New sober living and transitional house opens up in Colorado Springs
Karla Sosa
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)- Hope Homes – Paying it Forward just opened up another sober living and transitional house in Colorado Springs. Chris Meeks, the president of the LLC, said he decided to create these homes due to the struggles he faced years ago when he was incarcerated.
“Ten years ago, I was incarcerated for a fight, and when I got out, I had a really challenging time finding work and finding housing,” said Meeks.
After getting his life together, Meeks found a way to help others. These houses are designed to provide a safety net.
“I got very involved in criminal justice reform, and it reminded me about the need for housing. So instead of flipping the house and selling it, I kept it. I reached out to [the] Department of Corrections and said, if you have any guys that need housing, please let me know,” said Meeks. “I want to make these houses beautiful homes where they feel safe. They can go to. They’re nice. They’re clean. And so we just do anything and everything to make it feel like home.”
Colin McIntosh now has a safe place to call home, after he was in prison for almost 2 years.
“I have a home that welcomes me, accepts me, and is allowing me grace to get restarted and into a better path for a brand new life,” said McIntosh.
He’s not alone; Brian Smith is a resident who’s staying at the new sober living and transitional house and finds this place to be a safe haven.
“I have friends that are past drug, alcohol users that continue to use, and I choose to stay away from, because that’s not my lifestyle and that’s not what I want to do anymore,” said Smith. “It’s like having your own new family. Adoptive family. Everybody has the same history, same past, something, and everybody is a support.”
You can reach out to Hope Homes – Paying it Forward if you would like to donate items.