A feeling of abandonment leads to life changes

Whitney at HVAF

A graduation from HVAF's recovery program in March 2015 will serve as a milestone for Whitney of what can happen when a program frees him of his barriers and takes him places he only once imagined. Whitney knew early in life that he wanted to serve his country and celebrated his 18th birthday at boot camp. The following three years, beginning in 1970, were spent in U.S. Army. 

His exposure to drugs and alcohol intensified. After his service, he attended the American Business College in San Diego, California and received a degree in Automotive Technology. Whitney accepted a job at Allison Transmission in Indianapolis where he worked as skilled assembler for fourteen years before taking a buyout in 1992. 

Whitney was able to start his own business, an auto shop, which was a dream, but his struggles with alcoholism and drugs were never far behind. His checking account emptied out. His business closed. Whitney was homeless.

“One night I did not make it to the mission in time and I had to sleep outside. I had no choice but to sleep on the street," says Whitney.

Whitney decided to change his life around with help from HVAF. He learned about HVAF’s Residential, Employment, Substance Abuse Treatment (REST) program. The program’s 12-step recovery curriculum became his last attempt to become clean and sober. He entered the program on July 7, 2014.

“The REST program was definitely a spiritual awakening for me,” says Whitney. “First of all I read the AA book for the first time and frankly I knew I had a problem but didn’t know how to treat it. I also established a personal connection with God and that has given me strength.”

“I want to shower my kids with love because I don’t want what happened to me happen to them. I was raised in a dysfunctional family and had a lot of rejection and I didn’t want to feel them and so I self-medicated and made poor choices," adds Whitney. "I now have a network of people to call when I feel week. At HVAF, I am held accountable with regular weekly meetings. Being clean and sober feels like a fog has been lifted. I no longer remember the reasons why I turned to drugs and alcohol in the first place. It is very important to me to get closer to my kids and regain their trust," adds Whitney.

Whitney has been clean and sober for two years. He is working with Mark Lykins, a case manager at HVAF, and has secured permanent housing and support through the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program.