At 12 years old, Michael Cortez took his first steps down a road that would take years to turn around. Born and raised in Costa Rica—where he shared that cocaine and alcohol were easy for him to find—he started using substances before most kids finished middle school. Over the years, addiction followed him across borders and through life changes. But thanks to a life-changing recommendation and the support of the Beacon House, Michael now wakes up with purpose, stability, and a future he’s excited to build. “I Stopped Working. I Stopped Caring.” After moving to South Bend, Indiana, Michael continued drinking and using cocaine—until a coworker introduced him to methamphetamines. That’s when everything unraveled. “I stopped working. I stopped [...]

BEACON HOUSE AFTERCARE – AN HONORED 2025 RECIPIENT LOUISVILLE, KY – Beacon House Aftercare is proud to announce it received a grant from the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels (HOKC) in the amount of $15,000 to purchase a passenger van to serve the residents of our recovery facility. This generous grant provides much needed transportation for the medical, employment, life skills needs and social engagement which are essential for recovery from substance use disorder. HOKC awarded $2.5 million in grants supporting 333 non-profits, impacting more than 4 million Kentuckians. Grants are made possible through donations from Kentucky Colonels from throughout the Commonwealth and around the world who choose to exercise the honor of being named a Kentucky Colonel [...]

Stories like this show us what’s possible: to be a business that cares about more than the bottom line.  For over a decade, this local car dealership and service department–James Collins Ford in Downtown Louisville–has been a beacon of opportunity for individuals recovering from substance abuse, by partnering with our residential program.  These second chances – even third and fourth ones – are often hard to come by. This journey began in 2012, when a man from the Beacon House walked through their doors, seeking employment. At the time, James Collins Ford had little experience working with people in recovery, and the initial hire did not stay very long. However, the experience didn’t dissuade them from continuing to support [...]

  How would you describe your life before you came into the Beacon House? The years before I made it to the Beacon House, I caused myself to become diabetic because of my lifestyle.  I was selling my medical supplies in order to fuel my addiction. I was in the hospital. I was on the brink of death but I really didn't want to get sober. The hospital took me to JADAC (Jefferson Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center) From there, I was taken to the UofL psych ward. After that, I went to Recovery Works where I was eventually referred to the Beacon House.  When I was first receiving help from JADAC, I actually toured halfway houses like the [...]

Welcome, Katie! Where are you from? I was born and raised here in the Louisville area, so I’m honored to help people in recovery in this community. What led you into the career you now have? My personal experience with substance abuse dates back to my childhood living in a dual-alcoholic household. My mom was sober for just over a decade while I was young but she relapsed when I was a Senior in high school. And that’s when a lot of my own issues began.  There is a lot to my journey but it also contributed to the work I’m passionate about now. Can you share about your educational background? I went to South Oldham Middle School and [...]