Getting a Fresh Start at Gladstone House

Trieu’s experimentation with drugs and alcohol started in Grade 8, the beginning of a decades-long struggle with addiction. This would eventually affect every aspect of his life, trapping him in a cycle of dependency and crime.

Growing up in Toronto’s Regent Park, Trieu was surrounded by drugs and active gangs. When his parents separated, his mother moved to the United States and his father remarried. Now all alone, Trieu started hanging out with the wrong crowd which became his guiding influence.

“I felt like I didn’t have a family, so I chose a family. That gang I was in we started doing a lot of crime for money and I needed acceptance, and I wanted acceptance,” Trieu remembers.

As part of a gang, he started selling drugs in Toronto as a 15-year-old teenager. During this time, Trieu’s substance use graduated to hard drugs. In his 20s, he did his first time in prison for drug-related offences, the first of 53 convictions for robbery, drug possession and trafficking.

A Turning Point in Prison

Over the years, Trieu attempted to get his life in order, and stopped using, but the addiction kept drawing him back in, eventually resulting in a three-year prison sentence in Kingston. While in prison, Trieu committed to overcoming his addiction, while working to receive his high school diploma.

“I found myself and I wanted to be something more, not just an addict. I wanted to learn. I wanted to take in information. I kept thinking this is how I should have been, and I loved who I was,” says Trieu.

Upon his release from prison, and ready to continue his recovery, Trieu found a haven at Gladstone House, where he’s lived since early 2024. The Salvation Army residential program is a beacon of hope for men transitioning to independent living after overcoming addiction. It helped Trieu discover the selflessness in people wanting to help other people.

“I felt like this was my home. I was so comfortable. I was able to open up and put my guard down. When you feel safe you can be yourself, and I want to be someone I am proud of,” says Trieu, who has been free from substance use for two years, with the help of The Salvation Army.

Creating Lasting Change

Gladstone House, which recently celebrated 20 years of providing short-term, affordable lodging for men, is a 15-bed facility in Ottawa supporting men in their journey by equipping them with the necessary skills for independent living. Applicants come from various recovery programs, including Anchorage, a residential treatment program operated by The Salvation Army in Ottawa. Every month, staff meet with clients to help them identify goals and keep them on track to meet those goals.

Weekly groups provide a space for reflection and mutual support, while individual counselling offers personalized guidance. Classes in budgeting and nutrition help residents prepare for the future, while job search and further education programs empower them to achieve long-term stability.

“Our objective is to build confidence and positive self-esteem in our clients, particularly in their sobriety. We help them apply what they’ve learned in a real-world setting, but within a safe environment,” says Gladstone House executive director Mario Lauzon. “The staff at Gladstone House bring caring support and compassion, and the clients can see that we genuinely want the best for them—they know we’re here to help.”

Gladstone House is a testament to the power of community, support, and the unwavering belief that everyone deserves a second chance. Lend your support to Salvation Army programs and services by donating today at www.salvationarmy.ca or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.