“When you come to Ready to Work, you give a year of your life to changing your future — and you come out a different person,” says Lisa H. “If you’re ready to change your life, this is where you want to go.”

Lisa’s path to Ready to Work began after 11 years of instability, addiction, and loss. In 2013, a domestic violence incident led to jail time and the loss of custody of her two children. Meth use slowly took over her life.

“I became a functioning tweaker,” she says of waitressing while using meth.

While volunteering at the Denver Dream Center, her peer recovery coach asked her a simple question, “Was she ready to change her life?” He invited her to tour the Ready to Work house in Aurora.

After that tour in July 2024, Lisa went home, flushed her meth, slept for nearly a week, and returned to apply for the program. She was accepted — and never looked back.

During her time in Ready to Work, Lisa focused on rebuilding every part of her life. She earned certifications in parenting, healthy relationships, and motherhood while learning how to establish healthy boundaries and reconnect with her children.

After graduating from the program in 2025, Lisa joined Bridge House full-time as a Ready to Work kitchen manager.

Today, her proudest accomplishment is the relationship she has rebuilt with her now 18- and 19-year-old children.

“My daughter says I’m the coolest person ever — that she’s proud of me and my accomplishments,” Lisa says. “My son tells me all the time he’s proud of me. It’s amazing to hear your kids say that.”

“Life is good,” she says. “A lot better than it was.”