Gerald Jorgensen credits divine intervention for his remarkable transformation from years of homelessness, poverty and substance use to a life filled with confidence, stability and generosity.

At His Worst

In January 2023, while living outside in downtown Ottawa, he was a man without a future. Not having eaten or much to drink in a week and weighing just 145 pounds, Gerald says he had no energy to make it to an emergency shelter for care.

“I knew I was going to die. During my last week on the streets in Ottawa, I asked God to save me or take me because I just couldn’t exist anymore,” Gerald says. “If it wasn’t for the support worker who found me, I would not be alive today. The Salvation Army saved me.”

Mikyla Tacilauskas, manager of housing and outreach services at The Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre, was the support worker who helped set Gerald on a path to personal redemption.

“I found him on an extremely cold morning lying in a building hallway with no shoes or socks. He was so cold that I had to put the boots and socks on for him,” Mikyla says. “We saw him at what he would consider his worst, and now we see him at what he would consider to be his best.”

“If it wasn’t for the support worker who found me, I would not be alive today. The Salvation Army saved me.” GERALD JORGENSEN

Struggling With Trauma

While at rock bottom, Gerald relied heavily on substance use to escape the emotional trauma of childhood abuse. There were several years when he stopped using and, at one point, he attended post-secondary schooling and started a home-renovation company.

At the age of 47 while caring for his aging parents, Gerald’s addiction took control of his life again when memories of abuse flooded back into his consciousness. Following the passing of his mother and an accident that destroyed the truck he used for work, he had no income and was soon without a home.

“After the accident, I had no way of getting to work, and I still had this addiction. I started couch surfing and it led to me being homeless,” Gerald says.

Giving Hope to Ottawa’s Homeless

Now free of substance use, having a place to call his own and working in the home-renovation industry while embracing faith to keep himself on track, the 54-year-old has altered the course of his life and is helping others who are homeless by handing out water, food and clothing.

“Addiction takes away every opportunity for success, whether it’s a relationship, work, financial success or peace of mind—all the stuff I went through. I refuse to let that happen again,” says Gerald. “I talk to guys out there that know me, and they have said they want what I have. All I can tell them is what I did. You must be willing to go to treatment.”

For Mikyla, who has been there from the beginning, seeing the positive transformation is truly inspiring.“We’re glad to be part of his heartwarming journey,” Mikyla says.

Chris McGregor is a content marketing specialist for The Salvation Army’s Ontario Division.