Success Stories

LaVerne McHaney …

LaVerne McHaney is a resident of Old Pueblo’s Oasis House for Women and serves as the House Manager for residents of one of our facilities.  This is her story.

Before Oasis I was lost, but now I have truly found a new beginning.  This is the first time since 1964 that I have been drug and alcohol free for two continuous years.  With the help of divine assistance, Oasis has taught me how to open a door and look within.  And I have discovered how great life can be without drugs.

As I think back to my days of active addiction, I can picture myself hitch-hiking to Oakland, a place where I could always pan handle money easily.  I would open the door and step into the car and think to myself, “How great it would be to have a car!”  But my addiction had complete control over my behavior.  It was indeed true that I lived to use and I used to live.  When I woke up in the morning my first thought was of how I was going to get money to get high that day.  I did whatever it took – borrowed from those who would still lend to me or sell whatever I had, even if it did not belong to me.

All my life I had my mother to fall back on when things were not going well.  I was always a functioning addict, with little or no money.  I had tried recovery a few times, but I kept falling back to old places and old friends.  When my mother passed away, everything changed.  I tried living out in the streets, but after a mere 17 days of homelessness, I was indeed finished.  I remember trying to wash my hands clean in a filthy Burger King bathroom.  The sink was dirty, the water was dirty, and my hands would not come clean.  I was through.

I called Nick and Leah Jones and inquired about a way to change my life.  I wanted desperately to learn how to live my life without drugs but had no idea how to accomplish this goal.  I was told that through the Jackson employment program if I applied myself fully, I would get a job in 3 weeks.  Leah asked if I could do this, and my reply was, “Of course!”  I knew I needed a new way of life, and I was willing to do whatever it took to become clean and sober. 

Upon my arrival at the Oasis House for Women I quickly fell into the program.  I went to my meetings, I found a church, I found a sponsor and above all I found a job of my choice.  I listened at meetings, did what I was told and I looked up to people within the program with years of clean time.  My life has changed so much.  They say this program is a miracle, and I truly believe that it is a miracle. 
I am now a productive member of society.  When I came here I had only the clothing on my back.  It was so exciting: one day finding a job, then getting a bank account and saving enough money to have a down-payment for my car!  I now have resources I tap into whenever any road blocks appear upon my journey in life.

Old Pueblo Community Services has helped me in so many ways.  Although I know I can never truly repay this agency for the kindness, support and opportunity I have acquired, it is indeed my pleasure to work in one of the transitional houses as a house manager.                                                                                                                                                                                           by LaVerne I. McHaney