Sri joined Community Builders in 2024. Since then, he’s worked across several sites — Aster, Gastown and now Luugat — bringing with him a Master’s degree in Applied Psychology and a clear commitment to frontline, hands-on work. During his studies, Sri completed a practicum at a detox centre, an experience that shaped his interest in supporting people facing addiction and complex barriers. “I wanted to do work where I could really make a difference,” he says.  

As a Wellness Worker, no two days look the same. Sri supports a caseload of residents, building trust over time, learning what matters to them, and helping them move toward their own self-defined goals. That might mean getting ID, navigating a health-care appointment, exploring detox options, or simply having someone to talk things through with. Equity, in practice, means meeting people where they’re at — not where systems expect them to be.

Sri sees firsthand how inequity shapes residents’ lives. Stigma, he says, often stands between people and the services they need most.

He recalls working with a resident who was struggling to connect with his doctor. “He didn’t feel heard,” Sri says, “and so he didn’t want to go to his appointments anymore.” Rather than pushing the resident to keep attending, Sri called the clinic, waited on hold, explained the situation, and helped arrange a different doctor.  

Sri also points to the strength of Community Builders’ diverse staff team. When staff share cultural backgrounds or lived experience with residents, it can build understanding, trust and connection in ways that aren’t always possible otherwise.

Working at Luugat, Sri is aware of the public narratives that often surround supportive housing. Media coverage can flatten residents into stereotypes, overlooking the histories, trauma and resilience they carry. For Sri, equity isn’t about denying challenges: it’s about facing them honestly, while continuing to show up with care.  

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