Alonzo, 68, is a quiet man, yet his eyes tell the story of a 50-year long struggle with heroin addiction.

After a drug-related arrest, he was offered treatment at Odyssey House as an alternative to incarceration. Seeing this as his final opportunity, Alonzo knew it was time to take control of his future.

“I nearly lost my family because of my addiction,” he says. “I’m ready to move on, and get my family back. I’m too old for this. Enough is enough.”

With his family in mind, Alonzo began treatment in our ElderCare program. As this battle has been a part of his life for so long, it’s been a particularly challenging experience for him, but he is staying focused on his recovery with the help of his peers and his daughters, what he calls his “keys to future success.”

During the rest of his time in ElderCare, Alonzo plans to continue his job as a receptionist in Harlem and search for stable housing using the resources Odyssey House provides.