by Victoria Usher
Turning Point Foundation and River Haven have given an incredible and special opportunity to so many people, the type of opportunity that not everyone will get the chance to have. They have given people the opportunity and the tools to start truly living happier and healthier lives. It does not matter who you are or what you have done, all that matters is the future and what you want to do with your future.
I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Mark O’Toole, a current River Haven resident. Mark has been a member of the River Haven community ever since December of 2018. Mark’s upbringing was something that no child should ever experience. He is originally from New York but was constantly moving around to different cities when he was younger, while also having to deal with a terribly abusive father and an extremely neglectful mother.
Mark moved to the Greater Los Angeles area during his teenage years, and when he moved to Ventura he attended Buena High School. Unfortunately, it didn’t take him too long to fall in with the wrong crowd. It was during that time and crowd that Mark was introduced to heroin for the first time.
Fast forward to today, Mark has now been sober for almost thirteen years, and despite the horrendous abuse and neglect that he was made to endure throughout his childhood he has grown to be an extremely kind, gentle, caring, and understanding individual. Mark is a huge fan of River Haven and the love that he gets to be part of the special community. “It is safe. I don’t have to worry about getting beat up or worry about anything bad happening. It is stability,” said Mark.
“It is a wonderful feeling when you know that the people in your life surrounding you every day completely understand you, completely accept you for who you are, and truly want to help you succeed. They have proven to people that as long as you draw breath you have the ability to turn your life around. This is the feeling that Turning Point Foundation and River Haven have given to so many people.”
I also had the opportunity to talk with an outgoing and sweet River Haven resident, Rosie Willis. Rosie became homeless for the first time back in 2009. She has been a River Haven resident ever since April of 2019. Rosie is a congestive heart failure survivor, and despite having a history of drug abuse, she has now been completely sober ever since July of 2018. She also did one year at Ventura College and she has her GED.
“I love River Haven because I love having my own little place, I love not having to carry all of my stuff around with me every day anymore,” said Rosie. As she continues to move forward, Rosie revealed that her main long-term goal is to simply continue working on herself and to continue working on her own personal healing.
All of River Haven residents are provided with mental health services, physical health services, addiction services, career assistance, income assistance, and medical assistance. Important life skills such as opening bank accounts, learning about budgeting, and learning how to live as part of a community are taught to the River Haven residents.
If you would like to learn more about River Haven, Turning Point Foundation, or if you would like to donate you can visit www.turningpointfoundation.org.
