Can a person truly change themselves for the better?

Can someone actually change after you’ve been in a physical altercation? I want to trust him again and I lost my home, my job and my friends but I truly love that man. I’ve never been so low in life and I’m just curious if anyone has ever gone through something and given that person a second chance.

He was/is an alcoholic who I tried time and time again to help quit drinking (as he said he wanted to) there were arguments but never anything physical until recently. I packed my stuff, took my cats and was gone the next morning. I’ve cried ever since and feel a huge pit inside of me wondering if it ever would have gotten better..