How Manuel is Rebuilding His Life Through Support and Faith

Meet Manuel

Manuel’s story begins with a childhood marked by challenges and resilience. Raised by his grandparents after his parents struggled with addiction, Manuel grew up in Moorpark, California. While his grandparents provided a stable home, the generational gap left Manuel feeling misunderstood, and he made poor choices that shaped his early years. A rebellious streak during middle school led him to a continuation school, where he never fully connected with traditional education. Despite dreams of becoming a BMX pro or joining the Marines, Manuel’s aspirations were derailed by addiction and unresolved feelings of abandonment stemming from his parents’ absence. His parents were sometimes physically there in his life, but never emotionally and mentally there. Manuel recalled, “Not knowing my true parents and being raised around them brought a lot of frustration.”

Manuel’s Journey

Manuel’s adult life brought moments of stability, including a decade-long career in plumbing and a family of his own. He got married in 2017 and has two children — a son and a baby daughter. However, struggles with addiction to alcohol and painkillers, compounded by frequent injuries, began to erode his ability to maintain work and provide for his family. Eventually, these challenges left him homeless and deeply disconnected from his loved ones.

Manuel’s journey through addiction and homelessness brought him to the brink of despair. He stated, “The hardest part of being homeless was knowing that I had a place to call home, but I ruined it, knowing that I couldn’t see my kids and I didn’t want them to see me like that.” After losing his job and home, he cycled in and out of homelessness, finding temporary shelter in abandoned houses or on the streets. He describes his lowest point during a night of heavy drinking and drug use, waking up in an ambulance with enough alcohol in his system to kill him. This moment served as a wake-up call, leading to a weeklong hospital stay.

How Harbor Care Helped Manuel

Despite initial hesitation, Manuel accepted a recommendation to come to Harbor Care, a decision that marked a turning point. Arriving at Harbor brought both anxiety and relief. The staff provided him with necessities like clean clothes and a comfortable bed, while his peers offered understanding and camaraderie. Over time, Manuel found solace in the structured, supportive environment and began to focus on recovery.

Harbor provided the foundation Manuel needed to rebuild his life. The staff arranged appointments, managed his prescriptions, and extended his stay when he needed more time to prepare for his next steps. Their unwavering kindness and support helped Manuel regain stability and confidence. Harbor also connected him to the Tarzana Treatment Center, where he will continue his recovery journey with tools like counseling and medication to manage cravings.

Manuel’s time at Harbor inspired a vision for the future. With a smile and look of hope, Manuel declared, “In the future, I would like to be consistent. I want to be a consistent person in my family’s life, my friends’ lives, and in the community.” He wishes to be an example of recovery to others who have struggled like him. Whether through returning to plumbing or starting his own business, Manuel is determined to build a better life, starting with sobriety as his foundation.

For Manuel, Harbor was a lifeline. His message to others is simple: seek help, embrace change, and trust the process. Harbor gave him the tools and support to turn his life around, proving that even in the face of immense challenges, transformation is possible. Throughout his journey, faith played a central role in Manuel’s resilience. Raised in a devout Christian home, he leaned on scripture and prayer during his darkest moments. His belief in God’s unconditional love gave him the strength to persevere, even when battling addiction. Manual is guided by Jeremiah 29:11, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” It’s fitting that Manuel’s name derives from Immanuel, which means God with us.