Mat's story

"My hardships began at age 4 when my parents divorced and I went to live with my father and his new wife. I had little contact with my mother until the age of 13.

As a way to gain attention, I became the class clown and the neighbourhood daredevil. By the age of 9, my father sent me to a children's residences for the "behaviourlly disturbed."

I floated between parents and found myself in foster care by the age of 15. My drinking and drug use became more regular. I dropped out of high school and worked menial jobs until I discovered crack cocaine at the age of 21.

My life began slipping away as my addiction consumed me. I ended up living on the streets.

A year passed before I realized that I needed help. My life had become unmanageable and I had no hope for a meaningful future. I checked myself into detox and found out about Harvest House.

While at Harvest House, I learned a great deal about my disease of alcoholism and drug addition and started to identify my relapse warning signs.

With the help of Harvest House, I not only got sober but also went back to school and became an apprenticed carpenter. After my one-year graduation, I remained in the after-care program and received my carpenter's license.

I have since restored a relationship with my parents, I am engaged to be married, have two beautiful step-daughters and a baby boy of my own.

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