Jason’s story is one of decades lost to addiction—until he found hope through the New Life Program.
Grief changes people; it is both one of the most universal experiences in life and one of the loneliest. For many, it takes only one moment for normal life to unravel completely.
When Jason lost his 11-year-old brother in an electrocution accident at the age of eight, his whole world flipped upside down.
It marked the beginning of years overwhelmed by depression, and by the time he was 15, drugs, gangs and addiction had shifted from an outlet to a lifestyle.
“My mom and dad got divorced about the same time as my brother died, and that kind of messed me up too,” Jason shared.
Through the loss of even more loved ones, Jason turned to drugs to cope and spent years cycling between temporary stability, prison and homelessness. Unhealthy relationships followed, and over time, he became the father of five children.
Jason eventually moved to Colorado and first stayed at the Lawrence Street Shelter in Denver before later making his way to Fort Collins.
He stayed at Fort Collins Rescue Mission on and off but admits he wasn’t yet ready for the accountability and structure that came with it, often choosing life on the streets instead.
“I made it through a whole winter in a tent with a heater,” he remembered.
“But it’s no way to live. It’s scary. You’re hungry and cold. That was the worst.”
After 30 years of living this way, Jason was exhausted.
“The life and everything that went with it,” he said, “made me lose everything I’ve ever had—houses, cars, relationships, kids.”
He came back to the Mission, and staff members encouraged him to apply for the New Life Program. Finally, Jason felt ready.
He joined the program in April 2025, and by October, he had graduated. Throughout the months, he experienced total transformation.
“It’s like night and day,” he said. “I’m more giving and caring. I’m calmer, more clear-headed and spiritually driven. I know my purpose now: help people get through crisis to show them that there’s a better way.
Through the program’s counseling, behavioral health classes, life skills development, and more, Jason began confronting patterns and behaviors that had followed him for decades.
“They really care about you,” he said. “I learned more in my time here than ever in my life.”
Faith became an important part of Jason’s recovery as he connected with a local church and began building community outside of the program. As a lifelong guitar player and singer, music, too, remained a constant outlet.
“Without music, I probably would’ve lost my mind,” he said.
Today, he uses music to encourage and connect with others—even playing during devotional times.
“One guy came up to me crying and hugged me,” Jason remembered. “Sometimes the words of a song inspire people to do better. I’ve seen it change people’s lives.”
“They really care about you. I learned more in my time here than ever in my life.” -Jason
Jason now hopes to give back to others and use his past experiences to help them avoid the same cycles he endured for decades.
“I want to inspire other people, ‘If I did it, you can definitely do it,’” he said. “There are ways out. There’s hope.”
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