A Veteran's Story of Restoration - Denver Rescue Mission

Phillip came to the Mission feeling completely broken. He struggled to cope from his experience in the army, struggled with drug use, had most of his possessions stolen, burned many relationship bridges, and attempted to end his life. After joining the New Life Program and putting in the hard work, he turned his life completely around and has hope for his future.

Experiencing hardship and trauma often leads to long-lasting physical and emotional pain. Such pain takes a toll on a person and may lead to the search for anything, anything, to numb or make it go away. For Phillip, it was a series of events that led him to hitting rock bottom.

He joined the military right out of high school and served four years. That experience opened his eyes to a lot of hardship that he had never seen before.

“People have no clue what people see, experience and deal with on a day-to-day basis,” Phillip said. “I quit going to church and started to use drugs as my coping mechanism.”

After those four years, Phillip felt completely lost and like there was nowhere he could turn to get the support he needed.

“A lot of people are coming back with arms or legs missing, shell shock, all types of trauma,” he said. “There is nowhere near enough support to help people back into society, cope or acclimate themselves.”

Phillip continued to use drugs as he bounced between jobs. Then in 2013 he started his own business doing roofing and repair. All seemed to be going well until COVID hit.

Business slowed down, and he once again turned to drugs to cope with the uncertainty. That spiraled into an eviction, leaving Phillip to sleep in his truck, until one night it was stolen, with all his possessions inside. Next thing he knew, he was sleeping on the streets.

“The first time I slept on the streets, I slept under a bridge, and it was the first night it snowed in 2021. I didn’t know where to go or what to do,” he said. “That experience was very humbling.”
Phillip

Phillip then heard about Denver Rescue Mission and spent a few nights in the shelter. “I was just in a daze and trying to cope with where I ended up,” he remembered.

Feeling like all hope was lost, Phillip sold one of the last things he owned to pay for a night at a hotel. “I tried overdosing and taking my life,” he said. “I woke up Monday morning still alive. My mentality just switched. It was like, ‘Okay, well I guess there’s something else in store for me.’”

“Imagine how many people you have helped. . . . Being homeless, losing everything and losing who I was, to have an opportunity like this is like winning the lottery.”
Phillip

A few weeks later, Phillip joined the New Life Program, the Mission’s rehabilitation program for men. Even though the journey to get there was hard, he is so grateful that God led him to the Mission.

“I was completely broken—mentally, emotionally, physically, psychologically. So I just made an honest commitment and prayed that this was the right place I needed to be,” he said. “It offered me a solid foundation morally and spiritually so I could work on myself.”

“Every fiber of my being will do anything possible to never ever, ever be in that position again, and hopefully help others to not be in that position.”
Phillip

Not only did he grow in his faith while in the program, but Phillip was able to start his business back up again. He rebranded his business name to “Read’s Restoration & Repair” because he felt like more than his business was restored—his whole life was restored.

“It’s just so huge to receive the basic living requirements— a bed, electricity, WiFi, a computer room, people to talk to, Bible lessons, and people who care about your success,” he said. “I’m super appreciative of what they’ve given me. This program saved my life.”

We serve everyone who comes through our doors. After intake to evaluate a person’s quickest path out of homelessness, we refer many veterans experiencing homelessness to one of our community partners, often Veteran Affairs, who can meet their more specific needs. After those referrals, about 6% of those we serve at the Mission are veterans.

We work to get them connected with case management, mental health services, housing services, employment services, and more. Last year, 921 veterans were connected to services through the Mission.

Phillip has now graduated from the program and transitioned into the STAR Transitional Program at The Crossing. “Knowing that I had the stability of continuing these relationships and resources was huge,” he said. “I had options to leave but I didn’t have the funds saved up. Most of the funds I saved up paid off a lot of stuff and helped establish who I am now and my company.”

Now, Phillip is saving up to buy his own home, continuing to build his business and finding ways to give back. One way he is already doing so is by hiring other New Life Program participants or graduates when he needs extra help on jobs.

“I’ve probably hired 12 people total since I’ve been here,” he said. “It’s helping them to learn a trade or learn how to do things to be more self-sufficient. While I make less money it’s not about the money, it’s about the relationships and what you give back to people who are trying.”

As a veteran himself, Phillip started a nonprofit to help give back to veterans in need of home repair and refurbishment.

“My purpose was to help veterans save for what they need—health care, mental health care, physical care—by making sure that their home was fully refurbished or restored so they could focus on those things.”

Although there is still pain inside from what he has experienced, through prayer, community and honest conversations, Phillip now looks forward to waking up another day.

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