Championing Hope and Recovery in the Deaf Community
Eric Smart
Homelessness and addiction are hard enough to navigate on their own, but imagine the additional frustration of trying to get help when other people can’t communicate with you. For Eric Smart— who is deaf—his recovery journey came with extraordinary hurdles.
“I struggled to find a hearing-based substance abuse inpatient treatment that would accept me because of my deafness,” he said.
Though he eventually got into treatment, interpreters weren’t readily available, making it a challenge for Eric to get the full benefit of the recovery program.
“The system never truly helped me because of my disability, my identity, and my lifestyle,” he said. “I had no idea what was being discussed in groups unless I asked the facilitator to give me copies of the topics afterward. I had no access to my language, no video phone to call friends, and no real connection with others during my stay.”
Despite these difficulties, Eric remained steadfast in his commitment to sobriety.
“That was when I ignited my own little fire and began walking the path of self-recovery.”
But Eric knew he was an exception.
“Many Deaf people are still out there, waiting for help to come — and for many, it never does,” he said. “The system says we have ‘communication barriers,’ but in truth, we have many abilities and alternative ways to communicate. Too often, hearing professionals simply do not take the time to adapt; instead, they try to fit us into a one-size-fits-all format that doesn’t work for Deaf peers.”
About five years into his recovery, Eric made it his mission to address gaps in the system and help others in the Deaf community. He became the first Deaf Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) in Georgia, which equipped him with the training to support and counsel others struggling with mental health and substance use challenges.
Eric began volunteering at CaringWorks’ Hope House with residents in the Deaf Bridges to Recovery (DBR) Program—a residential treatment and recovery program for homeless men who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, deaf plus or late-deafened. He eventually joined the CaringWorks staff and now serves as a Care Coordinator with the program.
“My most rewarding moments are when I advocate for my Deaf peers — when I see hope in their eyes, when they start using affirmations, and when they finally open up about things they’ve carried inside for too long,” Eric said.
Eric and Brandon
Eric also helps his peers gain the confidence to assert their needs and rights. One of the men Eric has supported, Brandon C., is a current Hope House resident in the DBR program who has now been in recovery for about two years.
“Due to having no language access when visiting my probation officer, Eric advocated for me to ensure they provided interpreters—not just in legal settings, but in other systems as well,” Brandon said.
And, Eric is empowering others, including Brandon, to also become advocates who carry hope and resources back to the wider community. With Eric’s help, Brandon recently completed training at the Certified Addiction Recovery Empowerment Specialist (CARES) Academy, which was created by the Georgia Council for Recovery to build a workforce of peers who provide recovery support services throughout Georgia.
“Eric and others inspired me to become a better person than I was two years ago, especially remembering my late mother’s request that I stay committed to my recovery,” Brandon said. “Now as a Certified Peer Specialist, my goal is to work at Hope House and support the Deaf community in recovery.”
Eric’s efforts have gained significant traction, and in 2024 he was honored as Georgia’s Recovery Champion at the Georgia School of Addiction Studies. There are now five Deaf Certified Peer Specialists in Georgia, and that number continues to grow. Still, Eric emphasizes the importance of expanding access so every Deaf individual has the opportunity to succeed in recovery.
“We need a system where Deaf people are not left behind, where recovery is accessible in our language, and where we can thrive — not just survive. My mission is to help peers become independent, resilient, and empowered, because we should never have to wait on the clock, the system, or anyone else for our recovery.”
Eric’s work demonstrates that one person’s dedication can spark change for an entire community—and at CaringWorks, we’re proud to be part of that momentum.
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About CaringWorks:
Built on the single idea that all people—no matter their social or economic standing—should have a chance to improve their quality of life, CaringWorks has served thousands of clients since our inception in 2002. Since then we have grown exponentially to become one of Georgia’s leaders in providing permanent supportive housing. We serve hundreds of individuals each year through unique programs and services that are specifically tailored to the needs of those facing chronic homelessness.
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September 2025