Recovering alcoholic lived on the streets of Evander to feed her addiction

Her goal was to drink herself to death, but God had other plans. Odette Strecker (40) is a recovering alcoholic who shares her story of how addiction led her to live on the streets.

Born in Pretoria, Strecker grew up in a difficult environment – her mother worked in the adult entertainment industry. Her alcohol addiction began at 19. At 24, she left Pretoria and, a year later, met her ex-partner in Pilanesberg.

She and her ex had a daughter and later moved to the Kruger National Park for work. Her addiction led to job loss, the breakdown of her relationship, and ultimately, the loss of custody of her daughter.

“I tried to be an excellent mother, but my drinking was a big problem. I lost that part of my existence,” said Strecker.

She moved to Evander in 2016 and met her current life partner. Together, they have a daughter (8) and a son (7). Since the youngest was born, both children have been living with their grandmother, who could provide the stability they needed.

Strecker is extremely grateful to the children’s grandmother for giving them the life she never could. With her struggles with alcohol, the welfare ordered Strecker to do a three-month rehab programme.

She tried many times over the years to stop drinking, but each recovery ended as soon as she had her first sip of alcohol.

Strecker left her partner to stay on the streets of Evander for four and a half months.

While living on the streets, her only focus was securing her next drink -clean Vodka.

“By six in the morning, I wanted my alcohol and would hustle for money to get it,” she admitted.

As a woman alone on the streets, she faced constant risks – being drugged, raped, or even killed.

“God protected me all the time,” Strecker said.

Despite her circumstances, she was still allowed to see her children for two hours every Saturday. Homelessness brought Strecker to her knees and wanting to know God, she began attending the Revival Church.

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Two librarian friends – Mirriam Dithebe, whom she knew before living on the streets, and Nomandla Mahlangu – became her saving grace.

Mahlangu discovered Strecker sleeping under a sheet on the pavement near the Engen filling station.

“I said to myself, this girl needs help. I wanted to help her,” Mahlangu said.

Although Strecker was initially upset when Mahlangu took a video of her, Mahlangu invited her for coffee at the library once she was awake so they could talk.

“She needed somebody to comfort her, get her help and off the streets,” said Mahlangu.

Eventually, Strecker contacted Alicia’s husband, Warren.

“We fought a lot with her,” said Dithebe. “As mothers, we think of our children. She is like my child. We told her she needed to get clean for her children.”

Dithebe let Strecker spend a night with her until Alicia could fetch her for rehab the next day.

“Today we are so happy; we are proud of her,” said Dithebe.

She said she does not think Strecker would still be here had they not intervened and helped. Strecker went to Betel SA, near Pretoria, for a one-year recovery programme.

“Only you can take that first step to seeking help. God will come to you,” said Strecker.

Life after rehab was not easy. Strecker searched for work for months, often hustling for money for food, but she stayed off alcohol.

She had applied to GMM’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) but doubted her application would be considered.
As her hope faded, she even contemplated taking rat poison.

“I just wanted to disappear – even just find a safe house. I did not want to embarrass my children anymore,” she said.

“At that point, I would have done anything – washing, cleaning, hitting big rocks, small rocks. I just wanted to work.”

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Her prayers were answered when she received a call from the municipality. She had been accepted into the EPWP. God is good.

My colleagues know my history — some even saw me when I lived on the streets. I’m honest with them, and they support me. We’re like a working family,” said Strecker.

Her one-year contract ends soon, but she hopes to be considered again.

“I’m grateful to GMM for giving me a chance when no one else would,” she said.

Strecker and her partner rent a room in Evander and continue seeing their children every Saturday. She has now been sober for two years and four months.

“Looking back, living on the streets was the best decision I ever made – because it brought me to God. Nobody can tell me there is no God after my story,” she concluded.

She now openly shares her testimony. For more information, contact her at 060 470 6379 or email odettestrecker1@gmail.com.

• Recovery Centre in GMM:

The Yahweh Rapha Recovery Centre offers a six-month in-house programme based on the 12-step Celebrate Recovery system.

For more information, contact Marc Fick at 079 400 7387 or Chantelle-Lee Fick at 082 602 1561.