Benjamin Brett Braun

Renaldo,52, and Benjamin,55, sit in the Open Door Missions Library in Rochester, N.Y. The Torres brother grew up in Puerto Rico and moved to America in their twenties. “(I’ve) almost been using heroin for 22 years,” say’s Benjamin. “(I) got tired and came here and it is the best place. I feel like Jesus is here. Everyone here is really respectable. They always listen. I’m 55 has been and have been here for 55-days. My brother Renaldo is 52, and in a month, he’s ready to graduate.” During the week, all residents are assigned chores in the morning. The brothers often work together to complete their tasks. Renaldo shared the start of him using as a young teenager, “ being a follower being around friends that used and I wanted to be like them, and I got it, and I fit in I guess a lot of things I went through as a child, depression, and anxiety. I use drugs and alcohol to cope”.

Renaldo Iron his shirt revealing scars from surgery he received when he served time and stabbings. Torres has a violent past, but he talked about his future, “I wanna go back to college and become a drug counselor, help the community, and keep myself clean. I believe in God, and he knows what best for me, so we’ll see. I wanna come back here and volunteer, and I won’t forget where I came from”. He also mentioned that he has ambitions to have his own home and family one day. After graduation, he has a job lined up at a food factory that pays over minimum wage.

Renaldo jokes around with one of the chiefs, “Tee,” during his downtime at the Open Door Mission.

Medication is often used in aiding in students’ recovery. Benjamin shared, "I take Suboxone twice a day; it helps avoid cravings.”

Renaldo puts his hands behind his head during a class taught by Shayne Priddy. Priddy has a master’s in psychology and teaches residents coping techniques, emotional intelligence, and the thinking behind dependency.

Renaldo puts his hands behind his head during a class taught by Shayne Priddy. Priddy has a master’s in psychology and teaches residents coping techniques, emotional intelligence, and the thinking behind dependency.

Renaldo closes the door of a moving truck filled with donated clothes. After residents do their chores, they are required to volunteer and help the community. The Open Doors Clothing room relies on community donations and is free for all.

Benjamin sits in the Open Door Clothing Room during his volunteering hours. After residents do their chores, they are required to volunteer and help the community.

Renaldo sits in class, which discusses how dependency starts. Renaldo talks about why he wants to recover, “My mother is a stepping stone. She’s the reason that keeps me sober; being me and my brother are drug addicts, she's been through a lot with us. She has a lot of health problems before God takes her off this Earth. I want her to leave in peace and see us doing good. There are not many things I started and complete, but this will be one of them, and having my mom there it's going to be awesome”. Renaldo is set to graduate in late December, but he pulled out of the program within two weeks of his graduation date. In January, he commented, “I’m struggling to stay sober.”

Benjamin takes a smoke break outside with his fellow resident George. he shared about his using, “Get easier as you get older, you been thought so much in life I’ve been using since I was 16 years old I’ve done it all believe that. Started with weed, cocaine, heroin, speedball it’s crazy”. On Nov. 14, 2020, Benjamin left the program on “good terms” to be at home with his wife to resolve some marital discrepancy. Three months later, the staff at the Open Door Mission reports he is using it again.