Billy’s Story: From Darkness to Light

 “Years ago, my son and I were staying at the New Directions family shelter. I was battling addiction, really trying to stay sober, but I just didn’t know how to overcome it. My son’s mother died from addiction, and even that didn’t stop me—I ended up using again and was rightfully expelled from the shelter. I almost lost my son during that time," Billy recalls.

 "After leaving the shelter, I spent nearly two years with my daughter’s mother, trying to make things work. But I slipped back into old habits. Eventually, my son’s grandparents moved down from Ohio to be closer to him, and I had to make the hardest decision of my life—I asked them to take care of him while I tried to get my life together. I was living wherever I could find shelter, spending many nights at New Directions Men’s Shelter.”

The next year and a half was a time of chaos for Billy. He welcomed another daughter into the world but found himself struggling to provide for his children as his addiction worsened. He lost his job, admitting, "I was only working to fuel my addiction. I became a slave to it."

Desperate for change, Billy returned to New Directions, hoping to enter their 30-day program. "I reconnected with John and William, the addiction and recovery specialists at the shelter, though I didn’t even remember them at first because I was so out of it. They offered me a second chance if I was willing to go to rehab. I didn’t have the money or insurance, but they sponsored me. It was a tough decision—I had kids I couldn’t provide for, but I knew I needed to get my life together."

A conversation with Kathy Jenkins, the CEO of New Directions, became a turning point. She encouraged Billy to go to The Oaks Recovery Clinic on a scholarship. "I wasn’t sure what to do, but John asked me, 'What do you have to lose?' So I agreed. I called my mom, and I just broke down crying. No one had pressured me, but I felt this overwhelming sense of relief. That morning, at 6 AM, before I made my decision, I remember standing by the dumpster outside the men’s shelter, praying. I looked up at the moon and asked God, ‘Is this really it for my life?’ Looking back, that was when God intervened. He put me on the path toward recovery, and that was the beginning of the end for my old life.”

Billy entered The Oaks Recovery, where he spent four transformative months working on himself. He describes the experience as “life-changing,” as he finally learned to confront his addiction head-on. "It was tough. The key is suffering—you have to want sobriety more than you want to use. I quickly realized I had used for the last time. I wasn’t just detoxing physically; I was breaking down my behaviors, my fears, and my insecurities. The problem wasn’t just what I was putting in my body—it was how I was thinking."

During his time at The Oaks, Billy rediscovered the person he was before addiction took hold. He graduated from the program in August 2021 and returned to New Directions with a new sense of purpose. "I didn’t have my son back yet, but I was ready to rebuild. I moved into a sober living house and committed to regular meetings. I had learned a lot in rehab, and I knew I couldn’t put anything—my job, my kids—before my recovery, or I’d lose it all again."

Billy worked hard to rebuild his relationship with his children, slowly regaining their trust. He also returned to his old job as a restaurant server but realized he needed more stability for his family’s future. "I decided to pursue real estate. Even while I was at The Oaks, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted a career I could be proud of, one that would allow me to provide for my family. So, I enrolled in real estate school, passed my courses, and got my license."

Today, Billy is a licensed real estate agent with Century 21 Palms, a dedicated father, and a fitness enthusiast. He and his partner have invested in real estate with the goal of creating sober living homes to help others on their recovery journeys, inspired by his own experiences.

Billy’s story is proof that no matter how deep into addiction someone may fall, there is always a way back. As he puts it, “The key is being honest with yourself, setting achievable goals, and never stopping the work on self-improvement. I know now there are no shortcuts. I’ve been blessed with a second chance, and I’m not going to waste it.”