DAYTON, Ohio — Earlier this month President Biden pardoned 39 people convicted on non-violent crimes and commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 people who were placed on home confinement.

Chris Hunter has a lot of certificates to be proud of, but one especially.

“Here is my certificate of Clemency,” he said.

He missed out on a lot while serving 17 years in federal prison for a non-violent drug offense, but these days he’s getting his life back.

“I got addicted to drugs at a young age and that lead me down a wrong road and to fund that drug addiction, I began to sell drugs,” Hunter explained.

At the age of 33, he was sentenced to 35 years in 2005.

“I made the fatal mistake of choosing trial,” he said.

After almost a decade in prison, he picked up a Bible and found his faith and began to turn his life around.

He was soon eligible for release under house arrest under the CARES Act of 2019.

“Almost a month after I got out the CARES Act window closed. So I was one of the last ones to be released on an ankle monitor and I was set to be on an ankle monitor until 2029. I will say that me accepting Christ, I give full credit to me being out to that acceptance,” he said.

This will be his first weekend without the ankle monitor.

Hunter says seeing his name on the list of people receiving clemency from President Biden this month changes everything.

“It was a White House list, and I slowly scrolled through it, the H’s and at the very bottom of the Hs there it was. I shed a tear, a tear or two fell for sure,” he said.

This recent development is just one of the positive turns in Hunter’s life.

Since his release, he’s been working and receiving help through Emerge Recovery and Trade Initiative near Dayton.  

“Many of our clients have been through the jails or prison system. I’d say about 90%. We go into the jails and prisons and we’re able to deliver a message that they can have something different and that treatment can look different from what it has,” said Emerge CEO Rachel Huffman.

Emerge works with about 100 clients at any given time.

Specialists offer treatment, recovery support and access to job skills and employment all under one roof.

Clients like Hunter can also choose a faith-based pathway to their recovery. 

He helps lead the program ‘Thursday Night Recovery Live.’

“It is so important to hear these stories because really what we’re trying to do is give hope to people that you can move forward in your situation, just never give up,” said Emerge Director of Philanthropy Elaine Bonner.

Hunter’s journey with Emerge has brought him to work for ‘Five Star Home Services’ - one of several recovery friendly workplaces on campus.

He takes calls and helps customers with HVAC, electrical, and plumbing services.

“It’s great. I love working here. I work with great people. Great people make a great job,” he said.

 It’s a job he’s proud of and a new life that he’s earned.

“It’s never too late for things to turn around and they can turn around really quickly. It’s your story. Write the end how you want,” he said.

Emerge Recovery and Trade Initiative is located in Xenia, OH.

The nonprofit also provides outpatient services for men and women and inpatient residential treatment and recovery housing for men.