A Second Chance Story: Hope Building's Scotty Noble
by Jadin Turner, Community Relations AmeriCorps
HAZARD, Ky. – Every life is built on a foundation, but for some, the early foundation is fractured by forces that feel impossible to control. For Scotty Noble, that fracture came in the form of addiction.
To understand the man Scotty is today, one must first understand the weight of the past he had to carry. Addiction is not simple; it is a heavy, dark fog that distorts a person’s sense of self-worth and blurs the road ahead. For years, Scotty found himself caught in that fog, fighting a battle that millions face but few openly discuss with grace.
“The person I used to be didn’t care about nothing or no one,” he said, speaking about his recovery journey while at a local work site, where he was helping install Hardie board siding – a type of siding designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, to survive the storm.
In the midst of active addiction, Scotty said the world shrinks. Goals, family, and personal dreams get pushed aside by the daily struggle to survive the cycle.
For a long time, it would have been easy for an outsider to look at Scotty’s circumstances and make a quick judgment. It would have been easy for Scotty himself to believe that his story had already been written, that the mistakes of yesterday had permanently changed the fate of tomorrow.
But true strength isn’t about never falling; it is about the quiet, fierce decision to stand back up when everyone else assumes you’ll stay down.
While telling his story, it became clear that Scotty possessed a quiet resilience beneath the surface, kindness, and a deep love for his family that never truly vanished, even in his darkest moments. He said he just needed a clear path, a community that believed in redemption, and the willingness to take the first incredibly difficult step toward change.
“If someone [who has struggled with addiction] truly wants to change their life, they have to put forth the effort and not be afraid to ask someone for help, especially someone who knows where they’re at and the things they need to do to overcome it,” Scotty said.
The turning point in a recovery story rarely looks like a movie. It doesn’t usually happen with a sudden flash of light. Instead, it happens in quiet, often stressful rooms where a person chooses accountability over escape. For Scotty, a crucial piece of that accountability came through the Perry County Drug Court and the Housing Development Alliance’s Hope Building Program.
Scotty was in the Hope Building Program for a year. Home construction work is physically demanding – carpenters work through the bitter cold and the heavy heat of summer. But more than the physical toll, it requires teamwork, precision, and patience.
During his year in the Hope Building program, Scotty’s true character began to shine brightly for everyone around him to see. His supervisors and peers didn’t just notice his growing carpentry skills – they noticed his heart.
“Scotty is a remarkably kind man, and according to Ricky (Dombrowski, assistant trainer on the Hope Building crew), a great singer,” said Hope Building Program Director Shannon Gabbard. “In an industry that can sometimes be rough or rigid, Scotty brings a warmth and gentle spirit to the work site. I’ve watched him be a source of encouragement for other trainees on their own recovery journeys. Since he’s been on that rocky path himself, he’s able to look a fellow trainee in the eye and offer genuine hope. He proved through his daily work ethic that dedication to life, family, and craft wasn’t just something he talked about – it’s who he was.”
She continued, "Scotty truly exemplifies what the Hope Building program is all about. He came to us through a referral from the Perry County Recovery Court program while working in a fast-food job and searching for an opportunity to build a meaningful career. During his time in Hope Building, Scotty not only completed his hands-on construction training, but also graduated from Recovery Court and earned his credentials from Hazard Community & Technical College. One of his proudest moments was walking across the graduation stage with his children and grandchildren there to cheer him on - an achievement he once never imagined possible."
The Perry County Drug Recovery Court program is a rigorous, demanding, and highly structured program designed to hold individuals accountable while offering them the therapeutic tools they need to battle substance use disorder. While working as a paid trainee in Hope Building, Scotty continued his recovery program, which required vulnerability, consistency, random drug testing, constant check-ins, and a total overhaul of his daily life.
“Drug Court is not an easy way out. I wanted to change,” Scotty said. “I didn’t just want to get through it – I wanted to heal.”
Graduating the program was a public declaration that his past no longer held the pen to his future. He had faced the legal and personal consequences of his old life and emerged with a clean slate and a restored sense of purpose. Now, he said he felt as though he’d proved to himself, to his family, and to his community that he was ready to build something entirely new.
“Today, Scotty is employed full-time as a carpenter with HDA, where he is helping build safe, affordable housing for families in our region,” Gabbard was pleased to report. “His journey reflects the power of second chances, hard work, and determination. By investing in himself, Scotty has created a brighter future not only for him, but also for his family, all while making a lasting contribution to his community.”
Scotty works as a member of HDA’s Home Repair & Rehab crew, which holds a special responsibility in the region’s housing recovery process. These carpenters are the ones who handle the critical fixes, the structural repairs, the fresh drywall, the seamless trim, and the new fixtures. They are the team that takes a house damaged by time, disaster, or neglect and transforms it back into a safe, warm, and welcoming home for a family in need.
Repair work requires a sharp eye, a steady hand, and a deep sense of pride in craftsmanship to see past the damage and rebuild what was lost. For Scotty, this role is profoundly symbolic. Every day, he is putting the healing and finishing touches on homes for people in his community, reflecting the restoration and resilience he has built within his own life.
As Gabbard so rightly noted, “Scotty’s story demonstrates how the right support, combined with personal determination, can transform lives, strengthen families, and build stronger communities.”
Find out more about HDA’s Hope Building Program here.
