We asked Kurt to share his experience of Sponsors now that he has successfully graduated the program. Staffer Jay Bell sat down with him in February of 2012.

When I came to Sponsors, I didn’t know anything about the program. I just knew it was a place I could stay and get help to reintegrate into the community. I came with nothing. Sponsors provided me with clothes, shelter and a secure place from the streets. The rules at Sponsors were lenient and easy to fall into because I had always been kind of a rigid person. Rules make me feel comfortable. All I was asked to do was be here in the morning, take UAs, cook my own food, clean my room and do whatever job they gave me. I had to stay out of trouble, report and log where I went and what I did.

One of the challenges of being at Sponsors was that I was considered a dangerous offender. I wore a boot so Lane County Corrections Center could monitor my whereabouts. I had to deal with the police, my parole officer and Sponsors all telling me what I could and could not do. I spent a lot of time in my room during those four months, then moved to Honors housing because I had my own income.

While at Sponsors, three main guys helped me. Joseph Ches gave me a job in the warehouse, where I worked at separating clothes and organizing the area. Tony Meyers was kind of like my mentor and helped me in getting my driver’s license. Bill Hogan took me in like a brother. He assisted me in getting my veterans stuff going again, took me to all the meetings and to get my benefits.

I don’t think I would have gotten as far as I am without going to Sponsors. They convinced my parole officer that it was good for me to run every morning, so I did. They explained that it would be beneficial for me to have a job, so I went to work for FSG (Facility Service Group). Bill Hogan told my parole officer that I needed to find a place to live upon leaving Sponsors. I looked up over 350 different places until one finally accepted me.

The advice that I would give to Sponsors is to pay attention to people’s needs, feelings and thoughts, because most people coming out of prison can’t communicate their needs. For those coming to Sponsors, I would tell them that most people aren’t given this chance; there are only 72 beds here and so many more than that get out of prison.

One of the things that I will always remember from prison is a little saying, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you’ve always gotten”. There are many responsibilities you’re going to have on the outside that you didn’t have in prison. It can overwhelm you. You have to ask yourself “what needs am I trying to meet? Are these needs beneficial? Is this really a need, or is it me acting like my old self again?” It’s easy to go back to prison because it’s comfortable, the easy way. If you want to have a life then you are going to have to make changes that are difficult. “The worst day in your freedom is better than the best day in prison”.

When a person comes to Sponsors they need to realize two things: 1) Everyone who lives here at Sponsors came from the same place they came from, and 2) One has to pick and choose whom to hang around with.

Do what’s best for you.

I was only 18 when I was convicted of my crime and was incarcerated for nearly 6 and a half years. Exiting prison felt very overwhelming to me. I had no idea what I would do with my life and really limited options for housing and employment. Without Sponsors, I would not have known what do or how to move forward. Within 6 months, I’ve become a successful student, participate in my community and rent my own room.

I first released to my family and had a difficult time finding a job. After five months, my Parole Officer strongly recommended I contact the director of Sponsors. I moved into Men’s Sponsors July 2010.

The day I came to Sponsors I was quite nervous because I didn’t know what it was going to be like and how the other tenants here would treat me. After being at Men’s Transitional housing for almost two weeks I landed a dishwashing job through a friend at Sponsors. Only working there for a month and a half I was let go. Discouragement started to set in. But instead of giving up, I worked with my Case Manager and we looked at the option of attending school at Lane Community College. Jerrid assisted me with all the complicated paperwork and applications I had to fill out in order to be accepted into Lane Community College. I started classes and really enjoy all the services at school. What I find beneficial is the office hours with teachers, and I look forward to utilizing that one-on-one time this coming year. Currently I have a cumulative GPA of 2.95 after Three terms.

The education program at Sponsors is a 6 month program where individuals have the opportunity to attend school while at Sponsors. For me this was a very helpful way for me to stay involved in a new and positive way in my life. Most of all it allowed me to maintain the connections of support I have developed during my stay at Sponsors. I transitioned out of Men’s Transitional housing into one of the adjunct houses of Sponsors about five months ago and have been continuing to remain connected to Sponsors. Continue reading »

In June of 2011, current and former clients of Sponsors explained to the Lane County Commissioners how Sponsor’s critical programs had positively affected their lives and families. Here’s Trish’s story of how Sponsor’s helped her learn a new way of life:

As I began thinking about this testimony what came to mind was a report a former parole officer had written about me. He wrote, “Once again Patricia Coldeen is a complete and total failure.” This was in 2001, and you know at that time it really wasn’t too far from the truth. I had been in a downward spiral of drug addiction, alcohol use and crime. Lane County Jail had been a revolving door, and I really didn’t know how to stop it.

Today I am thankful I am a very different person. People can change, with help. And it was the Sponsors Women’s program that helped me to change. I can honestly say Sponsors is a huge piece of the foundation of the recovery I have today.

I grew up here in Eugene. I wanted to graduate high school, I wanted to go to college. But those things didn’t happen. I first started smoking pot with my friends at a pretty young age. It wasn’t long before I began using harder drugs and then heroin. I used heroin for 15 years — I was one of the statistics that showed untreated drug addiction costs the state hundreds of thousands of dollars in incarceration fees, uninsured hospital visits and other related costs.

In 2005 I was sentenced to Coffee Creek Correctional Facility because of the crimes I committed in my addiction. I was lucky enough to be able to participate in a drug and alcohol treatment program that included a cognitive restructuring program. I was taught how my thinking played a critical role in my decision-making process and learned how to become accountable for my actions.

When I got out of prison, Sponsors was there for me. I needed the support, direction and structure that Sponsors provides. Learning a new way of life is one thing — learning how to do it is another. Sponsors was there to teach me how to do it.

Today I am a success. I have 3 ½ years “clean and sober.” I have been completely off parole and out of the system for over a year. I have been employed at the same job for over 2 ½ years, where I am a valued employee; I am reliable and responsible. I am a second year student in the Human Services program at Lane Community College, and I am doing my internship at Willamette Family Treatment Services. I have plans to continue to Portland State to get my Bachelors in Social Work. I am going to be a counselor, because I understand how we can veer so far from our intended purpose, but what I also know is that it is never too late to become who you were meant to be. And Sponsors helped me to realize this.

Please continue funding Sponsors so that communities can heal, families can reunite and individuals can be successful.” 

– Trish Coldeen.