By Philip Haldiman
Twitter: @PhilipHaldiman

Peoria-based Deep Within Rehab has had a tough pandemic.

To say the least.

The nonprofit provides a safe, clean, drug and alcohol free environment for men living on the street. This includes three meals a day, hygiene items, clothing, employment training and recovery support.

The group has continued with its mission but dealt with harrowing tragedy along the way.

Only weeks before the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic in March, Deep Within Rehab launched a $250,000 capital campaign to buy their property and transition into an Arizona licensed substance abuse treatment facility, halting their fund raising momentum.

The next month co-founder Lee Humes became ill and was admitted to the VA Medical Center in central Phoenix. This began a more than 50-day battle with the coronavirus and underlying conditions. After suffering a heart attack and other ailments he died May 29, 2020.

But co-founder and Mr. Humes’ wife Cindy said Deep Within continues to follow its mission to help the homeless and carry on with the capital campaign.

Donations and other assistance have helped the company stay the course, she said.

“Bellevue Heights church helped us with expenses while we were locked down, and we are slowly starting to work again. And we are certainly still working on our capital campaign,” she said. “We are doing Christmas here and it will be so very sad without our big black Santa! The residents will get gifts of hygiene, socks and t-shirts. We are still here trying to make a difference.”

After years of expanding and improving facilities using program revenue on their two-acre property at 91st and Grand avenues, home to eight buildings and up to 35 residents, earlier this year the property owner offered to sell it to Deep Within.

The nonprofit does not receive state or government funding, but instead receives charitable donations and generates revenue through employment opportunities throughout the Valley that its residents, directors and family participate in.

Donations can be made at deepwithinrehab.org, via Venmo username: @Deep-Within.

Philip Haldiman can be reached at 623-876-3697, phaldiman@newszap.com, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman.

Philip Haldiman
Senior News Editor | Peoria
@PhilipHaldiman

phaldiman@iniusa.org

Meet Philip
Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.

Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.

Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater. 

Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.

Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.