My name is Doyle and I was born in Dallas, Texas on October 7, 1990. I had a good childhood with a loving family. Everything was good until my mother’s death when I was 13. Then the depression hit. I hated everything and everyone. And I hated God. I blamed God for her death. My dad didn’t know how to handle it, so he started drinking. He wasn’t really there for me after my mom’s death. A few years later, I found weed and began smoking it as often as I could. It helped with the depression. I was always looking for a means of escape. The harder drugs didn’t come until later. But once I started, I couldn’t stop. I didn’t want to stop.

Eventually, I lost my job and the house and moved in with my godmother. I worked for her to pay my rent, but couldn’t stay off the drugs and caught 2 felony drug charges. Afterward, my godmother wanted me out of her house. After some arguing, she convinced me to try a treatment center. Without having any idea what to do, my friend got me into Soul’s Harbor.
With three hot meals a day and a place to sleep, I tried this recovery thing for the first time. That first weekend, I wanted to support a friend who was getting baptized, because he supported me. We ended up going to the same church that my mother took me to as a child. I don’t see that as a coincidence. I did this recovery thing like I do everything: I dive head first into it until I burn myself out. It lasted for about 4 months, but then I began hanging out with old drug addict friends.

I was okay for the first few times, but eventually, I said, “F*** it” and started using again while I was at Soul’s Harbor. I decided to leave while lying to everyone, telling them I’d stay. I spent the next month living in my car. And then a friend from Soul’s Harbor called me and asked if I wanted to come back.

After several days in detox, the director let me back in. That relapse opened my eyes and I got more involved in recovery. It’s been 11 months since then and I’ve graduated from the program. Next month, I will be sober and clean for a whole year, the longest I have been sober since I was a young teenager. Soul’s Harbor has provided me with the opportunity to go to school for construction training. I am now employed and working a construction job I enjoy because of the opportunities I was given by Soul’s Harbor.

I am still involved at the Harbor by taking people to church and outside meetings. I make every meeting I can because I want to give back everything the Harbor has so freely given me. The 12 Steps have also helped me reunite with God.

I want to thank the staff and all my brothers here at the Harbor. Soul’s Harbor saved my life.

Soul’s Harbor has entered into a relationship with North Texas Behavioral Health Authority (NTBHA) to better assist our residents. NTBHA will provide much needed services to our residents that will better prepare them for long term recovery.

NTBHA provides housing, mental health services, prescriptions, support groups and much more for our residents when they graduate from our 6-month program. Also, NTBHA clients can be referred to Soul’s Harbor for substance abuse recovery. We are extremely excited to be partnered with North Texas Behavioral Health Authority.

We need your help…

Soul’s Harbor homeless shelter is supported solely by our four thrift stores. You can donate your household items via phone (972-286-1940) or our “Household Donation Request Form” page. We also take automobiles “Vehicle Donation Request Form“. So if you have old clothes, furniture, appliances, household items, or even a car to donate to Soul’s Harbor, either fill out our online form or call our dispatch office at 972-286-1940. Our dispatch office is open Monday through Saturday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

We are sustained solely through our four thrift store sales. We rely on your donated items to support our shelter. At Soul’s Harbor, we would like to thank all our customers that donate their items and also our thrift store customers. Because without our customers, there would be no Soul’s Harbor.

Thank you and God Bless.

Brent Burmaster
Executive Director of Soul’s Harbor Homeless Shelter

For information regarding intake/admission into our recovery facility, please contact: