Addict turned life around

Photo: Contributed

Dean Schaffler once lived on the streets of Kelowna – but now, he's an example for others hoping to change their lives.

Schaffler is a staff member at the Metro Central community drop in on St. Paul Street, serving coffee, encouragement, food, and advice to the vulnerable who come in daily.

Metro hosts its Coldest Night of the Year event Saturday at 4 p.m., bringing awareness to homelessness in the community. Starting and finishing from Sandhill Winery, more than 30 teams will walk two, five or 10-kilometre routes to raise funds for the organization.

Schaffler grew up in Edmonton in a middle-class family, but when a family member introduced him to cocaine at age 17, everything changed. He spent the next 20 years living life around his addiction, eventually losing his partner and son.

But, a new relationship with a fellow addict led them to blow $152,000 from the sale of the woman's condo when they relocated to Kelowna. Within five months, the money was gone and they were living on the street.

From 2010 to 2017, Dean and his partner could often be seen huddling in doorways with their three dogs. He called himself the "poster boy for homelessness."

Multiple attempts at recovery left Schaffler at the point of despair, but a brush with death for his partner, left him reeling. He vowed to stop drinking, and with the offer of housing, got himself sober.

“Metro doesn’t turn their back on people, especially those who’ve been abandoned and rejected. Metro opens their arms to people that no one else wants to associate with. Because of faith, community, and Jesus, I have hope ... and I share hope, every day," he says.

Many who knew him on the street can hardly believe the transformation.

"Five years ago, I never thought I’d have anything to shoot for – to live for. I never felt trusted. Now, I have keys and alarm codes; I have responsibility for the first time in a long time. I now know that I have people in my corner. ... I want to do better and be a good example. It’s a good feeling to help people.”