Justin B. went from homelessness and a failed suicide attempt to becoming Englewood Ready to Work’s first program graduate — and now, an RTD Light Rail driver trainee.

Originally from Roanoke, Va., Justin moved through six states before landing in Colorado in 2022. After helping a friend relocate to Parker, he began to build a life of his own. But struggles with alcohol and cocaine addiction eventually cost him his job, relationship, and housing.

Hoping to reconcile with a former partner, Justin returned home only to discover she had moved on. With nowhere to go and overwhelmed, he chased 50–60 over-the-counter sleeping pills with whiskey.

He woke up strapped to a hospital bed.

After a 72-hour psychiatric hold, he was referred to a crisis center in Littleton. There h was connected to resources — including the newly opened Ready to Work house in Englewood.

“I was not in a good state of mind,” Justin said. “I went in blind only knowing they provided work and housing. I had no other options.”

He was among the program’s first 10 trainees.

“I expected a barracks setup with 30 guys in a room,” he laughed. “Instead, it was a new house, only a handful of guys per room, and the staff was great.”

Justin started with house chores then on to payroll on an outdoor crew.

“It was grunt work,” he admitted. “But I liked being outside, getting sweaty and dirty.”

Not every day was easy.

“Some days I hated Ready to Work. Some days I was fed up,” he said. “There were days I wanted to give up.”

But he stayed.

And when Justin relapsed after reconnecting with an old friend, he chose not to let one setback define him.

“I felt awful, disgusted, ashamed,” he said. “I let myself down and other people down. But I used it as a lesson. Since then, I’ve had no urge to drink or do drugs.”

As he prepared for employment outside the program, Justin knew he needed a different future. Previous jobs as a private investigator and retail crime investigator came with money, freedom — and access to addiction.

“I didn’t want just any job,” he said. “I wanted something good.”

That opportunity came through RTD.

Justin is now eight weeks into RTD’s 12-week light rail training program. In May, he moved into his own apartment, with Ready to Work helping connect him to household essentials.

He’s also preparing to publish a 10,000-word poetry manuscript titled The Love of Yesterday.

Looking back, Justin is honest about his journey.

“Some days I hated Ready to Work,” he said. “But in the long run, it’s crazy how much it helped me. If I didn’t go there, I don’t know what would have happened to me.”