Road to recovery includes new home for B.C. man

There’s no clutter. Everything is in its place in Frederick Watson’s home.

Except in his 6-year-old daughter’s bedroom.

“Toys everywhere,” said Watson, also known as Tyrone.

Watson’s home, which sits off a busy road, is quiet inside. On Saturday, his daughter’s bike sat on the screened-in porch. She wasn’t at home, but Watson beamed with pride as he presented her school pictures.

“I’m so proud of my daughter. That’s my baby,” he said. “Without me, she won’t be anywhere.”

Watson's home in the Washington Heights neighborhood is part of transitional housing program with Second Missionary Baptist Church and the Haven of Rest. The church owns two homes in the neighborhood and coordinates with the Haven of Rest to find tenants.

The program began about seven years ago with one home. This year, Second Baptist was able to open a second house, where Watson now lives.

Watson, 59,  is a recovering addict. He said he began using drugs at age 14 to fit in. His drug of choice was cocaine, and also used to drink alcohol heavily.

“I’m a perfectionist; I want to be the best at it. So when I drink, I wanted to be the best at that,” he said. “Before I knew it I was drunk, didn’t know what was going on. I was disrespectful, and I don’t like that. I was raised better than that.

Watson said he was the oldest of his siblings and spoiled the most. He said his mother gave him everything he needed — houses and cars — but he wasted them with his drug addiction.

“I was the oldest, but I got spoiled the most,” he said. “I think my mother was trying to punish herself because I didn’t have a father.”

He tried to stop using drugs several times, but Watson said each time was for the wrong reason. He was trying to change for other people instead of himself.

Watson said he had to learn to “live life on life’s terms,” which for him meant doing things on his own and for himself. He said he can’t use his daughter as inspiration to get better — he has to do it on his own.

“Doing it for her is only going to last for so long,” Watson said. “I’m doing it for me so I can take care of her.”

The church acquired the house two years ago from a member of the congregation. After talking to the city, which held a tax lien on the house, the church repaired the house to make it livable. The tenants pay rent and the Haven covers the cost of utilities.

The Rev. William Wyne of Second Baptist said several people are living in the other house, but just Watson and his daughter live in the second. None of the occupants are required to go to Second Baptist to live in the homes.

Wyne admits that he expected the occupants of the homes would attend Second Baptist, but he later realized it’s not necessary.

“I think the church out to be concerned about people more than just on Sunday morning,” Wyne said. “It ought to be a place where we practice what we preach every day.”

The vice president of the church’s new vision outreach ministry, Josh Harter, said providing the housing is an opportunity for the church as well. He said the church wants to provide sustainable, clean housing for people in need.

“The church just wants to be able to do what’s right for the people of this community,” Harter said.

When Watson returned from Detroit, he said he needed to find shelter for himself and his daughter. He went to the Haven of Rest and was given a place to sleep.

While staying at the Haven, Watson woke up every morning and left the building in search of work. He didn’t have a car, so he took the bus from agency to agency.

He was accepted into the EDGE Program, a workforce development initiative to help potential employees gain experience and work-related skills. Watson was first placed with a temp agency and was later hired at Denso. He’s been employed full-time for almost a year. He was also able to buy a car.

According to the Haven, Watson’s progress has been rapid. Brenda Eppinger, the family division coordinator, said Watson went from a dependent to an independent adult more quickly than others.

“He’s become independent and he has a plan that’s good and matches the mindset he is working out of today,” Eppinger said. “I knew him in his addiction and there has been a 200 percent improvement in the choices he’s made and how he is living his life.”

Watson said he promised himself he would change for the better and said he has to remain his own motivator. The 59-year-old said he began to look at other people who were successful and he wanted to live like they were living and be a role model for his daughter.

“I’m learning that you have a better chance when you have some responsible people in your life, when there are role models who are taking care of you,” he said.

Watson said he doesn't like to ask for help, but he is thankful for the help he received from the employees at the Edge program, the Haven and the church. He was especially thankful for DeWayne Nunally, a local minister, who would visit Watson in jail.

"I knew I was going to be all right, I just didn’t know how to get started," he said. "And the Haven gave me a place to lay my head. That was the helping hand and it gave me the push to meet some people that could help."

Now that Watson has stable living conditions, he's trying to work his way to own his own home.

Watson isn't where he wants to be, but he can see the progress he's made.

"I want better than this," he said. "I want everything a lot different, but I'm still growing, still accumulating and trying to save. I can't do everything at once. I like what I've got. I'm enjoying."

Call Enquirer reporter Olivia Lewis at 269-966-0663. Follow her on Twitter: @TheWrittenPeace

Substance abuse services in Calhoun County

The Coordinating Council of Calhoun County lists the following treatment and recovery options for recovering addicts:  

• The Haven of Rest Ministries Women’s Life Recovery Program Intensive Outpatient: 269-441-1701
• The Haven of Rest Men’s Life Recovery Program - Residential 269-965-1148
• Gracious Homes: 269-966-2947 Transitional Housing for Women
• KPEP - Residential: 269-963-2085
• Sequel - Youth Residential 517-629-5591

A full list of referrals is available at TCC's website at www.tcccalhoun.org, the Substance Abuse Council website at www.drugfreebc.org, or by calling the council at 269-966-7580.