The Carriage House

  Warren Riggs
During a very difficult period in my life in which addiction and legal troubles seemed insurmountable obstacles, the Carriage House proved to be a steady foundation.

My name is Warren Riggs, and I am writing to express my gratitude for the assistance and resources I received from the Carriage House. Without their help, the ability to reassemble the wreck my life had become would have been nearly impossible, or at least significantly delayed. I was homeless, recently released from jail and could only lay claim to the clothes on my back. The road ahead was a long one indeed.

Once I began frequenting the Carriage House, my hope was renewed. I was received warmly, and treated with dignity and respect by all the Carriage House staff. Whether I was in need of a shower and a hot meal or computer access for composing a resume to gain employment, the Carriage House was able to provide. I received a phone number for my own personal voice mail and a P.O. Box to receive mail. This was pivotal in my quest for employment.

I was also given a voucher for clothes at a local thrift store so I could make myself presentable for job interviews. If I needed assistance for transportation to those interviews, the Carriage House provided me with RTD bus tokens. While all the needs of my professional life were met, I was able to get help with issues in my personal life as well. My addiction to alcohol had caused many reoccurring problems in my life, and was something I needed to address if I hoped to be successful in rebuilding this time around. I was then referred by Carriage House staff to the in house case manager and addiction recovery counselor, Joy Eckstine.

I was pleasantly surprised after numerous meetings with Ms. Eckstine, that she displayed genuine concern about my problems and had many suggestions and resources to assist me. She helped me obtain appointments at the People’s Clinic, a low cost medical facility, to address psychological issues with a psychiatrist, and I was able to receive low cost medication. She also invited me to an addiction recovery group that she organized within the Carriage House. The group meets every Friday, and helps recovering addicts deal with addiction issues.

I now have two jobs and a clear head from a current prolonged stretch of sobriety. I am well on my way to returning as a productive member of society. I still attend the addiction group at the Carriage House and the future is definitely looking brighter. Without the help from the Carriage House, my situation could have turned out much different. It is a wonderful organization that offers the same help I just described to many others in unfortunate situations. I give full marks and commend all of the staff for their unselfish efforts to assist those in need.