09/30/2026
In honor of National Recovery Month, people featured in the campaign and others who have reached lasting stability shared their deeply personal stories at a Living Proof Testimonial & Treatment Connection Dinner this week.
Jean, Shavonne, Denis and Joel each lived on the streets and spent decades deep in addiction before getting on the path to sustained recovery using public health services. Today, they are each thriving and enjoying lives full of joy, purpose, community and friendship. They tell their stories to inspire people contemplating change.
“It’s never too late to have a second chance at a first-class life,” Shavonne said.
“Recovery has been a wonderful adventure and I’m just going to keep staying on this ride,” Jean said.
At the Minna Lee, an HSH supportive housing program operated by DISH, guests also heard about both new and tried-and-true treatment options that are helping San Franciscans break the cycle of addiction and homelessness, like long-acting injectable buprenorphine for opioid use disorder and contingency management for stimulant addiction. SFDPH has multi-disciplinary teams in supportive housing, shelters and street-based settings providing addiction treatment and other essential medical and support services.
“There are people who want to see you live,” Joel said.
“You can turn your life around. You can achieve things in life and get the things everyone deserves,” Denis said. “All you have to do is be ready. If you really want it, you can achieve it.”
Get connected to drug treatment by calling 888-246-3333 or learn more at https://ow.ly/EsaU50ZTj85.
San Francisco Department of Homelessness & Supportive Housing
