News & Events
Ryan’s Story
Story
Even before he was old enough to understand what addiction really was, Ryan felt its effects. “I had a fairly normal childhood,” he says. “But I have a father who’s an alcoholic. So I grew up with alcohol being a strong presence in the household.” Growing up in East Vancouver with a big immigrant family […]
Lloyd’s Story
Story
A few months ago, the Our Place Community Centre was treated to a meal where the usual fare of oatmeal was upgraded to nutritious and delicious scrambled eggs, fruit, sausages, and croissants. This special meal was thanks to the sponsorship of a local man, and someone who knew all too well the importance of the […]
Clean Teams
Story
One of the first suggestions that Jim has for the Clean Team at My Place is to rename it the Care Team. “Because we care about our community,” he adds. “That’s why we go out and pick up trash, glass, discarded needles, cigarette butts, anything that shouldn’t be on the ground.” When My Place, a […]
Travis’s Story
Story
When Travis was at his lowest point — dope sick and living on Pandora — he used to pray “Please don’t let me wake up.” Death was preferable to continuing to live on the streets. “It was the most horrible time in my life,” he says. Travis’s journey to this point began in childhood. Living […]
Dan’s Story
Story
Dan was your average teenager. His parents divorced when he was around 5, he played high school football, loved music and played in a band. And like a lot of teenagers, he also smoked pot. No big deal for some, but for Dan it was the beginning of a life-long addiction. “Everything snowballed from there,” […]
Devon’s Story
Story
It only takes one hour a week to give Devon a reason to keep on fighting. It’s during those precious 60 minutes that she gets to see her 2½-year-old daughter. “She’s my everything,” says Devon, her eyes alight with love. “She’s so full of life and so intelligent. She’s a non-stop chatterbox and absolutely loves […]
One Hour of Hope
Donor Impact
It only takes one hour a week to give Devon a reason to keep on fighting. It’s during those precious 60 minutes that she gets to see her 2½-year-old daughter. “She’s my everything,” says Devon, her eyes alight with love. “She’s so full of life and so intelligent. She’s a non-stop chatterbox and absolutely loves […]
Finding hope in the moment through Spiritual Care
Donor Impact
It’s hard not to get emotional talking to Jordan Shaw, Our Place’s Spiritual Care Worker, as he describes what he experiences and the people he has come to know. From the man with a 6-year-old’s mental capacity because of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder who lives on our streets, to the person who was discharged from […]
Bruce’s Story
Story
Housing changed everything for Bruce. Not only did it get him off the streets, but it gave him the courage to change his life. Born in Zimbabwe to military parents, Bruce describes his early childhood as “a bit of a disaster.” His mother struggled with addiction to the point where his older brother was born […]
