Michelle\u2019s journey through substance use and homelessness is a life filled with struggle.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe guilt, the shame, the depression, and the sadness that I was feeling I had to stuff down, and I continue to stuff down,\u201d Michelle says. \u201cAt a young age, I was already showing signs of alcoholism.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs 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,\u201d Michelle remembers.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Transformative Programs Pave the Way<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 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,\u201d Michelle says.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n