When Matthew Fortune flatlined for 45 minutes, he didn’t see a tunnel or meet a divine being—he experienced nothingness. But coming back to life forced him to confront everything. In this unflinching and ultimately redemptive episode, Matthew shares his long and painful battle with addiction and homelessness. From growing up in a strict Christian household to surviving a fentanyl overdose and then rebuilding his life through faith, service, and hard-won responsibility, Matthew’s story challenges assumptions about recovery and the human capacity for change. 

Story Producer: Brent Dey

Resources for opioid and other harm reduction:

Georgia Overdose Prevention: https://georgiaoverdoseprevention.org/

National Opioid Action Coalition: https://www.noac.org/

National Harm Reduction Coalition: https://harmreduction.org/

If you’d like to learn more, get involved, or support those experiencing homelessness, here are some trusted organizations and resources that can help:

National Organizations (U.S.)

• National Alliance to End Homelessness — endhomelessness.org
  Advocacy, research, and policy work to end homelessness. Great starting point for understanding the issue and supporting systemic change.
  
  
• National Coalition for the Homeless — nationalhomeless.org
  Education, advocacy, and grassroots organizing around homelessness and housing rights.
  
  
• National Low Income Housing Coalition — nlihc.org
  Focused on expanding affordable housing and influencing housing policy nationwide.

Direct Support & Volunteering

• The Salvation Army – Homeless Services — salvationarmyusa.org
  Provides shelters, transitional housing, and food assistance.
  
  
• Habitat for Humanity — habitat.org
  Volunteer opportunities to help build affordable housing in local communities.
  
  
• Feeding America — feedingamerica.org
  Helps reduce food insecurity, often a major factor in preventing homelessness.

* If you have a transformative near-death experience to share, we’d love to hear your story. Please email us at [email protected] 

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