A Path to Healing and Hope
Share your recovery journey.
Annually Valley Cities helps almost 20,000 clients a year on their journey to recovery. With every client that walks out our doors graduating our programs we hope your stories can inspire others suffering from addiction and mental health issues to seek help. Your voice matters. By sharing your story or reaching out for support, you become a vital part of our community.
Stories from previous Valley Cities clients
Kyle K's Story
“My sobriety date is January 8, 2017 — and for that, I’m truly grateful. There was a time in my life when I couldn’t even put 24 hours together. Life back then was all about getting loaded or finding ways to get loaded, with frequent trips to jail and a couple of treatment centers in between.
It wasn’t until I found my way into Valley Cities — court-ordered, of course — that I thought I might actually have a chance at living a life I never thought was possible.
I have a special place in my heart for Valley Cities and some of their counselors, like Denise Ranyneri, because I know how hard they worked for me — and I was just one of many. The love, support, positive atmosphere, and the feeling that someone actually cared and wanted to see me do better meant a lot.
Today, I sit here with over eight years clean and sober. I haven’t been back to jail, and I actively work a program of recovery. I’ve managed clean and sober houses in the area, chaired too many meetings to count, and have been elected to the head position at the group I attend.
I’m also a union construction worker and have been with the same company for the last seven years. Today, I get to be so many things: a son, a brother, a partner, a dad — and so much more.
And it all started right here at Valley Cities.”
-Kyle K.
Lauryn & John's Story
“My name is Lauryn, I am going to share John and mine’s journey to a positive, safe and welcoming home indoors. John and I were homeless together for 6 years and many years homeless before that time separately. We had not attended to care for our credit, our finances, and we certainly had been out of the “loop” of housing for a long period of time.
We met Jori McChesney in February of 2023, our Housing Coordinator with Valley Cities. When John and I met her, we were living in a shelter called the Ray of Hope, this was not ideal for our recent addition Mary to live in. We started looking for an apartment actively in March 2023 through March 2024. In this time, we ran into a few speed bumps of getting denied for apartment after apartment, probably around 18 apartment homes denied us. His credit was low and mine was developing until early February 2024. That did not stop us from calling, emailing, applying or arriving at apartments for tours and to apply.
Our second speed bump was income, John at the time was on disability and made under $500 a month, and KCHA was willing to work with us to house us! They never declined our concerns or questions. In January 2024 I found a job and that made our spirts grow we knew my credit would be developing soon and the income was a guaranty. We were then bounded to a certain area so that made our search very limited, but once again Jori guaranteed our housing size was flexible and it was about just finding the approval and the approval of inspection. We continued to search for an apartment in Kent, WA failed a lead base paint test. With in a weeks’ time in early March 2024 we were approved, and inspection approved within a week, or two time and we were moving into our own apartment on March 27, 2024.
Looking back at the day I met my housing coordinator I didn’t believe that she was serious about helping us. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE! WOW she was there when I was worried about extending my voucher, her Superior Ameeka was even there when she was out of the office. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to help me search for my new home. Even to this day with KCHA being the program that I speak with, they are welcoming to any questions, and get back to me within 3 business days.”
-Lauryn and John
“Valley Cities helped me through my darkest time when I was dealing with my own MH crsis and SUD. It is an honor to be part of Valley Cities to I can help others during a very vulnerable time in their life. I am happy to also be able to donate to Valley Cities so I can support all their areas that Valley Cities is able to reach in their mission to help our community through compassion” – Sophia
Share Your Recovery Story
We invite you to contribute your personal experiences to inspire and support others. Your story can inspire and give strength to those currently going through the recovery process. Use your real name, or a fictional name if you want your identity to be protected. If you would like to share your story, fill out the form and share your experience with Valley Cities.
Share your story below.
By signing and clicking “Submit” you are agreeing to Valley Cities Multimedia Release Policy. These stories may be used in Valley Cities promotional materials and/or displayed publicly on the Valley Cities website. For a copy of the official release statement, click here.
