Breaking Cycles of Addiction
Before arriving at The Salvation Army’s Harbour Light in Vancouver, Kuljiwan Singh Sekhon, who goes by “Gee”, described his life as being controlled by addiction. He felt lost, hopeless and stuck in a destructive cycle.
“Everything I did revolved around getting and using drugs. I was homeless and staying on people’s couches and in shelters, just trying to survive day by day,” Gee recalls.
“Coming to Harbour Light was my first real step toward change and a better life.”
While his lifestyle was dangerous, he says it felt normal at the time. Slowly, he began to realize that the people he called friends were not a positive influence in his life. Tired of being trapped in the cycle, Gee sought assistance from The Salvation Army.
“I was exhausted from the chaos, the addiction, the homelessness,” he shares. “I wanted to find real happiness, not the temporary escape that drugs gave me. Coming to Harbour Light was my first real step toward change and a better life.”
Arriving at The Salvation Army was significant for Gee. He overcame fear and uncertainty to embark on a new journey to recovery. Interacting with staff and other residents was what he believes helped him the most as he worked toward sobriety.
One-on-one counselling and in-house fellowship meetings were the programs that had the biggest impact on him. These helped him understand the root causes of his addiction and allowed him to hear from others facing similar battles.
“Those two supports helped strengthen me mentally, emotionally and spiritually,” Gee adds.
Since coming to Harbour Light, Gee says his self-worth has improved. He works out daily and has reconnected with his spiritual beliefs. He has also been volunteering in the kitchen, serving meals to people in need.
The calm atmosphere and consistency provided by The Salvation Army gave him a chance to thrive.
“Harbour Light has helped me get my life back on track in a lot of ways, not just by staying sober,” Gee says. “It gave me a safe place to live and a daily routine. Having meals, schedules and activities helped me feel steadier and allowed me to start taking care of myself. I’ve also learned how to connect with people in a healthy way.”
“Having meals, schedules and activities helped me feel steadier and allowed me to start taking care of myself.”
As Gee’s path to recovery continues, he is already looking forward to what lies ahead. In the short term, he hopes to find independent housing and reconnect with family. In the future, he wants to help others seeking to escape addiction.
“I’m thinking about a career change and going into counselling. It might sound cliché, but I feel I could have a future in it. My own experience, along with my desire to learn and help others, makes me believe I could make a difference in people’s lives.”
Reflecting on his time at Harbour Light so far, Gee feels grateful and glad he chose to go there.
“The Salvation Army has had a big impact on my life. They’ve given me the opportunity to get sober and build stability so I can function normally in society,” he shares. “Without The Salvation Army, I think I would still be lost in addiction, with no direction or hope.”
About Harbour Light
For 70+ years, Harbour Light has been a place of miracles and new beginnings in the downtown eastside of Vancouver.
Programs and services make up a continuum of care that includes community meals, 24-hour and overnight shelters, residential addiction treatment, a correctional halfway house, low-income housing, and more.
By Juan Romero
