Step Denver

04/23/2026

A few days ago some residents at Step had a grill out and Popdarts tournament! The guys competed for small prizes (and bragging rights) while enjoying food grilled by another resident.

04/21/2026

We recently got to sit down with Step resident Nick! Step allows residents to enter the program up to three times – Nick opened up about how his third time at Step is different:

“I spent a month just slowly drinking myself to death. I got frostbite, and have nerve damage now. I probably came a lot closer to death than I ever have before.”

“My first few weeks here, I could barely walk. Every step was like agony - I've never experienced that level of pain before.

“Since coming back here, I just have a very different overall attitude. Every time I’ve been in a recovery program, I’m like, ‘I need to be sober now. I can’t even think about drinking.’ But once I get my sh*t together, I’m like ‘Maybe I can try.’ This time, I don't even want to find out, because it will kill me. I'm taking my recovery a lot more seriously.

"I have a lot more purpose. I finally got a job that I don't hate. I'm a groundskeeper - it's very peaceful. I paid off all my debt, and actually have money to spare. Everything is just working out.”

We asked Nick what he would say to someone struggling with addiction, and he had this to share:

“If you want to stop suffering, this is the place to do it. If you want to get sober – and not just sober, but to have a better life, this is the place to do it. Step has saved my life in more ways than one.”

04/15/2026

We’d like to take a moment to remember Step Alum Rick Ferguson, who passed away last month. Rick represented so much of what makes Step great.

Born a 4th generation Coloradan, Rick’s life was filled with adventure. He spent much of his time fishing and hunting, traditions he would pass down to his greatest pride and joy, his son John.

Over the years, Rick lived in a few different states, but eventually decided to move back to Colorado to be closer to his family.

After struggling with his relationship with alcohol for several years, Rick’s decision to get sober was a pivotal moment in his life and one that he was deservedly very proud of. He entered the Step Denver program (at that time Step 13), where he committed to sobriety until the very end. Rick then worked for Step for some time in several different positions, calling on his years of experience to further the mission.

One of the last things he did was bring his past experiences to the Glendale City Planning Commission, and eventually the Glendale City Council.

Rick, thank you so much for the impact that you made on this community and everyone who had the pleasure of getting to know you. You will be greatly missed.

04/14/2026

Today's resident shout out goes to Juan for picking up a "Service in Recovery" coin at the last Cakes & Coins meeting!

We recently asked Juan what led him to Step, and he had this to share:

“It was just going really bad. I completely burnt every bridge that I ever had.

"I crashed my car five times in five months, I was drinking a bottle of whiskey a day, and I overdosed three times. I was just like, ‘Dude, I can’t keep doing this.’”

After coming to Step, Juan hit the ground running.

“I’ve attended 66 meetings in 57 days. This is the first time in 10 years that I’ve been completely sober. I got promoted to a manager already. It’s such a huge weight off my shoulders now – my family is talking to me again. They’re not disappointed in me anymore.”

We asked Juan what about the Step program has helped him the most so far and he shared:

“Definitely the accountability and the peer support. I’ve never had a support system like this. One of my biggest things is that I love seeing people grow. Seeing somebody come in who’s like me, seeing them get a job and slowly grow into the person that they know they could be… that’s the best thing in the world."

04/10/2026

A huge shoutout to Antonio for recently moving into one of Step Denver's sober homes! One of our Recovery Support Managers shared that he's never worked with a resident who has been more grateful for the love and support that he's found in the Step Denver community. Keep up the great work, Antonio!

04/08/2026

We're excited to share the first newsletter from Step Springs! It's amazing to see the impact that the Step Denver model has made in the Colorado Springs community in only 100 days – all thanks to staff and residents who work hard every day to rebuild lives.



04/03/2026

Not even the rain could stop the guys from enjoying a nice BBQ at one of the sober homes on Wednesday!

03/28/2026

We'd like to give a huge shoutout to Step Alum Troy, who recently donated his vehicle to the program!

"My life was falling apart, and I realized I needed to get my life together before I lost everything.

"I was online looking for a place where I could still work and rebuild my life and that's when I found Step Denver. I immediately called, applied over the phone, and was accepted.

"My RSM relieved a lot of stress and anxiety that I had with rebuilding my life. Step Denver gave me the sobriety support and stability that I needed. I learned how to budget my money, and it allowed me to save money for when I was going to transition into my own place.

"I was able to save money while at Step Denver and purchased a new vehicle, and I knew I wanted to donate to Step and pay it forward to the place that gave me my life back. Now I have my own apartment, new vehicle, and working at a job I love."

A big thank you to Troy for sharing his story with us, and for paying it forward!

If you or someone you know is interested in donating a vehicle to Step Denver, visit https://stepdenver.org/ways-to-give/vehicle-donation

03/27/2026

Another incredible Cakes & Coins meeting in the books! Residents and alumni came together to celebrate some huge sobriety milestones, including three guys who picked up 1-year chips. Keep up the great work!

03/26/2026

Just published our 2026 Spring Newsletter! Click the link below to read four powerful stories, each highlighting a different Step pillar: sobriety, work, accountability, and community.

Step Denver gives men with nowhere else to turn the opportunity to overcome addiction through sobriety, work, accountability, and community.

03/20/2026

Step Alum Greg was recently inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame! He recently shared with us his recovery journey: from playing jazz in Kansas to being homeless in Denver – he’s excited to celebrate this incredible achievement:

“I just needed a foundation."

“I was married for a very long time, and when she asked for a divorce it absolutely devastated me. I went into a deep dark funk, and turned to alcohol from that point on.

"A family friend was coming through Kansas, and she saw how much I was struggling. She said 'come with me, I'm gonna introduce you to Denver.’

"I had nothing to lose so I hopped in her car with two bags and two guitars. I meandered down the foothills below the mountains and found a tunnel that I made home. It was three or four years of just hell.”

Eventually, Greg heard about Step while at a different facility.

“I showed up at the door and the rest is history.”

"It was the recipe that I needed to go from the point I was at in the tunnel to now in a career position. I knew I could do it, I just needed a ladder - and that’s what Step is.

“Today, I have a career job helping autistic kids. I'm at the highest level that a behavioral therapist can be. I'm two years sober now and it gets sweeter every week, every day, every minute.

“Now, being inducted this May into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame - I think every musician's dream is to be part of their state's heritage.

"I have to pinch myself sometimes. Life’s not perfect, not rosy every day. But gosh darn it, from living in a tunnel and the heartbreak of loss, to reinventing myself with the help of Step - really, that's where it is.

“I couldn't be happier.”

03/16/2026

Not too long ago, our Chief Operating Officer said, “If they can conquer the door, they’re through the biggest obstacle.” We couldn't agree more.

Today, SEVEN men had the willingness to make a life changing decision - they conquered the door and entered Step's program.