About Brenda's House of Hope
Why Brenda's House of Hope
The name Brenda's House of Hope belongs to a real woman, Nicole Agnetti's mother.
Brenda struggled with addiction her entire life. She lost two sons to prison. She faced her own darkness in ways that would break most people. And through all of it, she kept opening her door.
Neighbors, strangers, people with nowhere else to go, Brenda took them in. She fed them. She made space for them. Even when her own situation was desperate, she never stopped caring for others.
She passed before Brenda's House of Hope was built. But the name carries everything she stood for: that hope doesn't wait for perfect circumstances, and that a home — a real one — can change everything.
"Even in her darkest moments, she took people in. Hope was her name. It's our mission."
How It Started
Rickie Agnetti was 21 years old when he went to prison. That's where he met Billy DuTremaine.
Billy wasn't a counselor. He wasn't required to do anything for Rickie. But he showed him what it looked like for someone to care without conditions, to invest in a person's future even when that person couldn't see it yet.
Twenty-two years later, Billy and Kim DuTremaine helped Rickie and Nicole build Brenda's House of Hope, Farmington's first transitional housing program for folks in recovery.
"This is personal. We've been where these men are."
The founders didn't build this program from a textbook. They built it from experience, from gratitude, and from a belief that the cycle of addiction and incarceration can be broken — for men and women alike, one life at a time.
What Makes Us Different
We're not your typical clinical setting. From day one, we've worked intentionally to maintain a warm, welcoming environment—the kind of place where people feel safe to be vulnerable and do the hard work recovery requires.
You'll notice the difference in:
Our People - Every member of our team is here for the right reasons. We've built a culture where caring is non-negotiable, and it shows.
Our Approach - We don't do cookie-cutter treatment. We look at each person individually and design care around your unique needs, strengths, and goals.
Our Network - We've created programs that address the whole person—clinical treatment, physical health, safe housing, community connection, and real-world skills.
Our Accountability - We're honest about what recovery takes, and we'll be with you every step of the way.
Who We Are
Rickie Agnetti,
Certified Peer Support Worker
Owner & Director
Rickie has lived the full arc of addiction, incarceration, and recovery. That experience is the backbone of how Brenda's House of Hope operates: with accountability, without judgment, and with genuine belief in every resident's ability to change.
Nicole Agnetti,
Certified Peer Support Worker
Co-Owner & Case Manager
Nicole brings both personal and professional experience to her role, walking alongside residents through the practical and emotional work of rebuilding a life.
Both Rickie and Nicole are Certified Peer Support Workers. They aren't managing a program from a distance, they're in it.
Clinical services for residents are provided by Cottonwood Pathways.
Mission & Values
Our Mission: To provide the best overall care to persons seeking recovery that affects the most change.
Our Core Values Guide Everything We Do:
Caring and Empathetic -
We lead with humanity
Structured with Accountability -
Because structure is a form of love.
Progress not Perfection -
Every step forward counts.
Community First -
Nobody heals alone.
Transparent and Trustworthy -
You'll always know where you stand.
Accreditations & Partnerships
Brenda's House of Hope is a Cottonwood Pathways program, which is licensed by the State of New Mexico and accepts Medicaid and most commercial insurance plans. We partner with courts, probation offices, healthcare providers, and community organizations throughout the Four Corners region to ensure comprehensive support for our clients.
Contact us to verify your insurance or learn more about payment options.