Jesse Donovan

Jesse is a Vermonter-turned-Floridian who has battled addiction both personally and professionally since the early 2000’s. After his first overdose at the age of 19 he moved into a runaway and homeless youth shelter and began working on his recovery, succeeding through the shelter’s independent living program and, subsequently, becoming a staff member of the organization that ran that shelter. It was this experience that made him realize he wished to use his lived experiences to help others and pursued an education to become a substance abuse counselor.
Shortly after Jesse graduated from Springfield College School of Human Services with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Addiction Studies in 2016, Jesse suffered the loss of his brother to suicide and fell back into active addiction, once again experiencing homelessness multiple times before deciding he was not going to survive another Vermont winter if he was living out on the streets. Leaving everything and everyone he knew behind; he got on a plane to Florida and moved in with a long-time friend who was willing to help him get on his feet with a fresh start.
The move was a success, until a relapse during the holiday season which ultimately landed him in a jail cell. Facing felony possession charges, Jesse accepted an offer into the drug court diversion program and began rebuilding his life. Jesse went from living at the Orlando Rescue Mission to moving into one of Hearth and Home of Florida’s sober living homes; he then was made house manager of one of their homes until he became a house manager for the Chrysalis Home group, where he currently resides today.
Jesse is happy to have his life back on track with a strong faith in his Higher Power, heavy involvement within his recovery community, and a job that allows him to guide others along a path not too dissimilar from the one he himself has walked. He is grateful to see recovery happening around him, each and every day.

Contact Information

Email: jessed@rccfhelp.org