XChange Recovery: Death-to-Life Stories

0:00Exchange Recovery, a non-profit out of Central Vancouver, has been changing lies for over 20 years by helping folks beat addiction. Led by Vicki and Bill Smith, they provide housing, treatment links, and church services to people on their second, third, or even fourth chances. Thousands have walked through their doors, and many now give back by mentoring the next wave. It all kicked off back in 2003 with work at Lord's Gym, then snowballed into Grace Lodge, a women's recovery house. Today, they run seven housing spots for men, women, and families, plus programs for the homeless, unemployed, and hospital patients. Faith guides them, but it's all about showing love without forcing in. People like Lance Gaden showed the real impact. Nine years ago, he stepped off a bus into one of their services, felt right at home, and dove in. After 12 failed treatments elsewhere, Exchange helped him and his wife get sober, reunite with their kids, and now he's supervising men's housing.

1:00Programs. Stories like his Proof Recovery bills leaders who break the cycle. The team keeps adapting to tougher drugs, from meth and heroin to the fentanyl crisis that's hitting hard. With 23 staff, many former clients, they took in about $1,280,000 last year to keep the work going. Success means more than sobriety, its jobs, families restored, and open doors for those who slip and return. Nobody's too far gone here, as Vicky puts it, just the start of death to life stories that ripple out. Exchange keeps walking alongside, proving hope and community can rewrite futures one step at a time. That's your update from Vancouver News today, powered by AI.