Program participants are provided with individual-based support, including substance use treatment, relapse prevention planning, life skill support, cultural support, addictions counselling, peer coaching, and career development opportunities.
Maverick’s three-prong approach transitions individuals from support through early recovery in Phase 1 to stabilization with the Adult Addiction Supportive Housing (AASH) Program in Phase 2. Within Phase 3 at the Maverick, the LINKS to Employment team empowers and supports participants to gain vocational experience, increased financial independence, and renewed confidence. Wraparound services are instrumental in creating sustainable, positive life changes for individuals on their recovery journey.
One such success story is that of an individual who we will call Fred. Fred started his recovery journey at the Maverick in October 2023, when he entered Phase 1. In January 2024, Fred graduated from Phase 1 and decided to continue his journey at the Maverick. He transitioned into Phase 2, and shortly after this, Fred began exploring vocational options. He decided to join the Clean Team in February 2024 while still in the early stages of recovery at the Maverick.
The Clean Team, a partnership between the North Shore Business Improvement Association and ASK Wellness Society, employs people with lived experience of homelessness or substance use to help clean the streets throughout the North Shore of Kamloops. The initiative has provided individuals with a sense of purpose and stability while making a tangible difference in the Kamloops community. In 2023, the team picked up more than 19,700 pounds of garbage and removed nearly 2,000 graffiti tags.
When Fred joined the Clean Team, he had lost touch with his family, struggled with financial hardship, and lacked a clear direction for his future. Over the past year, he has made remarkable progress through consistent employment and access to ASK Wellness Society’s health support. He was able to rebuild his credit, regain his driver’s license, save for a car, and, most importantly, reconnect with his loved ones.
Fred’s experience highlights how responsibility and momentum can create a pathway to positive life outcomes. Now, as he completes the final Phase 3 at the Maverick, he is preparing to move to be closer to his family. Fred credits the Maverick and the Clean Team as stabilizing forces that helped him regain control of his life.
While the Clean Team was the right fit for him at the right time of his journey, the Maverick program emphasizes a client-centered approach to recovery. By offering a variety of activities tailored to each program participant’s interests, the program aims to help individuals find a path that truly resonates with them. Recovery is not a one-size-fits-all path. It is about discovering what fuels each person’s passion and motivation. When individuals feel connected to what they are doing, they are more likely to stay committed to their recovery journey.
Fred’s story is just one example of the life-changing impact that vocational initiatives and wraparound services can have. As we continue to support individuals in recovery, it is essential to recognize that positive life outcomes and fulfillment are built on more than just sobriety. It is about fostering stability, empowerment, and meaningful engagement in life.
