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At the Y, Veyyes found a promising path forward.
“I’m in college. I would have never thought that I would be doing school. That’s crazy to me,” Veyyes Sanchez laughs. His laugh is a kind of joyful astonishment as he reflects on what his life looks like now, without the daily dependence on alcohol.
“That constant gauntlet is gone,” he says. In its place is a new routine, a supportive community, creative outlets, and acts of service — all found when Veyyes took the first step and walked through the doors of the YMCA of Reading & Berks County’s Twin Peaks supportive housing program.
The Army veteran had hit what he describes as “bottom.” Drinking was his daily focus, and alcoholism had consumed his life. It cost him his home and his family. Someone at a local shelter where Veyyes had been staying suggested he try the YMCA’s Transitional Housing Program. Veyyes filled out the application and joined a local Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) group. Early on, Veyyes experienced a setback in his recovery, but within the supportive environment of the Y, he was able to push forward.
Veyyes is doing what he loves. Reading and exercising are some of the activities that help keep him centered.
“I started seeing that I definitely had some work to do on myself. After seeing the results of working a little bit — working the [AA] program — after seeing the results of that, I was like, ‘OK, this is working. I’m feeling something different,’” Veyyes recalls.
Veyyes continued to work through the AA program while finding fellowship and a home within the walls of the Y. He credits the accountability and support of his case manager, Jena Rivera, who helped reframe his addiction and, in turn, his approach to recovery.
“The person who was taking care of me was Jena,” says Veyyes. “She did a lot of shadow work with me, and she helped me understand where my mind was with my addiction. She was someone who helped me realize there was something going on.”
After nine months at the YMCA Twin Peaks, Veyyes was ready to transition out of transitional housing and reclaim more of his independence. For Veyyes, there was no question about where he wanted to be, so he moved into the Reading Y’s single room occupancy housing.
“Recovery in general has been good for me,” Veyyes says. “And that’s why I’m staying around because it actually works for me, and it’s a new life.”
“The Y gave me hope. I was feeling a little bit hopeless and I had no direction really and the Y just kind of gave me hope.”
After nine months at the YMCA Twin Peaks, Veyyes was ready to transition out of transitional housing and reclaim more of his independence. For Veyyes, there was no question about where he wanted to be, so he moved into the Reading Y’s single-room occupancy housing.
“Recovery in general has been good for me,” Veyyes says. “And that’s why I’m staying around because it actually works for me, and it’s a new life.”
At the Y, I found hope.
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