Reclaiming Life from a Turbulent Past of Addiction with the Help of The Salvation Army
Michelle’s journey through substance use and homelessness is a life filled with struggle.
For years, she battled addiction and survived on the streets through a seemingly endless cycle of relapse and recovery, and through 27 unsuccessful attempts to break free from her addiction, Michelle often felt trapped and hopeless.
“The guilt, the shame, the depression, and the sadness that I was feeling I had to stuff down, and I continue to stuff down,” Michelle says. “At a young age, I was already showing signs of alcoholism.”
Michelle sought escape from the pain and insecurity of her turbulent home life while seeking acceptance from friends. That escape started with smoking cigarettes and then advanced to marijuana, alcohol, and hard drugs.
“As a young girl, I hated myself, and as an outcry for how I needed help, I started to dye my hair black, I went and got piercings. I was completely rebelling against my family and what was happening. I was screaming for help,” Michelle remembers.
After dropping out of high school in Grade 9, substance use became the sole focus of her life, hanging out with young people she considered cool and carefree.
Transformative Programs Pave the Way
Michelle stayed at The Salvation Army emergency shelter for three months before moving into subsidized housing, where she lived for four years. Those were turbulent times filled with violence, constant drug use, hanging out with the wrong people, and police visits, which resulted in her being evicted. Michelle returned to a life of homelessness for the next three and a half years.
When the Recovery Community Centre opened in 2020, Michelle became one of the first to access its life-changing and transformational programs, which include psychoeducation groups, therapeutic recreation, spiritual support, life skills, one-on-one support groups, peer-led recovery workshops and twelve-step programs.
“The Recovery Community Centre has been my home and my safe place for so long. The only place I’ve ever truly had peace, freedom, serenity, happiness and friendship was when I lived at the RCC,” Michelle says.
Starting a New Chapter
Through her commitment to growth and self-improvement, Michelle has not touched alcohol or drugs for two years and, after 12 years, she no longer depends on the Ontario Disability Support Program for income.
She credits the support of The Salvation Army and caseworker Diana Rank for guiding the process of creating a better life by helping her overcome the grip of addiction and her lingering childhood trauma.
“Michelle has embraced this journey is committed to staying on a positive path. She’s truly a success story and has every reason to be proud,” Diana says.
A Message of Hope and Giving Back
Michelle recently moved out of the Recovery Community Centre into a one-bedroom apartment, where she pays her own rent. She works full-time at a non-profit organization assisting unhoused individuals in London and is paying it forward by sponsoring other women at the Recovery Community Centre. Without the RCC, Michelle says she would not be alive today.
“I’m a perfect example of going from rock bottom to now being in a place of serenity, so if you are alone and you don’t know if you can do it, heck yeah, you can do it,” Michelle says. “Reach out to talk to somebody because there are so many people who want to help.”
Your donations to The Salvation Army help people like Michelle in your community. Contribute today at www.salvationarmy.ca or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
