“It was a cloudless, chilly, November day when I stood under the south end of the Pattulo Bridge in Vancouver, scouting for a possible place to sleep,” says Michel. “I’d been homeless for about two months, was sick and tired of my situation, and fantasized about what an alcohol-free life would be like. “I started  […]

All he could do was think about his next fix. Then, when Ricky’s family was about to disown him due to his drug addiction, he turned to The Salvation Army for help. “My family was all I had,” says Ricky. “That struck me so hard.” For over 60 years, The Salvation Army’s Harbour Light in  […]

The numbers are in and are staggering. In Williams Lake, B.C., in December 2016, 142 people died as a result of illicit drug use, an average of nine people every two days. “Ninety percent of the clients we serve deal with drug addiction issues,” says Tamara Robinson, the Salvation Army’s family services coordinator. “Due to  […]

After 30 years of drinking on a daily basis, Joseph was offered help with recovery through The Salvation Army. But could he commit to improving his situation? It was a decision only he could make. “You need to make a choice,” The Salvation Army worker said to Joseph. “You can drink the rest of your  […]

“I thought I was going to die a drug addict,” says Samantha. “For the better part of 25 years I liked how the drugs made me feel. Then, one day, I reached rock bottom.” In January 2014 Samantha committed a crime and went to jail. Beaten down by addiction, emptiness, hopelessness and despair, she desperately  […]

“The Salvation Army has meant all the difference between being homeless and possibly dead because I was very suicidal,” states Shelley, a recovering alcoholic and women’s residential services client. Shelley was a successful administrative assistant but she was drinking too much. First she lost her job then she was evicted from her apartment when she  […]

“Less than a year ago I stood on the brink of a bridge, minutes away from jumping to my death,” says Lisa, 41. “Today, with help from The Salvation Army, I’m safe, sober and liking myself for the first time in decades.” From age seven to 14, Lisa was sexually abused by her father. Then,  […]

Byron was 18 years sober, managing mental illness and PTSD, was gainfully employed as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and in a long-term relationship. But just when he thought things were going well, a few curveballs sent him on a downward spiral and he couldn’t see a way out.   “It was Christmastime 2013,” says  […]

Less than a year ago, 52-year-old Neil arrived at The Salvation Army’s addiction treatment program in Winnipeg terrorized by flashbacks from his military days, he was addicted to alcohol and 50 pounds underweight.  “There were behaviours I couldn’t stop—even though I desperately wanted to,” says Neil. “After more than a decade of battling PTSD and  […]

We walk by the broken, the ones whose voices are rarely heard, and the ones whose struggles we cannot begin to comprehend. We realize that they are people, but never see them as a person as we place masks to hide the faces of the Downtown Eastside. It’s time to take away the stereotypes associated with  […]