On a typical day, Eric enjoys the quiet rhythms of his life in Seattle, time at home with his wife, caring for their cats and focusing on what matters most to him now: community, peace and recovery.
“Just waking up every day and being happy, that’s what counts,” Eric says.
It’s a life that once felt out of reach for Eric.
After decades of substance use, experiences with homelessness, and the loss of friends and family, Eric reached a turning point. “I just wanted to have a different life,” he says. “I needed to change everything.”
Eric was in inpatient treatment when a friend told him about the Matt Talbot Center, a Catholic Community Services (CCS) recovery center in Seattle. The Matt Talbot Center provides outpatient substance use recovery services, mental health support, and housing connections for individuals in Seattle.
40 Years of Community-Centered Care
In 2025, the Matt Talbot Center celebrated 40 years of serving the Seattle community. What began in 1985 as a day center offering food, shelter, and community has grown into a licensed outpatient recovery program supporting individuals experiencing substance use disorder, homelessness, and mental health challenges. The program is faith-based and welcomes people of all backgrounds, faiths, and identities.
In 2024, the Matt Talbot Center served more than 350 members through their year-long recovery program, providing 5,455 hours of clinical outreach, 1,820 hours of individual treatment, and 10,280 meals. Their holistic approach to recovery helps members attain lasting stability and move toward the futures they want for themselves.
Above the Matt Talbot Center, CCS’ Traugott Terrace provides 50 units of permanent housing, offering many graduates a place to call home. Through a partnership with Immanual Community Services, Matt Talbot Center members can access shelter while participating in the program.
Building Stability through Coordinated Support
The Matt Talbot Center’s year-long recovery program provides a unique opportunity for members to work toward lasting stability and wellbeing.
“The whole year program concept is amazing,” Matt Talbot Center member Craig says. “Having that time to work on yourself and your health and let yourself heal is one of the most important things that they offer.”
After more than two decades of substance use, Craig came to the center ready to start a new chapter. “I put 100% of my effort in,” Craig says. “This place changed my life.”
In addition to recovery support, Matt Talbot Center staff also connected Craig with mental health resources through CCS’ Counseling, Recovery, and Wellness program. To provide comprehensive support, Matt Talbot Center connects residents with a range of resources from mental health care, to shelter and housing, to career development resources.
Larry, another member at the Matt Talbot Center, explained that his experiences with substance use and homelessness have been characterized by grief and loss. Through Counseling, Recovery, and Wellness, he also receives mental health support that helps him process those experiences.
“It’s more than just treatment,” Larry says. “Other things might be going on, like mental health.”
A Recovery Community that Supports Healing
At the Matt Talbot Center, members find more than just expert resources; they connect with a community that offers compassion, camaraderie, and care.
“It’s a community of love and acceptance,” Eric says.
For Larry, the relationships he has built with staff have made a lasting impact. “They’re always reaching out to you to lift you up,” Larry says. “They never turn their back on you.”
That support extends beyond recovery programming. When Larry needed medical treatment, Matt Talbot Center staff helped him access care and supported him through the surgery process. After trying multiple treatment programs, Larry says Matt Talbot Center’s community makes it different: “The one that worked for me is the Matt Talbot Center.”
A Road to Lasting Stability
With wraparound resources and a supportive community, the Matt Talbot Center provides members with the tools they need to build the lives they want to live.
Craig enjoys writing music and hopes to produce an album after completing the program. “I just want to live simple — strengthen my relationship with God and be happy.”
Larry is focused on his health and finding stability in his retirement years. “Never give up,” Larry says.
Through the Matt Talbot Center, Eric connected with CCS’ Housing and Essential Needs, which provided the resources he needed to secure stable housing. Within eight months, he transitioned from living in a tent to moving into his own apartment.
Today, he’s enrolled in classes to build new skills and is exploring ways to support others on their own recovery journeys.
“I really enjoy helping people,” Eric says. “I know what it’s like to feel hopeless. I just want to offer other people hope, love and respect.”
When you make a gift to the Spring Appeal, you help more of our neighbors like Eric, Craig, and Larry find healing and hope. Make your gift today to bring transformative services to families and individuals throughout Western Washington.