13 was a tough age for Joe – he was placed in foster care soon after his alcoholic father’s death and due to other problems at home. He soon started using weed and meth, after already abusing alcohol since he was in elementary school. He started committing crimes and was in and out of juvenile hall.

Joe pulled it together during young adulthood, with dreams of becoming a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. He ended up being a bouncer at a strip club, however – not the best environment for someone struggling with both crime and addiction.

His problems escalated when he gave up his MMA dream and started using cocaine. He eventually became a DJ and club manager, and was a relatively functional addict – except for constantly getting into trouble. As a result, he was in and out of jail for minor offenses but was always able to make bail.

At 30 years of age, he became a father to his daughter. The relationship with his daughter’s mother, however, was a difficult one. Joe was a “train wreck,” and lost the solid friends he had made through MMA due to all of his problems. He stopped working, became homeless (for a total of five years), kept hanging out with the wrong people, and made bad decision after bad decision.

A friend from Joe’s MMA days finally tracked him down and helped place him at a high-end rehab center, but Joe only stayed sober for five months and was homeless again. That same friend who helped him before tracked him down once again – and this time, he found a sobriety date that’s stuck since December 8, 2023.  

Joe found his way to an Action Alliance house in early 2024. After cleaning up some problems on his criminal record, he became a house manager in May, 2024. 

Currently working at a drug treatment center in Beverly Hills, Joe has been working his way up the accreditation ladder in the recovery industry. He is active in AA, working with a sponsor and also serving as a sponsor. He talks to his mom regularly, and is supporting his daughter financially.  While he does not currently see his daughter, he hopes that will change soon. 

“God has given me everything I need,” notes Joe. “I stay focused on taking things one day at a time. Every door that needed to be opened since I’ve been sober has been opened. Managing a house has also helped me grow – I feel like the house is a pretty solid opportunity to help people get on their feet and build a solid foundation of sobriety.”

“My life has changed in every way possible – my perspective is different,” continues Joe. “It’s now focused on helping people, through the house I manage, through AA, and through my work.  I believe in God now and am accountable – everything is my responsibility.”