From Prison to New Life — Recovery Is Possible!

Phillip Wilcoxson knows very well what it’s like to live in prison. He also understands decades of addiction and a life with few people who cared enough to keep him accountable.

After graduating from the Eugene Mission’s  R3 Program, he gets to live a new story of hope, and experience how good it feels to make positive choices in his freedom.

Looking back, he says he had become “institutionalized” from all his prison time and didn’t know how to live life as a responsible, emotionally mature man.

During his stay at the Mission, several years after his most recent prison release, he finally began to connect the tough consequences he kept facing to his own decisions.

When Phillip arrived by bus in Eugene, someone told him about the Mission. He says he was reluctant at first to go, but he knew he had to make changes and he knew he needed help.

“I was 16 years old the first time I went to prison,” Phillip said. "I got into that life through drugs.” Every time he got released, he went back to his old life.

“I didn’t know how to do anything else, so I continued the cycle,” he said.

 His time at the Mission revealed to him a new way of doing things. “I just tell people, ‘work the program!’ You’re given this time to get your head straight, start thinking clearly again and get your life in order. And it’s all free.”

He said it takes time for your brain to heal and clear again after quitting drugs, but the R3 Program gives guests the time, resources and support to re-orient themselves to a more healthy, responsible way of life.  He joined recovery groups, found a sponsor and worked the steps.

While in the program, Phillip also connected with his faith and was baptized at Joy Church and joined other guests at the church for Sunday services.

“When you have a safe place to live, you don’t have to commit crimes,” he said. “You can just be there and be OK. The Mission provided everything I needed to become an adult.”

Phillip is currently working full-time, he just moved into his new apartment and he plans to go back to school while he continues in his recovery.

On Phillip’s last day at the Mission before he moved into his apartment, Navigator Mike Arredondo prayed with him and encouraged him on his way. “We love them from the beginning to the end,” Mike said.

Phillip said he’s grateful for his time here and won’t forget the relationships he formed even though he’s moving on. “The Mission will forever be in my life,” he said.