"If you're not ready to quit something, that doesn't mean you have to stay under the bridge."
Steven Bernier
In the days leading up to Veterans Day, WNPR brings you stories from veterans and those in their community.
Steven Bernier served in the U.S. Navy.
"I loved it. I would have stayed in over 20 if I could have. But I became a single parent. So I got out, learned the restaurant business. Opened up my first restaurant I think it was in 鈥�92. Then I opened up my bar and my father says, 鈥淒on鈥檛 do it.鈥� Because he just knew.
"And about four months into me owning the bar, 2 o鈥檆lock in the morning, I says, 鈥極h I鈥檒l have one shot鈥� and then, boom, I was on a run with alcohol.
"I was living under a pier in New London, 黑料吃瓜网 and somebody told me about the homeless shelter. I went to the VA; I checked myself into the emergency room, and went to a substance abuse program. It鈥檚 a 21-day program but I did like 40-something, and that basically was my road to recovery.
"If you鈥檙e not ready to quit something, that doesn't mean you have to stay under the bridge, OK? There鈥檚 places -- come stay here; we鈥檒l take care of you; get warm first. And then we鈥檒l tackle the second thing, and then we鈥檒l tackle the third thing. It鈥檚 like a domino effect. I have my own apartment now. I鈥檝e had it for, January it'll be two years. You鈥檝e gotta take the first step."
