Transitioning to a lifestyle of recovery is simple
but never easy!
We are here to help you through this process.
Life transformation necessities
No Drug Use
Client must maintain 100% sobriety/clean time from all mind/mood altering substances
Stable employment
We believe part of recovery is getting and maintaining employment. We have access to specific employers that agree to hire convicted felons.
12 step program
Getting a sponsor and diving into step-work is imperative to working out character defects that lead to relapse.
Commitment
Recovery will need to be priority one! Time will be needed to attend meetings, work 12 steps, keep in constant contact with mentors and other sober/clean contacts.
Mentors
We have Leaders and mentors that can help to guide your recovery process.
Meeting Attendance
In recovery we must seek meetings in our local area. Our mentors can lead you to meetings that will fit your recovery personally.
Testimonies From Amazing People
I have been using drugs since I was 14 years old, and as my drug addiction got worse my life was going downhill fast. I got to the point where I had lost everything, I was tired of living in the streets, and desperately wanted to make a change. I met Justin when he spoke in the recovery pod, and he told me about Hand Up To Victory. Coming out of jail, I literally had the clothes on my back and nowhere to go. Thank God that HU2V was able to get me into a halfway house, paid my fees, and helped me out with clothing, food and hygiene products. I now have almost 3 years sober, I'm engaged and have an apartment with my fiancée, have a vehicle and a great career, and have God & great friends in my life! I also regularly attend High on Jesus meetings and Impact Church, which help me with my Spiritual walk. I knew I needed God, nothing else ever worked for me. This organization is so important to help others like me in their most desperate hour!

I have been in and out of jail for the past 20+ years, and was tired of being homeless and all the chaos that came with my drug addiction. Hand Up To Victory was there to help me pay the fees to get into a sober living house. I was also able to attend High on Jesus and other recovery groups, which gave me the firm foundation I needed! I've been sober since 2/23/19, I have my children back full time, I'm engaged and have a house with my fiancée, and now have a vehicle and my license back! Without God and HU2V I would've been homeless and back in jail. This program is critical in helping others in the same situation I was, without them I wouldn't be where I am today!

After my last relapse, I found out I was diagnosed with cancer, and I knew I needed to find a more stable living environment to focus on my sobriety and cancer recovery. Hand Up To Victory helped me to find an opening into a women's sober living house, and they paid my fees until I was able to work and start paying myself! Since HU2V helped me, I have grown stronger in my Spiritual walk with God daily, I have become an action based cancer, and I have beat cancer! I've been clean since 6/4/21, and celebrated my birthday sober! This organization is essential to people seeking recovery, please help in any capacity you can!

Life trapped in addiction was complete chaos. Thanks to HU2V I have learned differently. I need guidance, fellowship and to surround myself with those that are successful in the areas of life I know I need to work on. I came to HU2V after being released from jail. I had nothing or nobody to help me. HU2V found me a safe place to live, they gave me a cell phone, clothes, food and hygiene items. By them helping me I was able to find a job and get back on my feet. Today I am the House Manager for the sober living home they put me in. I have started going back to school. Most importantly I have been sober since 8/23/20, something I never believed I could do! HU2V saved my life and the lives of so many others. I thank God daily for this program.

For me life in addiction was chaotic and out of place. Due to the life I was living in addiction I was shot and nearly died. Hand Up To Victory has showed me a new way to live than what I was used to. Through High On Jesus meetings I have built friendships with other men who are successfully recovering. Today I have 4 years clean, and I am in a great place. I have a wonderful job working with others that are spiritual mentors and friends, something I didn't have in active addiction. Having Hand Up To Victory to help those struggling is absolutely needed in todays times.

Dear Justin, My name is Stephanie G and I struggled with addiction for 20 years. I had put my family through so much over those years. In and out of county jail, prison and rehabs, never once choosing to change my life. At the end of my addiction when I really wanted to change I found a card for Hand Up To Victory. I asked my mother what it was and she responded "Somebody you should call." Little did I know that phone call would change my life forever! I called and Riqui answered the phone. I knew Riqui from being in a halfway house before. She was adamant I go to a long term program. Riqui referred me to St Mathew's Place in Naples Florida. Going was the best decision I could have ever made for my life. I successfully graduated St Mathews Place June 21, 2022. Thanks to your help I am now a successful member of society. I have a car, a great job, I'm getting married this coming April. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought my life would be like this! Please don't ever stop helping people. Your organization saved my life. Thank you so much! Recovery is possible. Keep up the work you are doing. Sincerely Stephanie G.

