Bruce Bennet
Program/Operations Manger
I came to Valley restart in January of 2004 as a client. I had been battling addiction and homelessness for several years at that point. But having been incarcerated for quite awhile, I now had my head clear and knew what I needed to do. With the help of Prop 36 and VRS, I was able to find my way. VRS entrusted me to volunteer as a manager of a 14 unit clean and sober apartment complex as it transitioned out of VRS hands. Soon I was hired to be a part time security for VRS on weekends.
In late October there was a layoff due to monetary constraints and I found myself unemployed. I took the time to take care of some medical issues for which I was put on temporary disability. In Early January I stopped by to say hello to the director and her only employee at the time. The director informed me that I could start back as full time night security as grant money had finally been received. I went from night security to operations assistant where I performed basic maintenance on the facility.
From there I have worked in almost every position at VRS and was Director of Operations for several years before being promoted to Program Manager. I was
married here at VRS in September of 2006 and the employees provided a reception for us here as well. Having come from construction trades I was not prepared for what was coming my way when I started working in this field. There are no words that can express the feeling of seeing a family or individual transition from homeless and hopeless to hopeful and happy as they transition into their apartment with a job and a smile.
The hand up and not a handout approach model has proven to be the best way to get people from where they are to where they need to be.I am forever grateful as I cannot imagine where I would be today if not for Valley Restart taking me in as a client and giving me a career that lets me help those that are where I was in January of 2004.
I thank GOD everyday that I am clean and sober and I have a job doing what I love to do. Thank you to the thousands of residents that have passed through VRS over the years. It has been a pleasure to assist you getting to a better place than when we met.