Leah’s Story - Healing, Growth, and Rebuilding Life
Once Leah moved into the Oxford House Indigenous home in March 2024, her life began to take a turn for the better. The structured rules, accountability, and supportive community gave her a stability she had never known. “The girls welcomed me with open arms. Being Indigenous, we all come from very similar backgrounds, feeling that the world was against us. It’s been very helpful to be with women who understand,” Leah reflected.
Over the past year, Leah immersed herself in a variety of wellness programs. She attended New Leaf’s outpatient program, Recovery College, Closer to Home wellness, and On a Dime. These programs helped her uncover her strengths, discover her values, and recognize the skills she could bring to the world. “I learned what I am good at, what motivates me, and what brings me joy,” she said. On a Dime, in particular, helped her identify transferrable skills that would allow her to pursue meaningful work outside of the food industry.
Leah’s journey wasn’t just about staying sober—it was about building a life she valued. She realized she wanted something purposeful and meaningful. “I sat with that for a while and thought about what brings me joy, what I am good at, what motivates me, and what I learned was that I am a humanitarian, a caring person. I’ve always taken care of people my whole life, my family, my mom, my dad. It’s just the education piece that is missing.”
With this insight, Leah made plans to return to school in September to do some upgrading. After that, she hopes to pursue addictions counseling or apply her recovery coach training, and her trauma-informed lessons in an emergency department.
“Oxford House has been my safe space where I can do all these things without worrying about where I’m going to go at night or where I will find food for the day. I am so grateful to have my own place, my own stuff. I feel proud of myself because I worked hard to get here.”
Leah also celebrates the milestones she has reached in her recovery. Taking her one-year chip was a powerful symbol of what she had accomplished. “These milestones have shown me what I can do. If something was to happen, knock on wood, I know that nothing could take this away from me because I know what’s on this side of life for me, and I know what is possible. I know that as long as I’m doing the work the best way I know how, The Creator will provide the rest. He will carry me the rest of the way.”
Through her journey, Leah has come to deeply understand her own resilience and strength. From growing up with addiction and trauma to surviving near-death experiences, homelessness, and loss, Leah has rebuilt her life one step at a time. Her story is one of courage, persistence, and hope—proof that recovery is possible with the right support, determination, and a safe, caring environment like Oxford House.