Casey House peers are people with diverse lived experience who are trained to assist clients through their health journeys. Peer support provides social care which complements the multidisciplinary clinical team. Tom is member of the peer program, who works predominantly with our supervised consumption services (SCS).
Tom became a Casey House client in November 2024. He was referred to the outpatient program by his psychiatrist, who encouraged him to pursue social opportunities amidst his struggles with mental health and isolation. He joined several recreational therapy groups including yoga and music therapy. He also came for lunch on a daily basis, where he found fellowship among others who shared similar experiences and reasons for being clients at Casey House. He had noticed a group of people consistently chatting and sitting with client and asked a friend about them, who told him about the Casey House peer program and the upcoming enrollment of new peers. Tom submitted his application online, recounted his lived experience with the peer coordinator, which included substance use, and was accepted into the program in April 2025.
As a peer in the SCS, Tom spends his time building relationships with clients before and after they use substances by offering practical advice relating to harm reduction and friendly social support. Conversation topics can range from substance usage, personal relationships, life advice, other outpatient services at Casey House, and everything in between. Tom also assists the clinical staff monitoring clients in the SCS lounge in the event of an adverse reaction or overdose. Here, clients can enjoy snacks, warm drinks, or rest. Many clients who use the SCS are unhoused or have unstable lifestyles, so they appreciate having a reliable and safer place to use while seeing a familiar face.
Over the course of just a few months, Tom has interacted with many clients and witnessed the ups and downs of their lives alongside them. For those who return, he welcomes them without judgement and seeks to provide the best and safest possible experience using their substances. Tom values the opportunity to make deep connections with clients and says becoming a peer was a life changing moment for him–he finally found his purpose and his community thanks to this role.
Reflecting on his own experience, Tom recalls the unknown world he stepped into when he began using substances. There was no textbook on how to navigate substance use; supervised consumption sites and harm reduction principles did not formally exist yet. The challenges he encountered daily changed with his substance use, and the previous supports he had from his social circles, employer, and lifelong doctor were not able to help him effectively. It was during these difficult periods that Tom wishes he had a peer to guide him.
Tom wants more people to learn about the comprehensive care Casey House provides. He acknowledges the stark difference between learning about care through traditional modes of education and interacting face-to-face with clients. Tom feels part of the greater team that empowers clients to feel supported and resilient before returning to the outside world. “We don’t just provide needles, syringes, and alcohol pads [in the SCS], there’s a lot more to it. There’s warmth, heart, and a lot of love. That’s what the peer program is all about.”
To learn more about the peer program, visit our website here.
March 12, 2026
Meet Tom – Casey House Peer
Casey House peers are people with diverse lived experience who are trained to assist clients through their health journeys. Peer support provides social care which complements the multidisciplinary clinical team. Tom is member of the peer program, who works predominantly with our supervised consumption services (SCS).
Tom became a Casey House client in November 2024. He was referred to the outpatient program by his psychiatrist, who encouraged him to pursue social opportunities amidst his struggles with mental health and isolation. He joined several recreational therapy groups including yoga and music therapy. He also came for lunch on a daily basis, where he found fellowship among others who shared similar experiences and reasons for being clients at Casey House. He had noticed a group of people consistently chatting and sitting with client and asked a friend about them, who told him about the Casey House peer program and the upcoming enrollment of new peers. Tom submitted his application online, recounted his lived experience with the peer coordinator, which included substance use, and was accepted into the program in April 2025.
As a peer in the SCS, Tom spends his time building relationships with clients before and after they use substances by offering practical advice relating to harm reduction and friendly social support. Conversation topics can range from substance usage, personal relationships, life advice, other outpatient services at Casey House, and everything in between. Tom also assists the clinical staff monitoring clients in the SCS lounge in the event of an adverse reaction or overdose. Here, clients can enjoy snacks, warm drinks, or rest. Many clients who use the SCS are unhoused or have unstable lifestyles, so they appreciate having a reliable and safer place to use while seeing a familiar face.
Over the course of just a few months, Tom has interacted with many clients and witnessed the ups and downs of their lives alongside them. For those who return, he welcomes them without judgement and seeks to provide the best and safest possible experience using their substances. Tom values the opportunity to make deep connections with clients and says becoming a peer was a life changing moment for him–he finally found his purpose and his community thanks to this role.
Reflecting on his own experience, Tom recalls the unknown world he stepped into when he began using substances. There was no textbook on how to navigate substance use; supervised consumption sites and harm reduction principles did not formally exist yet. The challenges he encountered daily changed with his substance use, and the previous supports he had from his social circles, employer, and lifelong doctor were not able to help him effectively. It was during these difficult periods that Tom wishes he had a peer to guide him.
Tom wants more people to learn about the comprehensive care Casey House provides. He acknowledges the stark difference between learning about care through traditional modes of education and interacting face-to-face with clients. Tom feels part of the greater team that empowers clients to feel supported and resilient before returning to the outside world. “We don’t just provide needles, syringes, and alcohol pads [in the SCS], there’s a lot more to it. There’s warmth, heart, and a lot of love. That’s what the peer program is all about.”
To learn more about the peer program, visit our website here.
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