When people first arrive at Orange County Rescue Mission (OCRM), many feel like they’ve reached the end of the road.
But because of your compassion, that’s where a brand-new road begins.
That’s exactly what happened for Alicia and Ruben.
Both started using drugs at just 13 years old. Both were in and out of juvenile hall. Neither made it past the sixth grade in school. And both were affected by deep wounds from broken homes, absent parents, and chaotic childhoods.
So when they met, it wasn’t hard for them to understand each other’s pain.
However, their marriage, which was supposed to bring love and stability into their lives, started off rocky. They moved from place to place, still struggling with addiction while desperately wanting something better. Fights became frequent. The home they lived in was filled with drug use and strangers coming and going.
“It was like a devil’s playhouse,” they shared. “We were on a road to destruction and divorce.”
For a time, it seemed like they might escape the cycle. They moved into a family member’s trailer and believed it was their chance to get sober.
But behind closed doors, the struggle continued. They were working, attending church, and “playing the cards” like they were sober. Yet, as they share honestly, “we were trying to pull ourselves out of addiction.” They needed addiction and recovery support.
Everything collapsed when they were kicked out of the trailer.
“It’s very stressful to not know where you’re going to lay your head at night. Sometimes we had nothing. No energy. We’d get a motel room and eat Top Ramen,” says Alicia.
Ruben added that his priority was making sure his wife had something to eat and a place to sleep. “I didn’t care how we did it,” he said.
That’s when Alicia’s mother — who had walked her own journey to sobriety — helped connect them with resources for recovery. But every program they explored required them to separate … except one.
Because of your generosity, Alicia and Ruben were welcomed to OCRM together, able to rebuild their lives side by side as husband and wife.
Walking onto campus for the first time, Ruben says it “was like a weight lifted off my chest.”
Alicia remembers opening the door to their room and thinking, “Okay, this is home. We didn’t have to worry about sleeping in vans or motels.”
Since then, their lives have changed in remarkable ways. Both completed their high school diplomas. They’re healing through recovery programs, marriage classes, counseling, and a growing faith.
Today, Ruben is pursuing an automotive technology certification at a local community college. Alicia earned her phlebotomy certificate and is training in medical assistance.
For Ruben and Alicia, a different life once felt impossible. But now, they say: “To have all this is beautiful. We are so grateful.”
Because of you, their road no longer leads to destruction — it leads to sobriety, stability, and a renewed relationship with God.
Thank you for walking alongside neighbors like Alicia and Ruben as they leave homelessness in the past … and walk forward into a brighter future with peace and stability.
