when you just know you've landed in the right place

This week I start my third month with Matthew Perry House.

You know when you just feel like you have landed in the right place? That is how I feel about my job.

I know that in some ways I'm still in the 'honeymoon phase'. I am still adapting to a new environment, meeting partners, and developing new relationships. The pace is very manageable. I have time to immerse myself in the subject matter and really learn what I am doing.

But I can sense that there is something very different about this work.

In many ways, it feels like a homecoming.

I am coming back to the type of work that I am incredibly passionate about: making a difference. The thing that has always brought me purpose, that has made my work feel meaningful, no matter where I was working, has been the feeling that I am making a difference, particularly in the lives of others.

This work is going to be truly revolutionary. Our first site in Ottawa, slated to open in 2027, will provide housing, treatment, and other wrap-around supports (education, employment, court and legal supports, etc.) to more than 160 people. Once people have completed an initial detox program, they will be able to move into Matthew Perry House and stay as long as they need to—no time limits, but rather until they are ready to transition to more independent living. It is going to be a game changer.

Beyond the meaningful mission, I am also coming back into the world of academia. I get to dive back into policy and research in an area that is really important to me. Substance use has impacted my family in many ways. Getting to contribute to building a better understanding of the complexity of factors—the social determinants—that influence addiction is something that has always fascinated me. It is the perfect blend of my personal ambition meeting my internal nerdiness.

I still remember my first exposure to the social determinants of health during my Master's at the London School of Economics. Suddenly, everything I'd witnessed in my frontline work—how housing, education, and social connection shaped people's health—was validated by research. Whether it was people with HIV/AIDS facing housing insecurity or children in poverty falling behind in school, I finally had a language and framework to explain what I knew instinctively to be true.

That framework came to life in a course taught by (now Sir) Julian Le Grand, fresh from advising Prime Minister Tony Blair on social policy. He showed us how to integrate these broader determinants into government strategy (which I actively tried to do throughout my career). These are lessons that stuck with me so deeply I still have the notes 20 years later. 

Being back in a role where I can focus on policy and research and integrate them into practice feels like coming full circle. I love it.

What makes this work even more special, though, is witnessing the work my boss Caitlin does day in and day out. The organization honours the legacy of Matthew Perry, the beloved actor who bravely spoke about his issues with substance use throughout his life publicly so he could help others.

After releasing his memoir, Matthew famously said during interviews, "When I die, I want helping others to be the first thing that's mentioned." Caitlin is making sure that Matthew's vision and his legacy are at the heart of everything this organization does. His family and closest friends are supporting her work on our Board.

It is incredibly inspiring and an honour to be a part of.

As I have written in past articles, leaving my career in government was terrifying. After years in the public sector, there's a certain security and predictability that becomes comfortable, even when you know it's time for a change. It took me a while to discover what came next, to figure out that I missed policy work.  

The uncertainty of stepping into something new, especially returning to non-profit world after more than fifteen year, felt a little daunting. I can tell you though - this was exactly what I needed. The freedom to focus deeply on work that aligns so perfectly with my values has been liberating in ways I didn't expect. 

As I look ahead to the months and years to come, I'm filled with excitement about the challenges ahead, the lives we'll touch and the difference we'll make in addressing one of society's most pressing challenges.