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Unique sober living program in Windsor ‘figured out something that nobody else has’ | CBC News Loaded
Windsor
Unique sober living program in Windsor ‘figured out something that nobody else has’
House of Hope program has wait list of 150 people, gets calls from Australia
Jason Viau · CBC News · Posted: Oct 30, 2026 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: October 30
Josh Rundle’s seemingly normal family life with a home and a stable job took a drastic downward turn when he became addicted to co***ne as a means of coping with tragedy.
Rundle spent nine months in jail and has been released on bail to the House of Hope.
It’s a sober living program so successful that it has a large wait list with people inquiring from outside of Canada – something organizers say the city should take note of before spending tens of millions of dollars on its own solution.
“I feel that this place has given me a sense of community with a bunch of likeminded individuals all headed toward the same goal,” said Rundle. “It’s given me a lot of structure, a lot of accountability.”
Rundle is just one of 60 people who can spend up to two years in the House of Hope program.
The concept is unique and growing in Windsor; it places detached homes in different neighbourhoods across the city to help residents with their recovery.
Right now, there are about 150 people on the wait list to get into the House of Hope program.
“We’re having people call us all the way from Australia,” said Lisa Valente, who started and runs the homes.
A woman recently came to the program from Newfoundland, and Valente attributes the wide reach to an effective program that often gets attention on Facebook.
Each weekday, there’s structure and programming from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. to help residents stay clean and on track to living a positive and productive life beyond House of Hope.
“We really base it on accountability,” said Valente, adding that the program is primarily peer-led.
For Rundle, he participates daily in the Recovery Education for Addictions and Complex Trauma (REACT) program. On Wednesdays it’s Alcoholics Anonymous, and at other times there are services geared specifically for fathers in recovery.
'If I wasn’t here I’d be in jail right now'
Weekends are reserved for those in recovery to build and grow their personal relationships with friends and family.
“Which has just given me a newfound lease on life, and if I wasn’t here I’d be in jail right now,” said Rundle.
“Spending months in those jail cells every day when your freedom is stripped from you is an absolute heartbreaking experience. I would say in those jail cells, I hit my rock bottom and I got to come out stronger,” he added.
During his struggle with addiction, he described the destructive lifestyle that involved “pool, poker, women, drugs, up all night and sleep all day kind of things.”
Rundle said separating from his wife, his 16-year-old daughter dying by su***de and his mother passing away after a heart attack all became too much to bear and caused him to use drugs more often.
Program uses no government funding to operate
With no funding or government support, Valente started House of Hope back in 2019. She once used substances and has been clean for 15 years.
Sometimes Valente struggles to read social media comment sections about the issue of homelessness and politicians who talk about expensive solutions.
Under the House of Hope model, each client pays for their program, which includes being housed.
“There are other options, and these are options that aren’t costing taxpayers money; they aren’t costing the city money,” said Valente. “I feel like we have figured out something that nobody else has figured out.”
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Her homes come with a “good neighbour” policy, which means there’s a curfew in place and no smoking of ci******es in the front. And those living there maintain the property.
“Most people do not even know that it’s a sober living house,” said Valente.
The program began with six women and in April expanded into offering services, supports and homes for men who battled addiction.
Given the wait list for House of Hope, Valente said she would need more help if the concept were to grow.
She said it’s hard to turn people away because Valente has seen people bounce back who were once “street entrenched” in downtown Windsor and who “most people would think their chances of recovery are very little.”
Josh Rundle was once addicted to co***ne and spent nine months in jail before getting help with the House of Hope sober living program.
Josh Rundle was once addicted to co***ne and spent nine months in jail before getting help with the House of Hope sober living program. (Jason Viau/CBC)
For Rundle, he said he isn’t letting his addiction to drugs define who he is today.
He said his goals are to have a relationship with his six-year-old son and be a role model for him, while also getting back into the workforce.
“I’m figuring out who I am right now, and it’s been thrilling, it’s been scary, it’s been exciting, but I feel that the tools are in place now to carve out a slice of like that I think I deserve,” said Rundle.
Jason Viau
Journalist
