| Marilynn Quigley relates a story of hope. |
Jun. 8, 2009
“When John first came to Streetlink, he was a long term alcoholic who was suffering from chronic pain as a result of previous injuries that prevented him from finding employment. He was intent on improving his quality of life, and after having been clean and sober for four weeks at Streetlink, we referred him for residence at the Next Steps Transitional Shelter.
Next Steps is a 15-bed house that provides residents the opportunity to access the resources and services they need to get their lives back on track in a ‘safe’ environment free from alcohol and drugs. Next Steps is staffed 24/7, and experienced staff work closely with individuals to develop personal action plans designed to help them move to a better place in their lives.
John had several issues to deal with, but he was determined to turn his life around. The first thing he did was to work on his recovery by attending meetings and counseling sessions. From a financial perspective he was able to apply for and receive disability benefits. He also took responsibility to deal with unpaid family maintenance issues and sought the help of Legal Aid to effectively manage payments.
Staff also connected him with the clinic to reassess his health. Eventually, it was determined that surgery could be ruled out, and John was fitted with orthotic supports that significantly reduced his chronic pain. As a result, he eagerly sought employment. Although a carpenter by trade, he was still unable to operate machinery but managed to get a job as a cleaner at a construction site. Before long, he demonstrated a range of relevant skills and received a promotion.
At the beginning of his stay at Next Steps, John could be easily rattled, but as he worked with staff to address his issues he soon gained considerable confidence and excellent coping skills. He even became a mentor to a younger resident at the house.
John had also been long estranged from his family, but wanted to reconnect after beating his addiction, improving his health, stabilizing his financial situation and finding a job. Although there was a history of painful mistakes he needed to work through with his mother and sister, these were resolved and John returned home to help his sister run the family farm.”
