Autobiography

Darren R Charuk

Hello, my name is Darren and I´m a recovering addict. I was born on November 22nd 1960 and that makes me 46 years old for a few more months. Currently, it´s May 24, 2007. For the first four years of my life I resided in Edmonton, Alta { not that remember much of it } until my parents split and my mom, sister and I came out West. I did not have an easy childhood, in fact as I reflect back on it now I´m amazed I got through it in one piece.

Back then the bad things were kept behind closed doors. I have no memories of grades 1 thru 7 and only bits and pieces of 8 thru 12. I graduated in 1980 from Frank Hurt Sec. in Surrey; B.C. took a couple of courses at B.C.I.T and got married in 1983 to an amazing woman. Unfortunately, my drinking continued to progress and we were divorced in 1990. For the next fifteen years I had all but given up on life and even attempted suicide on a number of occasions. Drinking and drugging became my life until finally after getting out of jail I surrendered to the fact that I needed help. I contacted "Hope for Freedom Society&quot and they took me in. I struggled at first as I was leery of the Christian based program. Then again what did I have to lose? So, I listened and things got better and better and better. Well, today Iám a proud Christian with 19+ months clean and sober with an awesome job. That Job... Is helping others.

My name is Darren and I am an outreach worker.

Autobiography

Laura Binette

Laura Binette is a frontline outreach worker with HFFOA and is passionate about assisting individuals faced with homelessness making positive steps toward the future. Laura has worked with HFFOA since June of 2006 and finds great Joy in the successes of her clients. While being an outreach worker can be hard work and sometimes discouraging it is the belief that with determination and access to resources homeless individuals can change their trajectory. When not working Laura enjoys cooking and spending time with friends & family.