Portland Man Finds Pathway Between Recovery and Independent Living

When Francisco Quintero completed The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) program in Bakersfield, California, he thought he was finished with recovery. Free from a six-year cocaine addiction, he returned home to Rialto, California, ready to move on. But his journey was far from over, eventually leading him a thousand miles north to Portland, Oregon, where he found a new path at The Salvation Army's Bridgeway of Hope sober living residence.

Quintero’s first encounter with The Salvation Army’s ARC program wasn’t an easy one. He didn’t want to be there. Despite his low opinion of church, something changed during his first chapel service. He recalls being overwhelmed with emotion and feeling a peace he had never known before. "God was speaking to me, saying, 'I’ve got this—I'm going to take this addiction away from you,'" Quintero said. And it worked. But soon after returning home, old habits resurfaced. He didn’t use again, but the temptations around him grew. When someone suggested he could make quick money selling drugs, he was tempted to agree.

That’s when his mother stepped in. Seeing the danger signs, she reached out to Major Martha Sheppard, the program administrator in Bakersfield. Sheppard didn’t hesitate to intervene—showing up at Quintero’s house with a colleague and registering him for The Salvation Army’s men’s camp. At camp, he met Major Dan Williams, then administrator of Bridgeway of Hope, who invited him to move to Portland for the next step in his recovery.

Though hesitant at first, Quintero prayed for guidance. "It was the first time I truly prayed on a decision," he said. The same peace he felt during his first chapel service returned, and he knew what he had to do. With just $200 to his name, Quintero left California for Portland, ready to start over.

Bridgeway of Hope became a crucial part of his transition. The program provides up to 24 months of sober living, helping men rebuild their lives after completing a recovery program. Services include access to 12-step meetings, counseling, workforce development, and spiritual opportunities. One of the keys to his success, Quintero said, was staying connected. “You are who you hang out with,” he explained, echoing advice he received from Major Williams.

Quintero began attending the Gresham Corps and found a new community there. He started volunteering, eventually taking a job as the corps’ youth worker, leaving behind a higher-paying position at Airgas for a role that fulfilled him. "I fell in love with the ministry," he said, noting that it was one of the best decisions he ever made.

Now, Quintero is pursuing a career in camping ministry and recently accepted a position at The Salvation Army Camp Kuratli in Boring, Oregon. Looking back, he credits Bridgeway of Hope with giving him the tools to succeed in life after recovery. "It gives you freedom, but also holds you accountable,” he said. “That’s exactly what I needed."

Francisco Quintero’s journey is a testament to the power of second chances and the importance of ongoing support in the recovery process.