07/30/2025
Testimonial: A Story of Resilience and Readiness for Change
Since his release from incarceration in 2021, "Nickname 55" has faced a series of uphill battles in his journey toward stability and recovery. Initially placed at the Red Roof Hotel for six months free of charge, he recalls it being a deeply challenging period. “It was a place where I relapsed,” he shared. Surrounded by individuals actively using substances, the environment only worsened his efforts to stay clean.
Now living at the YWCA, he describes the setting as harsh and institutional. “It feels like a prison cell,” he says. Sharing space with 47 others, he notes that there are only three showers per floor, no access to electrical appliances, and only a microwave and TV to use. The combination of limited resources, isolation, and unhealthy eating has taken a serious toll on his health, leading to two heart attacks.
Despite these hardships, he remains candid about his ongoing struggles. He admits to still drinking and smoking ma*****na, and he doesn’t sugarcoat his reality: “This has been a horrible four years for me.”
But recently, a spark of hope emerged. After being on the housing waitlist since 2021, he received a call from Housing of New Britain. He’s now in the top 10. “This came at the right time,” he says. “I’m tired of doing things over and over. S**t gets old.”
Although excited, he admits he's nervous—worried that his past may still stand in the way of moving forward. Yet in his voice, there's a sense of readiness, a desire for change, and a deep longing to break free from the cycles that have held him back for so long.
His story is one of pain, honesty, and resilience. With the right support and stable housing, there's still time to turn the page and write a new chapter.
