Testimonials

I walked into the Van Ness Recovery House on October 2004, scared and nervous. My mother came with me. I remembered that the day staff gave me a packet, to have a seat on the couch, that they have it from here, and they asked her to go.

At that time, it was a 90 day program.

I have to really commend Kathy and Loida, because if it wasn't for them putting me back to "Day 1" twice, I don't think that I would be sober today.

I need to say that it isn't an easy house. It's very structured.

The three things that I learned were:

1) To tell the truth.
2) Have the willingness.
3) That they love you unconditionally.

If you do everything that they tell you to do, you can stay sober.

They give you the tools. It's up to you to use them.

In closing, I have 14 years sober, been married to my husband for 11, and was at my job for over 12 years.

All of this success comes from being sober and working the program.

I am a blessing and a miracle today.

Today, I walk in the sunlight of the spirit.

I always put my sobriety first, no matter what the challenge.

I love the Van Ness House & all that Kathy Watt has done over the years! Spreading the word from NYC!!!

Kathy Watt and the Van Ness Recovery House are legendary. I have many, many friends who were helped because of them.

I went through the house in '83 when it was on Van Ness. After a month, I went on job search for a day, drank all day, came back to the house and got myself kicked out.
I went back to meetings right away. It took me three years of drinking on and off until I finally stopped.
Last week, I celebrated my 36th year of sobriety. I'm grateful to the Van Ness House for helping me on my long road to recovery.

It was 1984. My first sober Christmas. The house was still on Van Ness in those days. They assigned me a sponsor and he saved my life. I spent thirty days in a chemical dependency unit in Long Beach and then three months at the Van Ness House. My story is simple, full of gratitude and finally, in the end, a story of acceptance and peace. Thank you for the beginning of 35 wonderful years!

1990 I was. Resident I owe a lot of my success to Kathy Watt and the Van. Ness Houae. I would be dead if I didn’t get In when I did. I’m very great full. Thank you Kathy.

October-December 1999 - Time well spent.
Thank you for giving me my life back.
Love to all!

I graduated From the orginal house in 1981. I'm still sober after 38 years,it was the best time Ive had, I think all the people from that class are all gone now. I live in palm springs

The first time I seek help for my problem with METH, I went to VNRH, I heard about this place from people that had gotten sober in this house,. I was welcome by Loyda and the staff, along with Katty and Nancy. I learnded the bases of recovery and how to star expresing my feelings, after 7 month stay here I lost my williness to followed direction adn I left. I have got ten to 2 more threatment facilities and till I recover that williness I finally clean and sober one day at the time, and all come to the basics my feelings, powerless and unmanagability. I am seeking now day at the age of 43 an education on mental health working with adictions. to give back to my community. Thanks to this house I still alive. recovering one day at the time. The road is long by I am walking thrue that road like they though me in VNRH as a proud gay man.

Thank you for EVERYTHING. (Literally) My 1st day at VNRH, Loyda taught me this strange practice called "contrary action". ...Saved my life.

Thank You So Much For Never Giving Up On Me. I am no Longer Just Existing In This World To Get My Next Drink or Full Pull. Today I Am Living Life Doing The Will Of God. Loving Myself Which I Learned How to do Thanks to The VNRH. But Also Loving Others Unconditionally and Extending Out My Hand To Help.

I went through the house in Fall of 1997.it was a tough program,but I needed it to be.even though I fell off the wagon soon after transitioning,I got back on quickly.I am now 25 years clean,and my sponsees call me a drill seargent,but Kathy Watt was more than an administrator-she was a mentor.I would not have been able to stay sober after coming back from the war in iraq had she not made me face my powerlessness-I am a decorated wounded warrior(awarded the congressional medal of honor).thank you,Kathy!!

Maj. Jason Kitching,United States Army,ret.

Thank you to the the Van Ness House for helping me through the evil teenager phase, you all changed my life from the destructive path I was on and I met lifelong friends there. Such an awesome community!

The VNRH loved me when I couldn't love myself. For the last 7 and a half years I have continually stay connected to the house because that is where I find my support. I was a resident of the VNRH in April of 2008, I lived there for 5 months and lived in VNRH sober living for a year and a half. I learned how to be a sober man there and have been given a life I never could of imagined. THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR ALL THE LOVE!

Love Van Ness House! Spent my first sober XMas Eve with the clients at Van Ness going to Skid Row ....so grateful for this amazing place!!!

My entire life changed for the better when I entered the doors of the Van Ness House. I learned about myself and how to take care of myself. Even though it has been almost 26 years since I went through the program, I still carry with me the lessons I learned and the strength I gained thanks to this wonderful place and its talented counselors.

Thanks Van Ness House and Kathy Watt, most loving and "no bullshit" AA in LA., for the essential work that you do for our community. GRATITUDE!