“Hello, my name is Brittany.

I celebrate freedom from 16 years of drug use. Ten years of IV drug use. I have gone to over 16 different treatment centers. Most of those I left against medical advice. I tried for years on and off to get a hold of my addiction. Every time I’d go to rehab, I would end up coming right back to my home town and would eventually end up relapsing. It took me 10 years of in and out of rehabs to finally realize that my problem was me, and old people, places and things. I couldn’t go back. Some people can use and get clean in the same place and never have to uproot their lives. But for the most part I’ve found that if you have used drugs for multiple years, you need a fresh start after rehab.

I am a huge advocate for sober living after treatment. May 21st 2020 was the last time I used a drug. I decided to go to a year-long program because I was out of options — homeless, jobless, carless, friendless, and hopeless. I had nothing but a tiny mustard seed of faith that maybe God could get me clean. I knew I could not do it on my own.

About ten months into my program I started working for the owners of the Hedge House. They were putting the finishing touches on the house and getting ready to open it. Like I said, I knew I couldn’t go back to Dallas so I took a leap of faith after I completed the year and decided to move into the Hedge House.

Let me tell you something about God’s people — God’s people don’t quit.

When you have God behind you, nothing can stop you. Getting the Hedge House up and running was not an easy task.

Ryanne saw a vision from God and she was faithful to see it through. A vision to provide a safe place for recovering addicts to come and build their lives.

– A place where you can establish a personal relationship with Jesus.

– A place where you can build a community around you of like minded people all reaching for the same goal, a lifetime of sobriety.

– A place that provides resources for you to establish a job. Gain a good work ethic. Get your legal issues taken care of.

– A place that prides itself on the quality of care provided by a network of churches and volunteers.

I will have been at the Hedge House for 4 years in May. I think that fact alone speaks volumes. I can confidently say that this sober living is unlike any I have been to. It is a home.

Joel 2:25 says that ” The Lord will restore the years the locusts have eaten away.” That is exactly what the Hedge House has helped me achieve. I came here with very few friends, only knowing Ryanne and her family. I’ve completely rebuilt my circle around me. The people I choose to surround myself with now are trustworthy, loyal, caring and kind. I’ve maintained the job I am at now for over three years. I have learned how to pay my bills, manage my money, and be responsible for things in life I didn’t think I’d ever have.

The Hedge House is not just a sober living to me. This is my HOME. These people are my family. I think my favorite thing to see here is when women come in broken and at their lowest, to see the light come back into their eyes. Celebrating when they start gaining everything back that their addiction took from them. Seeing them start to realize that there is hope in sobriety. Watching them have restoration with their families and children is one of the most beautiful things to experience. Literally seeing a human come back to LIFE! That is what we do here.

We believe that to see real change in a person in recovery, the recommended time is 18 months in order to have your best shot at maintaining your sobriety. Many women come in with hopes of just staying for a few months and then getting a place on their own. And that may work out for some women, but for me personally — I needed to be here this long. I wanted to make SURE I would never stick another needle in my arm.
Too many addicts are losing their lives to drugs. I personally have lost more friends than I can count and one family member to this disease. The devil came to kill, steal and destroy us. And he roams the earth like a prowling lion.

The statistics are not in our favor. But sober living statistics are. Your chance of staying sober goes up exponentially each year you stay in one. So if you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are here and ready to accept new women who are wanting to break the chains of addiction and rebuild their life.”