ReHabit wins Rep. Josh Gottheimer’s 2025 Congressional App Challenge in New Jersey’s Fifth District

When asked what inspired the creation of ReHabit, the students said, “Until middle school, the news reports titled ‘war on drugs’ seemed far from relevant to us. Yet, as Jong Ho and I both moved towns to Hackensack after coming to the Bergen County Academies, the social reports became a reality. Hackensack, the town that is home to our school, has an especially large number of homeless shelters, drug rehabilitation centers, and the county jail. 

“I will never forget the sight that I encountered when I visited the public library for the first time. Countless homeless people and substance abusers, as well as alcoholics, were staying inside to avoid the rain and cold weather.

“Every morning as I walk to school, I face this reality again, seeing the lines of people waiting in front of the rehab centers under the blazing sun that would reflect faces full of tiredness, but tenacity that clung to hope. Those faces of determination and hope left a strong impression on me.

“At our school, Matt Bocchi shared his story—the son of a 9/11 victim who later fell into addiction, trauma, and despair before finding his way to recovery. Speaking about the loneliness of relapse, the fear of asking for help, and the constant battle between shame and healing, seemingly mundane emotions were brutally strengthened by the substances he took.

‘Recovery isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection.’

“That line lingered. It reframed how we thought about addiction. Recovery is more than a static path towards freedom, but rather one that depends on trust, understanding, and accountability. After the assembly, we discussed how people like Matt often have to navigate this process without consistent guidance once they leave therapy or rehab. Support was only available in rigid appointments, but there is more to rehabilitation than a few hours every week. Looking deeper, we found a gap for accessible, private, and compassionate help that could exist in between.

“That’s how ReHabit was born. We envisioned an app that could serve as a bridge between therapy sessions and real life—offering tools for reflection, emotional tracking, and immediate support in the moments outside of scheduled appointments. Inspired by Matt’s message of connection, we wanted to integrate features that let users involve caregivers or family members in their recovery while maintaining full control over their privacy. The idea was to build not just a tool, but a trustworthy companion—something that could meet people where they are, at any hour, in any state.”