Christmas is special every year, but, for Peter, this holiday season was going to be one to remember.

A recovering drug and alcohol addict, he planned to spend his first Christmas in 28 years at home with his family after finally being clean for almost 12 months.

The last Christmas 44-year-old Peter (not his real name) spent with his family was when he was only 18 years old and he was high on marijuana and alcohol.

He did not want to be named because he feels his identity is irrelevant and wants people to simply get the message, not to shoot the messenger.

Remembering his past Christmases, he said: "Christmas was a broke, drunk and high experience. I only went once to the Salvation Army's homeless dinner, but that was when I began to accept my position. Other than on that one occasion, my pride would not allow me to take handouts.

"This year I am going shopping and buying gifts for my family and friends.

"I don't know what to expect this Christmas, but years ago my family all came together for breakfast and handed out presents.

"This year I'm looking forward to being a part of it all again. I am going to enjoy all the festive trimmings with my family."

In years past, Peter was a slave to drugs and alcohol and like many addicts, he eventually became homeless and lived rough in Hamilton's parks - or anywhere that was relatively dry.

"When I began smoking marijuana, I didn't even like it and after my first smoke I promised myself never do it again," he explained.

"But due to peer pressure I continued smoking weed and I began drinking when I was 16 years old."

However, Peter soon realised that playing with drugs was a dangerous business, and before he knew it, he was on a slippery slope.

"I continued to smoke weed and get drunk until I tried crack cocaine.

"When I first smoked crack, like marijuana, it did nothing for me. I did crack on a social basis and I thought 'oh, I can handle this', but after a while it was handling me and I was doing it everyday.

"I only went to work for a pay cheque so that I could get high."

Peter referred to himself as a functioning addict, because throughout most of his addiction he managed to work, but he admitted that all was not well.

"But after a while my bosses began letting me go because of my performance, and every new job that I had I believed was going to be the one where I wouldn't spend my first week's pay cheque on drugs. But I always did.

"I slept in Par-la-Ville park and in the back of vans for many years. The trick was to keep yourself at least 75 percent out of the elements."

But Peter said the hardest part about sleeping rough was that it was difficult to get rest.

"It was hard having to stay up until everyone had finished partying before you could get to sleep and then having to wake up early before everyone, for the fear of getting caught sleeping rough," he said.

Peter spent a total of 18 months in prison. He went to jail after he stole the daily take from a previous employer in order to buy drugs, and he also did time for a drug related incident.

He later broke into a building, but was unable to steal anything.

Peter credits a fellow homeless friend of his for helping him stay away from the law.

A few years ago Peter pulled it together for a spell and moved into the Canadian Hotel on Reid Street in Hamilton.

He had a new job, and thought that life was on the up and up, but he continued with his old ways and spent his first paycheque on drugs. The next day he was unable to go to work and it was not long before he was evicted.

Back on the streets again, Peter had taken about all he could take, and it was then that he had a premonition.

He said: "I heard a little voice that said 'go to the Harbour Light for help'."

He said: "It was like a divine intervention."

He went to Harbour Light and after a week he was taken in. Peter had always felt that there was no real need for the Salvation Army - believing that people needed to help themselves.

But Peter said Harbour Light was his saviour.

"They taught me how to deal with the disease of addiction and I am still dealing with it.

"At the Harbour Light if they ask you how you are, they really mean it. One day I was feeling so frustrated and the Major came along. He asked me how I was feeling and I told him and he prayed right there on the side of the road with me, and I was able to go another day.

"They really care about everyone."

Peter said for people entering the rehabilitation programme he said: "The first thing they will notice is that their skin will regain its colour, they put on weight and they start to feel much better about themselves."

Many addicts that are coming in on the new Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) programme think that they really do not need the help. However he said: "The ATI programme was helping some people."

Throughout his addiction Peter worked as a chef and is now back in the trade.

"I thank God for providing the Salvation Army and all that has been done for me. I am grateful for the second chance it has offered me. It is not easy, I am still an addict and everyday is still a challenge, but I am beating the addiction. I realise now that I'm no longer a slave to the drugs," he said.

He attends after-care classes at the Salvation Army and he tells his story to anyone who will listen.

"One of the first parts of healing myself from addiction is making amends with the people that I've hurt in the past and I continuously ask for forgiveness," he humbly added.

Breaking into a smile Peter added: "It's going to be a good Christmas, I am happy for the chance to be going home for the holidays and I am happy that my family and friends are beginning to trust me again."