Meet Damian - Manager of The Recovery Café
Damian is passionate about creating a community of healing and transformation.
Over the past decade, Damian has worn many hats at The Kettle. He started his career as a Mental Health Worker at the drop-in and went on to cover the lunch shift in the kitchen one summer. It was during this time Damian really got to know The Kettle and its members.
In 2009, Damian took on the role of Homeless Outreach Worker and made countless connections with people experiencing homelessness in and around the neighbourhood.
His job was to help people wherever they were at - from providing the basics (socks, warm clothing, food) to more in-depth work getting folks set up with income assistance, mental health supports, dealing with legal issues and finding appropriate housing.
It was a challenging role but Damian found purpose by establishing trust and building enduring relationships with folks in the community; many of whom were struggling to get by and survive often with little help and few family or trusted connections other than those at The Kettle.
Kettle on Burrard
In 2014, Damian stepped into the position of Manager of the Housing Program at Kettle on Burrard. His new role was to manage a brand new 139 unit supportive housing building downtown. His first task was to shortlist and interview 250 potential tenants from a pool of 1,200 applicants.
Within six months, Damian and his team had settled everyone into their new homes – many of whom had been living outside for a long time. It brought Damian constant joy to see folks he’d worked with in his position on the homeless outreach team move in off of the street or out of deplorable living conditions into a safe, clean and affordable home.
“When one is living outside the focus is on day to day survival, never knowing what will happen next. When people gain housing, good housing with supports, it provides a kind of relief that allows individuals to start looking inwards and working on themselves and their goals without the fear and worry that goes with life on the street.”
Damian recalls that over seven years in his position, there was never a dull moment. He credits the environmental team for keeping the building safe and clean as well as the tenant-support workers who tirelessly worked to support tenants through past trauma and adjustment to their new homes.
Recovery Café
With thirteen years of experience under his belt, Damian is funneling his passion for building inclusive communities into leading The Kettle’s newest program – opening Canada’s first Recovery Café. Built on a model originally from Seattle, the Kettle’s Recovery Café Vancouver will be a free membership-based community centre for people actively engaged in recovery, whether that be from substance use or the trauma associated with mental illness, homelessness or other personal crises.
“I truly believe this new program will be a fantastic complement to all the amazing services, advocacy, programs and resources The Kettle has built up over the past forty-five years.”
Damian hopes that the Recovery Café will be a refuge for those managing their mental health and maintaining their recovery. As he looks ahead to the future, he aims to create a warm, welcoming environment and facilitate a sense of belonging with a community of individuals who are committed to recovery and working on their chosen life goals.
The Recovery Café Vancouver is a drug and alcohol free setting and its flagship location is set to open in the Spring of 2022. Until then, you can find Damian at 637 E. Hastings St. at the new pop-up location!