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Different This Time

Posted Tuesday, July 07, 2026

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He's been in recovery before. This time, he has the people and resources to make it last.

Scott and Marissa Dewey Ramos
cott and Marissa Dewey-Ramos from BUILD CDC

Erie native and college graduate Scott has spent years trying to break free from addiction. More than once, he built stretches of sobriety, marked by meaningful employment and safe housing—sometimes for a year or more—before addiction regained the upper hand.

Eventually, Scott recognized the pattern for what it was and went in search of a longer-term solution.

Erie City Mission’s New Life Program

He found it at the Erie City Mission’s New Life Program, an intensive, structured approach to recovery that helps participants break patterns of addiction. 

With graduated responsibility and a range of supportive services, the program helps participants navigate beyond the first fragile weeks of sobriety. Lasting nine months or more, the New Life Program is designed to make sobriety sustainable for the long run.

Scott's Progress

Today, Scott is nearing the end of the program and is thriving. His progress has been anchored by support from BUILD CDC’s Marissa Dewey-Ramos, a certified community health worker and member of BUILD’s Street Outreach team, who partners with the New Life Program to support its residents.

“It can be hard to navigate all the available resources when you’re in the middle of recovery. Making appointments, completing forms, lining things up—it can be overwhelming at times. I’m very grateful for Marissa. She helped me manage all of it.”

Scott

Checking In

With Marissa’s guidance, Scott secured health insurance, connected with a primary care provider and dentist, and arranged housing options based on his employment status and readiness for independence once the New Life Program ends.

“Marissa makes sure we always have a Plan B,” Scott explained. “Because of her, there’s no real possibility for me to be in a future crisis.”

Beyond logistics, Marissa offers compassion. She frequently checks in with Scott, asking, “How’re things going?” Her sincere desire to see him succeed is evident.

“There are people who do their jobs, and then there are people like Marissa, who go out of their way to do their jobs well,” he said. “That’s hard to come by.”

UPMC’s Pathways to Work Program

With Marissa’s encouragement, Scott connected with UPMC’s Pathways to Work program, which helped him land a role as a patient transporter at UPMC Hamot. “It’s a really cool job,” he said. “I like people, and I enjoy making a difference in their lives.”

Connecting with his patients is easy; navigating the labyrinthine hospital is not. “It’s cavernous!” he laughed. Scott is grateful for helpful colleagues and supportive leaders, especially Lindsey Metcalfe, UPMC Hamot’s Director of Transportation Services, who has been a steady source of encouragement and guidance since his first day on the job.

As for what comes next, Scott is approaching this next chapter differently. With caution and self-awareness. He refuses to be beguiled by overconfidence again, instead opting for a slow, calculated strategy to transition out of the New Life Program.

“My plan is to keep the status quo: go to work, come back here, and make a gradual transition into other housing options when I’m fully ready,” he said.

For the first time, he’s stepping into his recovery with a mapped-out plan (and a Plan B), and the guidance of Marissa, someone he trusts, who will walk alongside him.

Now, stability feels like something that can last.

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