Stories of Hope
Travis' Story
Although just 18, Travis has already dealt with some challenges in life.
Travis comes from a good home in Saskatchewan but, like many teenagers, he struggled with alcohol, some learning challenges, and following rules. By 16, Travis had left home and was making his own way.
He did the work to get clean, and travelled to Calgary this year to stay with a family member only to discover that was not going to work out as planned and so Travis found himself on the Calgary streets in February. Thankfully, he was able to access shelter at the Mustard Seed and then moved to our shelter in April.
At our Centre of Hope, Travis was able to get rest and food and encouragement to make a new plan for his life. He is heading home again to find some work, finish high school in the fall, and reconnect with his mom, his siblings, and a new niece he is excited to meet.
We were able to support Travis to get his bus ticket back to Saskatchewan and we pray that his journey in the months to come will be full of success and growth.
Jeremiah's Story
Sometimes it takes courage to step into homelessness! At 35, Jeremiah was renting a room and partying with roommates when he realized the environment was no longer safe and he needed to make some changes. On Christmas Eve he decided he had to leave.
He found shelter at the Calgary Drop-In Centre and also began connecting with our staff and others at our Mobile Warming Station. With this network of support and his own hard work, Jeremiah found housing and is now looking for work.
Jeremiah is proud that he has been sober for over two months. He knew he needed to make this change because it was taking a toll on his health, was limiting his experiences, and was affecting his relationships in a negative way.
And Jeremiah is a people person! He enjoys walking along the river and he loves meeting new people and hearing their stories. He has recently been doing some writing too and entered The Salvation Army Community Services (Calgary) Poetry Contest.
We are excited for Jeremiah and the changes he his making in his life and happy to be supporting him with connection and encouragement as works towards his goals.
Rahwa's Story
Calgary has been Rahwa’s home for twenty years. After arriving with her family from Eritrea when she was a teenager, she grew up here, worked as a medical assistant, married her husband Mussie, and is now raising her own family. Although Mussie has a good and stable job, he and Rahwa have struggled to make ends meet as their family has grown. With five boys ranging in age from 18 months to 10 years, the growing cost of everything can be a burden.
A couple of years ago, Rahwa discovered The Salvation Army at a Community Fair at her son’s school. We helped with things like diapers from our Infant Essentials program and Christmas toys. Most recently though, Rahwa has been able to shop at our Hope Market. She works hard to manage the monthly food budget, but being able to supplement with a variety of fresh foods and staples helps ensure she can provide healthy meals for her family that they will enjoy.
More than these supports though, what Rahwa loves about our Community Resource Centre is that all of her boys are eager to come and participate in a variety of programs. Whether they are doing skateboarding or art class, the boys engage and have fun, and Rahwa is happy for activities that get them out of the house and off of their screens.
Rahwa now talks about our staff like they are family and she helps others that have more recently arrived here in Calgary, connecting to our programming. We are blessed to be able to walk alongside Rahwa as she works hard to be a good mom and care for her family.
Anne's Story
Like too many young girls, Anne (name changed to protect her identity) was victimized as a child which left her emotionally vulnerable to further abuse as she became a young woman. Sadly, an eating disorder, alcoholism, and drug addiction, were part of Anne’s story by the time she was 15 and these then led to trouble with the law and her entanglement in the world of sex trafficking.
Anne shares heart truths that would be familiar to many, “I was vulnerable because I wanted to be seen as beautiful on the outside, since I felt ugly on the inside” and “what seemed like kindness from men was really manipulation and control”. Despite a desire to be free of her ongoing abuse, ‘the street’ was the world that Anne knew best and she struggled for years to escape the cycle of addiction and violence.
Things are different now! After 20 years, Anne finally found a way out with the help of local police, her family, and the RESET Society of Calgary. After recovery treatment, RESET connected Anne to The Salvation Army Transitional Housing for Women and she has now been a resident with us for four months.
With a room she can make her own, Anne feels safe and at home. She is making friends and has a job that she is proud of. She also continues the hard work of healing and developing healthy tools to manage the psychological pressures of life. She is also eager to share her story and help other women. Our staff offer support and encouragement, fostering a community where women like Anne can participate freely as they learn to love themselves and transform their lives.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The Salvation Army helps more than 2.1 million vulnerable and marginalized people each year in 400 communities across Canada. With over 130 years of service in the country, The Salvation Army provides practical assistance for children and families, shelter for people experiencing homelessness and rehabilitation for those who have lost control of their lives due to an addiction.
The Salvation Army does not discriminate in the delivery of our community and social services. Anyone who comes to The Salvation Army will receive assistance based solely on their need and our capacity to help, regardless of race, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or religion. We uphold the dignity of all people, believe that all are equal in the eyes of God, and firmly oppose the mistreatment of any person.
The Salvation Army does not discriminate in our hiring process. Our hiring policy respects the non-discrimination principles of the Human Rights Codes across Canada. In addition, we adhere to all relevant employment laws, providing domestic partner benefits accordingly. Through Pathway of Hope intensive individualized supports are given for participants to achieve short and long-term goals. The approach has been designed for The Salvation Army and is suitable for use in several different service contexts. It is rooted in an integrated mission using partnership and intentional care to build and transform a community. Through dedication and focus Pathway of Hope allows The Salvation Army to increase our impact with existing resources.
We take allegations of discrimination very seriously. If you are aware of a specific situation where a person has been the target of discrimination, please let us know because this is contrary to our mission to “share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.”