Friendships grow easily among the residents as they find they have much in common. Our resident learns that their counterparts are also battling alcoholism and have to deal with its many consequences. The feelings of despair, desperation, and hopelessness; the realities of isolation, homelessness and depression; these are not unique to each resident, but are symptoms of a disease shared by many.

Our residents begin to learn that help is available. There are others who are uniquely qualified to serve as confidants, guides and mentors. A number of such people just happen to be their new friends who have offered them help. These new friends have endured the horrors and fear that can accompany alcoholism; these men have lived with this pain, yet found a way out, and today lead productive, useful and sober lives. These new friendships provide a key to previously locked doors. For those who truly desire recovery and to rebuild their lives, Charlie’s helps provide this key; the choice to use the key belongs to each resident.

Camaraderie naturally builds within the group as they work together. New residents soon find they have many new acquaintances in their daily lives, and from this group they develop a few good friends. These new friendships are based on caring and compassion, and provide our new residents with a link to meeting others who have lived at transitional facilities similar to Charlie’s (or lived at Charlie’s itself) and have since moved on to a life of independent, sober living.