Success Stories

If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be here — a college graduate, a harm reduction advocate, a researcher, and a business owner — I wouldn’t have believed you.

There was a time in my life when I was just trying to survive. I was navigating addiction, homelessness, and all the trauma that comes with it. I spent time at Street Haven, not as a student or a worker, but as a resident. I remember in 2018 waking up in what’s now the green room, surrounded by a mama cat and her kittens, wondering how I even got there. I felt broken. I felt like a statistic.

But something in me shifted. I knew I didn’t want my story to end there.

Getting sober wasn’t easy. It took more than just willpower; it took real work. Therapy, community, accountability, and a whole lot of unlearning. There were setbacks. There was shame. There were days I wanted to give up. But I didn’t.

I went back to school, enrolled in the AWCCA program at George Brown College, and not only did I graduate, but I returned to Street Haven, this time for my placement. Full circle. Walking through those doors again, but as a support, not a client, that was one of the most powerful moments of my life.

I found my voice through harm reduction work, community research, and public speaking. I’ve worked with Regent Park CHC, the University of Toronto, and the Dr. Peter Centre, using my lived experience to inform real policy change. I also started Baked, my cannabis-infused baking business, because I wanted to offer edibles that were high-quality, thoughtful, and rooted in care, not just profit.

Now, I’m raising two beautiful boys who will never have to see the version of me that was just trying to survive. What they see is a mother who shows up, who works hard, and who turned pain into purpose.

And this? This is just a snapshot. Just a small piece of a much bigger story, one I’m still writing, one day at a time.

When I think back to the girl I was 5 years ago, I want to hug her and tell her everything will be alright. Walking through the doors of the Grant House residential substance abuse program, with my service dog next to me, I was unsure of myself and did not know what to expect but I knew I could no longer live the life I was living.

I had been addicted to Crystal Meth since my teens, with a long history of trauma and having faced many adversities from a very young age I used my drug of choice to survive. After years of active addiction, there were times when I wanted to stop but I did not have the tools, stability, and support system required to do so.

Grant House was the first and most important step in my recovery journey. From the first day walking through the front doors to my program graduation day, I was welcomed with open arms and supported at every step. Grant House became a place of safety and healing. From the trauma-informed group programming to the one-on-one meetings with my case worker, I finally had the space and safety to understand the harms of my addiction and learn healthier ways to cope with and address my trauma. I learned to build a healthy routine and set goals for myself, goals that would support my future. I found new hobbies and interests. I learned to connect with myself and figure out who I wanted to be and the direction I wanted my life to go in.

As my program was coming to an end, I worked with my case worker to apply for supportive housing that would accommodate me and my service dog as well as creating post-treatment goals and a safety plan. The discharge planning process was very thorough to ensure long term success in recovery.

Upon completion of my program, I remained connected to Grant House through the post-treatment groups as well as Individual meetings with an aftercare worker. Being able to remain connected in this way was essential in my first year of recovery. While I encountered some challenges during that first year, having the support and the tools I learned at Grant House helped me get back on track and continue to pursue my goals. Staying connected mattered so much.

As I sit here writing this from my studio apartment in downtown Toronto, with four years of continuous sobriety from my drug of choice, I am filled with gratitude and pride in how far I have come. I have achieved every goal I set out for myself. From publishing some of my poetry to being able to live independently and having a place of my own to call home. To the longer-term goals of going back to school and pursuing a diploma in social service work. After having completed the first year of my studies I am now certain that I want to dedicate my life to supporting other people in overcoming obstacles like those I have faced and more. I hope to one day work in the field of social services and utilize my lived experience and all I have learned school in to support others.

I will always remain grateful to my case worker and the entire grant house team for helping me believe in myself and being beacons of light in my darkest hours.

To anyone reading this, I want to tell you that recovery is possible and the life you want is within reach. My journey is proof of this, and I am rooting for you. You are no longer alone!

When I think back to when I first got introduced to SH in the spring of 2012, I have plenty to laugh about. The experiences I had while residing there (til late fall of 2012 – when I then moved into their housing) were uplifting and motivating and never dull. The residents were all characters like none that I had ever come across in life before. Through them I learned a lot about myself – the good and the bad. The staff who were the shining light of the place kept us all sane and safe amongst a level of chaos that rightfully deserves its own reality show.

I have never been one to ever have a master plan. I just follow where the Universe sends me. The journey to my being at SH is an interesting one. My life PAUSE while I was at SH allowed me to be redirected to a place, I never thought I’d find myself in. The Kitchen. They allowed me to help out on the kitchen while I resided there. Just small things like making salads and snacks. I like to give back for kindnesses. Then when I moved out of SH and into their Housing, I applied for a program that would post me at SH as their cook for a year. Which gave me space to develop new skills and responsibilities and a new identity. When the program ended I then springboarded into a culinary career that allowed me to grow even further both professionally and personally.

The main thing I take away from SH that I will always remember fondly and express whenever I get to speak about the organization was how SAFE I felt there as a Transgendered person. I faced many microaggressions from fellow residents (and the odd staff now and then when I was the cook there) but overall, SH was THE safest place in all of the shelters that Trans People who were experiencing life issues had to go to. Where ALL women were safe. That safety helped me move forward and not be bogged down with and limited by societal/religious biases/beliefs. Within their walls people are all equals. Tools are given to repair and rebuild and reclaim lives. Even when I would come across trans women in my other employments who were looking for a safe place, I would always direct them to SH.

My journey now still involves SH. I had two incredibly painful and personal loses over the year and a bit. I have never been the type of person to reach out for help from lifes little fuck overs, but I knew that I could go to SH to not feel alone and lost. And not fade away.

From Learner to Leader

Originally from Ethiopia, Lidet arrived in Canada as a refugee with the goal of rebuilding her life through learning, connection, and contribution. She joined the 2024 cohort of Street Haven’s Pathways to Employment program with determination, openness, and a powerful work ethic. Always focused and eager to grow, she quickly became a source of encouragement and support for her peers.

Lidet’s journey has come full circle. She is now completing the Immigrant Women Integration Program (IWIP) – at the Centre of Learning & Development and has rejoined Street Haven’s Training Services team. Her contributions span across the 2025 Pathways to Employment program, the Inclusion Project, the Addiction Outreach and Mental Health site, and Pathways to Independence—bringing insight, dedication, and lived experience to every space she’s in.

With a strong background in marketing and client services, bilingual skills, and a deep commitment to community, Lidet is a shining example of resilience in action—uplifting others as she continues to thrive.

When I first arrived in Canada, I felt lost and alone. As a newcomer, I struggled to find my footing in this new country. That’s when I found Street Haven at the Crossroads – a place that became more than just a shelter, but a true haven for me.

At Street Haven, I received so much more than just a roof over my head. They provided me with nutritious meals, essential mental health support, and invaluable job training. The staff here saw my potential and believed in me when I had trouble believing in myself.

Through their comprehensive support programs, I’ve been able to start rebuilding my life. I’m learning new skills, regaining my confidence, and taking steps towards independence. Every day, I see the transformative power of Street Haven’s work – not just in my own life, but in the lives of other women around me.

Street Haven at the Crossroads doesn’t just offer temporary solutions; they provide a pathway to a brighter future. They’ve given me hope and the tools to create a new life for myself in Canada.

To those who support Street Haven: your generosity changes lives. You’re not just providing shelter; you’re offering a chance for women like me to reclaim our dignity and build a future filled with promise. Thank you for being a part of my journey and the journeys of so many others.