Story highlights:
- United Way East Ontario works with organizations like the John Howard Society of Ottawa to address stigma and break down barriers for those facing obstacles to employment.
- Read, in Brandan’s words, how he overcame addiction and homelessness to find a job through the Arches Supportive Employment Program.
- At United Way we believe everyone deserves to build the life they want for themselves and their families, and that’s why this collaborative work is so critical.
By supporting United Way East Ontario, you ensure people who face difficult life circumstances can achieve financial independence and stability.
Our collaboration with the John Howard Society of Ottawa—a member of the Employment Accessibility Resource Network (EARN)—on the Arches Supportive Employment Program is a shining example of this work.
“Arches helps people with mental health and substance use challenges connect to meaningful work as part of their health and wellness goals. Our goal is to connect to individuals, and it’s our job to find out what their interests are and their skills and their experience, and match that to what’s in demand out there in the marketplace.”
Brandan is a recent Arches client who is sharing his story to both inspire others and show how a little support can go a long way for someone facing barriers to employment:
At first glance, I look like an average guy in his mid 30s who may have graduated college, has a good job, a social life and might even be starting a family.
While I’m happy to now look like an average guy, the truth is: I’m not.
You would never know from looking at me, that at 15 I was on my own, in and out of shelters and young offender detention centres. By 20, I had a long criminal record.
One of the biggest things that you’d never know or believe – and I say this because when I look at my life now, I find it hard to believe myself – is that less than a year ago I had accepted that I was going to die.
I was at the lowest point of my life, and I saw no way out.
It’s hard to describe how I ended up in detox and recovery, but once there, I was lucky enough to meet Rachel from the Arches Supportive Employment Program at the John Howard Society of Ottawa, and although I did have some ideas in mind for what I wanted my life to look like, I wasn’t exactly sure what to do or where to start.
It’s one thing to get off drugs, but once you do, where do you go from there? My whole life had revolved around getting, using, and doing whatever it takes to keep that chaotic fire burning. Then, all of a sudden that fire was out and what was left was emptiness, a sense of confusion, and a lack of direction.
From our very first meeting, Rachel showed me a caring and compassionate approach; she was accepting of me, non-judgmental and made me feel like I was just the same as any other person who wanted some direction and change in their life.
In early recovery I was dealing with lots of unknowns that could’ve gone any which way depending on how I reacted to them. Rachel was always there to listen, guide and remind me of my goals. She told me, when I was feeling this kind of distraction or difficulty, to sink my energy into the work we were doing and that I would get where I want to be.
Through this work I was able to apply to the Canadian Armed Forces late last year. I passed all the mandatory testing and am set to be employed with the CAF starting this month. Thanks to the folks at Arches, I spent the time between my application and today completing other necessary certifications to land a job with a local sheet metal union, which was also a fulfilling experience.
Rachel and everyone at John Howard Society of Ottawa have given me a cheering squad that I’ve never experienced before in my entire life. They empowered, motivated, and welcomed me. Every time I came to see them, I felt like I had a home away from home and a whole family of people who supported me, and for that I am truly grateful.
United Way takes a holistic approach to tackling tough issues
At United Way, we know that poverty can happen because of an unexpected life change, but many people also have the cards stacked against them from day one.
Many marginalized groups are more likely to live in poverty because of systemic issues. Folks like Brandan face stigma, biases, and other forms of discrimination, making it harder to secure a good job and financial independence. The lack of opportunities in some communities, paired with inflation and the rising cost of living, makes it harder for people to break out of the cycle of poverty.
But when we remove the stress that comes with meeting basic needs like shelter or food, people can focus on finding the right job for their skillset and planning a bright future.
Everyone deserves to build the life they want for themselves and their families.
That’s why it’s so important for us to work with organizations like the John Howard Society of Ottawa to break down barriers and empower people in our communities to achieve financial independence and stability.
Help us continue this critical work.
