then outside a friend’s barn, where he picked up work as a landscaper.

“I was upset that my life came down to living in a tent,” Josh shared. “I was depressed and struggling, but at least I had a place to go.”

And then, luckily, he was able to reconnect with his former girlfriend Melissa, a woman he calls “the girl of my dreams.”

Josh eventually saved up enough money and the two were able to get an apartment together. He stopped drinking and was getting healthy again. But one slip led to another. Melissa asked him to move out.

“I didn’t know how to stay sober,” he said.

But what he did know – things had to change.

New Hope, New Beginning

Josh checked himself into an addiction treatment center, then transitioned to a sober living community. But the cycle – relapse, recovery, relapse – continued.

In February of 2024, he heard about Liberty House. Little did he know that the 30-year cycle with alcoholism was finally coming to an end.

“I had a low sense of self-worth when I arrived at Liberty House,” Josh recalls. “But that changed fast.”

With the help of his case manager, Becky, Josh worked on a series of goals to get his life back on track through Liberty House’s 4-step process.

“Liberty House is unlike any other environment I’ve lived in,” said Josh. “It’s so squared away here, with programming and support geared towards putting your life together. They help you build good habits and restore your sense of purpose – and hope.”

Within the first few weeks, he obtained his birth certificate and social security card to apply for jobs. Josh got a job at a local supermarket, and was soon promoted to assistant store manager.

Staff helped him connect with a primary care physician and mental health resources, and he attended recovery meetings. He helped maintain the house chores that, over time, gave him a deeper sense of responsibility and accountability.

Liberty House’s financial fitness training taught him how to budget and he eventually raised his credit score by 125 points. He opened a bank account and grew his savings. He even purchased a new car and got approved for a car loan – milestones he never thought possible.

A Full-Circle Moment

Then came what he calls his proudest moment – he reunited with Melissa.

“When you have substance misuse, it takes a while to win someone back over,” Josh says. “I had to show Melissa that I was sober and committed.”

13 months after arriving at Liberty House, Josh moved back in with Melissa.

“I was ecstatic that I had a second chance of being with Melissa again and making something meaningful with my life,” he shares.

“Josh is one of the smartest, kindest, sweetest and hardworking men that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing,” said Melissa. “Alcohol took that all away from him and he was left very unsure of himself and lost. Liberty House gave Josh the structure and support he needed to gain his sobriety and the confidence to maintain it. I’m eternally grateful to Liberty House for helping Josh to find himself again.”

Today, Josh remains sober, has a great job with a steady income, and is excited for the future he could never build on before. He remains engaged with Liberty House through its aftercare services program that provides ongoing support for residents after their move into independent housing.

“Aftercare is important, especially for someone with a history like mine,” said Josh. “The risk of relapse will always be there, and it’s important to keep that connection with Liberty House to ensure I stay on track, and that all the work I put in doesn’t go to waste. It’s a reminder that someone is there for you and cares for you. That’s huge.”

Josh continues with his goals, working now on getting his license back after more than a decade.

In all, Liberty House changed him in ways he never imagined. His low sense of self-worth and feeling of being lost, stuck in a vicious cycle of substance use, is gone.

“I’m back – more confident and optimistic than ever before,” he shares. “I now have a good, clean head on my shoulders and am excited for the future. I cannot thank the staff and donors enough for helping to make this happen. Because of them, this is not the end for me – it’s the beginning.”