Eugene's Restoration: A Story You Made Possible

My name is Eugene, and The Bowery Mission saved me from a life of drug addiction and homelessness. Every day was a living hell… 

I was in my early 30s when I started selling drugs. The thing that gets you is eventually you sample your own product, so I got hooked on heroin and crack cocaine.

I became homeless and ended up living under a bridge for about 5 years. Then someone told me to go to The Bowery Mission and I finally got clean. I believe it was 40% Bowery and 60% God that helped to turn my life around.

The Mission helped me find a job and it was awesome to go to work and get a paycheck and not go to the drug dealer. I've worked my way up to be a porter in a local high-rise condominium. It's hard work but really rewarding.

I'm also in touch with my family again. I used to steal from them so it took them a while to believe that I had changed, but now we have a good relationship.

I even met my wife, Pamela, when we were both working at the Mission. We have been married for 13 years and I thank God for her every day.

The way I was going and what I was doing, I would not have been around much longer. I would say The Bowery Mission gave me a new life.