Streetlevel gives Laurence a second chance in life
Laurence is enrolled as an adherent at Streetlevel Brisbane. (Photo supplied by Major Bryce Davies)
I am very thankful to God for a second chance and for The Salvation Army. In many ways, they have saved my life!
- Laurence
Until recently, Laurence was just “living in a daze”, depressed and on the brink of homelessness.
About eight years ago, after his high-pressure job and intense work hours all became too much, Laurence attempted suicide.
Heavily medicated and deeply depressed following the attempt to take his own life, he quickly became isolated and lost any sense of friendship or community. He found himself living in squalor, alone in an inner-Brisbane boarding house.
“I gained enormous amounts of weight, life seemed hopeless and I was often filled with despair and dread,” Laurence says of that time.
Facing eviction even from the boarding house, and because he so unmotivated and despondent, he felt unable to function at even the most basic level.
“I was on the verge of living on the streets and heading to Pindari [a Salvation Army crisis accommodation centre] when I wandered past ... a drunk bloke, who I had never seen before or since, who told me about [the Army’s] Streetlevel and that I should go along,” says Laurence.
Feeling he had nothing to lose, Laurence took the man’s advice and went to Streetlevel. There, he found a drop-in centre that offered social events, meals, worship, referrals to other services such as detox and housing, as well as providing volunteering opportunities. Streetlevel is also designed to support those who are struggling with issues such as loneliness, homelessness, and/or mental health issues and addiction.
“I met Bryce [Major Bryce Davies, centre manager] and … I started to come along on Thursday nights for the barbecue,” says Laurence.
“One night Bryce asked me how I was really going and I told him. We had a great chat and Bryce again was warm and accepting and encouraged me to get further involved in Friday night meals and other activities. I started to regularly attend and noticed myself smiling and laughing and feeling like I had some friends for the first time in many years.”
Laurence now has his own accommodation and will soon start work with a trainer and nutritionist, organised by the Streetlevel team, to help get his weight and health back on track.
Bryce describes the transformation in Laurence as “just a phenomenal story”. When they first met, says Bryce, Laurence’s life had deteriorated so badly, “he had family problems and was suicidally depressed, he was heavily medicated and really quiet and introverted.
“In six months, Laurence has moved from being so withdrawn he could hardly talk [and] so depressed ... he just hated himself, to being alive, fun, a contributor, wanting to become a member of The Salvation Army and wanting to be a contributor to Streetlevel.”
Laurence is determined to continue to get his life back together.
“I would love to see my son more and be more able to more effectively care and support my mother who I love dearly,” he says.
“I also want to be an active part of this [Streetlevel] community and recognise how powerful this fellowship is...”
Laurence admits there is no magic wand and that he still has times of struggle. But, he says, “my depression has lifted and I am the best I have been for over eight years and far more consistent and happy in my life.
“Feeling like I am loved by God every day [and having people who demonstrate this love to me at Streetlevel seems] more effective than the medication and the psychologists in dealing with my mental illness. I have hope and joy in my life for the first time in years!”
Paul Maunder, who works at Streetlevel, says the transformation in the lives of so many people who become involved in the Streetlevel community is based on “a whole combination of things”.
The faith of the team means that they truly believe in a God who is able to transform lives.
“Also,” Paul says, “it’s a place where people are accepted – people who may have faced a lot of rejection in the past.
“And I think a lot of people [in addiction, for example] want to change. Some people are looking for a new group of friends, a new community, a new way of living. That’s what Streetlevel is about.”
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