Never Gave Up on Me – Chris’s Story of Recovery at New Directions

When Chris first walked through the doors of New Directions in 2018, “Life was not good,” he said simply. He had just gotten out of prison and landed in Myrtle Beach with no clear direction.

Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Chris had drifted through life after a string of incarcerations, addiction, and broken relationships. He had just gotten out of prison and landed in Myrtle Beach with no clear direction. That changed when a woman he met, herself five years in recovery, introduced him to New Directions. She brought him there for dinner one night.

“I checked into the shelter and the program. Didn't stay long, then went back out to the streets. Then one day I’d had enough.” That day became the first of many attempts. Chris entered and left treatment programs several times. He bounced from one facility to the next. He relapsed. He sold drugs. He got high. But through every setback, one thing remained constant, New Directions never gave up on him.

Referring to William Howsare and Jonathan Myers and, lead staff at New Directions Men’s Shelter, Chris shared: “Will’s sent me to treatment more times than I can count. He helped me find funding and gave me another shot, every time. Jon and Will… they became like family. They’re the only male role models I’ve had in my whole life.”

Even at his lowest when high, homeless, and sleeping in the woods, William and Jon made sure Chris was alive. They brought him food, checked on him, scolded him like a son when needed, but they never turned him away. “They were firm, but they never gave up.”

After finally completing treatment at The Oaks in 2023, Chris started turning his life around. He worked at the facility for a bit and then got a job in construction. But a tragic accident at work left him physically and emotionally shattered. A 1,000-pound beam fell on him resulting in head trauma and a crushed leg. The company fired him afterward, citing substances in his system. “I started drinking heavy. Got depressed. I thought that was going to be my career.”

But again, when everything crumbled, Chris reached out. “I texted Will: ‘I’ll be back. I’ll see you soon.’” And Will replied, as always, “Okay. I’ll see you Monday.” Chris spent every cent he had before walking back through the doors of New Directions, but this time, something felt different.

Today, Chris has nearly eight months sober, the longest stretch he’s ever had. He’s working at Goodwill, where he completed the “I Can” felon reentry program, and now helps others get jobs there. He’s chairing AA meetings, has a sponsor, and is fully immersed in the recovery community. He’s not just getting better, he’s leading others along the way.

“There are guys coming into the program now because they saw me doing better. Four or five of them are working with me. They come to my meetings. They’re following what I do. That means something to me, I don’t want to let them down.” Chris has become a mentor, paying forward what Will, Jon, and New Directions poured into him.

And what are his dreams now? “I want my own place. Just a one-bedroom. My own TV. A coffee table. Maybe a dog. A crockpot in the kitchen. A place I can call mine.” He hopes to one day reconnect with his son, whom he hasn’t seen in nearly a decade. But he wants to do it right, once he has a home, a place he can be proud to invite him into. Until then, he’s saving every dollar he can.

“People like Jon and Will—this place—they’ve saved my life. Just knowing they’re here, that I can always come back and talk to them, that they never shut the door on me... that’s been everything.”

Even after being temporarily removed due to disciplinary reasons, CEO Kathy Jenkins gave him another chance. “She smiles and waves at me every day now. That means the world to me.” “I used to think I knew better. Now I just listen.” His story is still unfolding, but one thing is clear: Chris is no longer running. He’s rebuilding.

And this time, thanks to New Directions, he's not doing it alone.