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My name is Betty. Shortly after I was released from jail, I met Justin Halas from Hand Up To Victory. This was January 15th, 2018. I called them because I needed help with my rent. I was really struggling with not having any ID & I couldn’t find any work. That was the best phone call I’ve ever made! They were able to help me with 2 weeks of rent, and that hope gave me exactly what I needed to totally turn my life around! Justin and his wife Bonnie are a breath of fresh air. I call them my Earth Angels. Hand Up To Victory has given me the courage and confidence that I never thought I had or could ever have. Today I can say I know the Lord has found me and I have definitely found Him! Today I have 2 jobs, working part time at Oneco United Methodist Church, and I am also now the Administrative Assistant for Hand Up To Victory! What a blessing to be able to give back what was so freely given to me! I’ve been clean and sober since February 25th, 2017! God is so good!
“I called them because I needed help with my rent. I was really struggling… That was the best phone call I’ve ever made!”

I was addicted to drugs for over three decades, which led me down some very dark roads. Most of which ended up in the penitentiary, where I spent over half of my life locked up. Hand Up To Victory gave me the opportunity to get into a recovery house, and they also helped me to get a full time job! Without the help and support of Hand Up To Victory, I wouldn’t have stayed clean and sober since February 25th, 2017. And I wouldn’t have had a chance at the life I have today. I was able to get my license back, as it has been over ten years since I had one! I live in a nice house with my wife today, and I just got a car! Life is really good today!
“I was addicted to drugs for over three decades…Hand Up To Victory gave me the opportunity to get into a recovery house, and they also helped me to get a full time job!”

I am a grateful recovering addict. Through my commitment to heal,I have come in contact with a wonderful organization called “ Hand up to Victory”who has truley had a hand in helping me to continue on this beautiful journey. They helped to pay for my rent at the sober living house I live at. This gave me time to look for a job with less stress and pressure. Through the organization, I have met so many amazing people who have been there to encourage me and guide been down the right path. One special lady in particular, Mrs. Betty Sears has so graciously agreed to sponsor me and I can't thank her enough for being an inspiration and a leader I can depend on to lead me to greatness. So I just want to thank everyone involved in, “ Hand up to Victory” for the resources and love they have provided to help me succeed. One day I hope to give back, pay it forward and return the hope that was so freely shown to me. “I am a grateful recovering addict. I just want to thank everyone involved in Hand Up To Victory for the resources and love they have provided to help me succeed!”

So to make a long story short…I come from the school of hard knocks and I had become homeless. During my recovery process, I continued seeking the Lord Jesus Christ by surrendering and obeying. As I proceeded to reach out for help it was by no means a coincidence that I was led to Mr. Justin Halas and Mrs. Betty Sears. They led me to Hand Up To Victory, which was a new beginning for me! With their help of assisting me with my first weeks rent, I was able to move off the streets from the homeless shelter into a safe recovery house. Remaining clean and sober and still following Jesus, I was able to eventually move into my own apartment, which couldn’t have been possible had I not received the help from Hand Up To Victory. I’m so blessed and grateful to have phenomenal people in my life! I couldn’t have done it on my own!
“Remaining clean and sober and still following Jesus, I was able to eventually move into my own apartment, which couldn’t have been possible had I not received the help from Hand Up To Victory!”

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What We Offer You:
- access to recovery housing
- help to obtain hygiene products
- assistance to obtain clothing items
- A list of employers hiring in our local area. We even have employers that hire convicted felons
- Access to leaders and Mentors to guide you in your recovery process
- opportunities for counseling if needed
What To Expect?
- To maintain full sobriety/clean time from all mind mood altering substances including those that could possibly cause a false positive on any drug test.
- Maintain stable employment.
- Find a sponsor.
- Begin working a 12 step program.
- Check in regularly with status updates.
- Agree to random drug tests.

Justin Halas
Executive Director
Inspirational Speaker, Life Coach, Consultant

Pastor Gary Eldred
President
Pastor, Mentor, Community Leader

Julius Halas
Vice President
State Fire Marshall Director, retired Longboat Key Fire Chief, retired Sarasota County Fire Chief

Rosalind Keppler
Treasurer
Retired Lawyer, Consultant, Philanthropist

Pastor Clark Edwards
Advisory Board
Pastor, Mentor, Community Leader
Apply To Join Our Community
Contact us
- 941-782-9482
- info@handuptovictory.org
- P.O. Box 991 Ellenton, FL 34222