Here’s what others are saying:
I was at an AA meeting at Options one day. There was a fellow from the streets, a shopping cart guy. He had a lot of problems. He had a lot of complaints, and he had a lot of pain. And he was sharing them with us. He also had a lot of fear. After he finished sharing, Davida asked: “If you could remove your fear, how would you approach these problems you’ve shared with us?”. Not only was the guy stunned at that possibility, I was stunned. What would you do if you faced all the same problems and removed the fear? Now, that’s courage. That’s how we change. That’s how we open new possibilities. That’s Options Recovery Services.
–Martin Sheen
Actor/Options’ Honorary Chair
In the 35 years I’ve been here, I can’t think of one program that has helped homeless people more. Options has opened its doors to the police department. Telegraph Avenue- traditionally a haven for both the homeless and drug offenders-has been transformed as a direct result of Options.
–Bobby Miller
Berkeley Police Captain, Retired
As a pediatrician, I’ve never seen a battered child where alcohol and drugs haven’t been involved-ever-and it’s just ignored. We know that 93% of domestic violence involves alcohol and that gets ignored. Since 2001 when Proposition 36 funds became available, programs like Options have saved the State of California $280 million on incarceration – previously the only solution to what is essentially a modern day epidemic.
–Dr Davida Coady
Options’ Founder & Executive Director
As Mayor of Berkeley it’s been inspiring to watch Options help substance abusers-often homeless street people-to re-enter our community. Options has forged apartnership among our community, the courts and substance abuse treatment that is breaking the cycle of substance abuse and crime.
–Tom Bates
Mayor, City of Berkeley
Options realizes that all human beings are entitled to respect and dignity. This is particularly important to those of us who deal on a daily basis with persons who have either fallen into, or created for themselves, situations from which they seem helpless to extricate themselves without assistance. Options ability to translate this realization is evident in the support they are able to engender from such diverse persons as district attorneys, public defenders and judges.
–Judge Brosnahan
Superior Court Judge, Oakland
In this community, as in any other American city, the addicted homeless, many of whom are mentally and emotionally unstable, are the pariahs of society. Dr. Coady is the Mother Teresa of the East Bay who embraces the addict and insists that they can be well. It is in this hope that the addict finds recovery and health. Before Options, an addicts only choice was prison or death, or both.
–Fr. Bill O’Donnell
(1930-2003), Options’ Co-founder
I felt it was important for me to be here and show up for my one year at Options, more important to me than being with them to honor the dead. I like to honor the living and I’m showing up for myself and my sobriety.
–Carolyn
Options Graduate (June 2019)
One of my counselors said something that really stuck with me. He said, you know, I want to see all of you travel the world, have meaningful careers, have families, but he said, what I want most for every one of you is to someday experience the love of the people who matter most in a way you never thought possible.
–David
Options Graduate (June 2019)
Through this, practicing emotional intelligence interdependently, existing as I am, for me and those before me, I share those with me. I say that was following me. I say, those with me. I say, those following me. I say, I am alive today.
–Devonique
Options Graduate (June 2019)
I let go of negative people, toxic relationships and bad behaviors. I dedicated myself on working and doing me. Today when I feel I can, today I feel and I can identify what I’m feeling. I’m able to ask for help and tell myself. My recovery is serious. I know it has to come first for me.
–Eileen
Options Graduate (June 2019)
I checked into Options on July 2nd and I gave my all ever since. I never missed a day of class because I didn’t want to and when I was in class I would participate because each staff member that I encountered in Options I learned something from and I felt like they actually cared. And I’m so grateful for that because today I feel like life is worth living. I have the desire to live. I am teachable. Where before I wasn’t teachable.
–Jorge
Options Graduate (June 2019)
When I got here and I learned that it was a year program, in the back of my mind I wasn’t going to stay a year. I thought I could do this in three to six months, but I quickly learned that recovery is a lifetime. It may be that I needed that year just to learn about myself and to heal myself. I had my guard up. I didn’t ask for help in the beginning because I’m used to doing things on my own.
–Kuiana
Options Graduate (June 2019)
And I want to point out to my peers, we’re all in this together, connected by a common bond and goal with each other, supporting and encouraging. We will make it. We cannot do this alone.
–Richard
Options Graduate (June 2019)
If you give a smart man the right tools, he can build great things and Options Recovery Services had those tools. I have and will continue to build great things.
–Samuel
Options Graduate (June 2019)
I’m 64 years old, you know, I’m living under sombody else’s roof. I’m following rules and regulations because that’s what we do when we grow up in this program. But I’m just saying that to say, it’s never too late. And this is the best gift that I have ever given myself in all my life.
–Sherri
Options Graduate (June 2019)
I don’t have a lot more things that I started with a year ago, but I have so much today in terms of love, kindness and compassion for myself. This is something that people at Options proved time and time again, that I was worthy of and did not believe at the time.
–Zachary
Options Graduate (June 2019)
They taught me the skills. How to say not to my booze and also how to continue saying not to my booze. Till the end of my life.
–Krishna
Options Graduate (June 2019)
Through everything they helped me, they guided me. They didn’t tell me what to do. They showed me what to do.
–Nelson
Options Graduate (June 2019)
My father gave me my first drink when I was two years old. I smoked my first weed when I was seven. From there I went to mushrooms, acid, crack, heroin,…anything and everything. If God hadn’t given Dr. Coady the vision, I don’t know where I’d be today. I was court committed to Options. I was homeless at the time. I wouldn’t give up this life I got today for anything else in the world.
–Michael
Current Options’ Client
It’s bad on the streets for women. I was always trying hard to find something that would stop me from using. The third time I was committed by the courts. Because Options worked I made a contract to stick with it no matter what. My whole life was nothing, but drugs and alcohol. I’ve never known any other way. Being clean and sober is a strange new experience for me.
–Anonymous