Former Salvation Army Client Now Advocates for the Most Vulnerable

In 2010 Al Wiebe’s life took an unexpected turn. Without warning he lost his job as an advertising sales executive, where he was earning a six-figure salary. After having to spend the remaining funds he had left, Al soon found himself homeless.

For 14 months Al lived in his car while also dealing with clinical depression. He looked for assistance to improve his mental health but faced rejection. Frustrated, Al reached a breaking point and attempted suicide by jumping off a bridge.

“If the doctor had not sent me to The Salvation Army, I probably would’ve been dead in not too long a time.”

Soon after, Al was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. After a 30-day stay, his doctor referred him to The Salvation Army’s Centre of Hope in Winnipeg, as he did not want Al to be back on the streets again.

“If the doctor had not sent me to The Salvation Army, I probably would’ve been dead in not too long a time,” Al said.

For the next year, Al found shelter at the Centre of Hope. He says The Salvation Army helped  him regain stability in his life. During this transitional period, Al even met his current partner, and their bond remains strong to this day.

Since overcoming homelessness, Al has dedicated much of his time to raising awareness about this issue, leading projects aimed to assist the most vulnerable individuals. He was recently invited back to The Salvation Army in Winnipeg to host a training session for the staff. Returning to the place that was once his refuge, was a special moment for Al.

“It was a wonderful experience. After 11 years I went back to The Salvation Army and talked to the staff,” he shared.

Some of the staff that Al had encountered during his initial stay were present in the audience.

The goal of the training session was to provide the staff with a fresh perspective on how to better connect with the guests they serve.

“I want to give people a realistic look at what folks at The Salvation Army are living through every day.”

“My primary purpose is to remove judgment and unconscious biases. I want to give people a realistic look at what folks at The Salvation Army are living through every day.”

Al strongly believes in building more low-income housing. Thanks to gaining quite a media presence in the past few years, Al has led different initiatives involving influential local figures to get this message across.

His most recent work was the Homelessness and Poverty Symposium, which he hosted at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights. Additionally, Al hosts a radio show that airs every Friday called “Of No Fixed Address”. The show focuses on sharing lived experiences of homelessness.

Looking ahead, Al is determined to continue raising awareness and creating change.

“We need to just think about people on the street or people living at The Salvation Army as peers and not some other second-class citizen. Let’s give them hope.”

By Juan Romero