Homeless ex-con turned his life around and now helps others do the same
Finding himself in and out of jail, homeless and abusing substances, Mr Smith was left with nothing.
But he knew one thing: life had more to offer.
"I thought, I've got to do something with my life - being in prison, living on the streets, drinking in parks, there had to be something bigger," Mr Smith said.
Growing up in a troubled family, Mr Smith said most of his family were in jail.
After a domestic violence incident involving his mother and stepfather a few years ago, Mr Smith's mother was sentenced to long-term imprisonment.
As a result, Mr Smith was evicted from the home where he had been living for ten years and became homeless.
"I lived on the street for about 12 months, I've lived behind skip bins, in a safe space shelter, I've been to prison five times, it got to the point that I thought it was normal," he said.
After numerous stints in rehab and multiple attempts at treatment in facilities across Australia, Mr Smith made the decision to turn his life around for good 12 months ago after an almost fatal overdose.
A few weeks ago, he returned from Melbourne, where he spent two months in a sober house. He's since secured housing in Launceston and started a business cleaning solar panels.
But there was still something he had to do - give back.
"I want to give back now. I feel like it's my purpose now to help the youth and the community," he said.
Mr Smith made it his mission to supply the homeless community in Launceston, TAS, with kits and uses his Facebook page - Breaking the Cycle Tassie - to advocate for positive lifestyle change.
"I engage with the homeless community and have a chat," he said.
"The kits could include tents, blowup mattresses, hand warmers, beanies, socks, undies."
Using his story to inspire others, Mr Smith's advocacy has helped him just as much as it's helped others.
"I met a bloke with his 14-year-old kid who is homeless. He actually follows me on TikTok, and he thanked me for helping him," he said.
"It's crazy. I go into the CBD and I get at least two people who want to shake my hand."
With first-hand experience of homelessness, Mr Smith said substance abuse was often a path those sleeping rough went down.
He urged the community to be more understanding of people's circumstances.
"It's the cold, alcohol helps people go to sleep and stay asleep," he said.
"People say they should 'get a job', but you can't on four hours of sleep. In weather like this, you wake up soaked, and you have to find somewhere to shower.
"All you want to do is block it all out, drink and use drugs."
'Don't give up'
Mr Smith said he wanted to show people, especially youth, that they can "break the cycle" of criminality, drug and alcohol use, they are born into.
"You can break that cycle, even if you come from disadvantaged families - you've got to put your head down and work hard, he said.
"Don't give up, there is hope. If I can do it, anybody can."
With his life together, Mr Smith said he felt better than he ever has, and although some days are harder than others, he wouldn't have it any other way.
"I'm 74 days clean and sober, and it feels good. My head feels so clear, I can think properly, it's great," he said.
When Ashley Smith woke up from his third overdose, he knew something had to give.
Finding himself in and out of jail, homeless and abusing substances, Mr Smith was left with nothing.
But he knew one thing: life had more to offer.
"I thought, I've got to do something with my life - being in prison, living on the streets, drinking in parks, there had to be something bigger," Mr Smith said.
Growing up in a troubled family, Mr Smith said most of his family were in jail.
After a domestic violence incident involving his mother and stepfather a few years ago, Mr Smith's mother was sentenced to long-term imprisonment.
As a result, Mr Smith was evicted from the home where he had been living for ten years and became homeless.
"I lived on the street for about 12 months, I've lived behind skip bins, in a safe space shelter, I've been to prison five times, it got to the point that I thought it was normal," he said.
After numerous stints in rehab and multiple attempts at treatment in facilities across Australia, Mr Smith made the decision to turn his life around for good 12 months ago after an almost fatal overdose.
A few weeks ago, he returned from Melbourne, where he spent two months in a sober house. He's since secured housing in Launceston and started a business cleaning solar panels.
But there was still something he had to do - give back.
"I want to give back now. I feel like it's my purpose now to help the youth and the community," he said.
Mr Smith made it his mission to supply the homeless community in Launceston, TAS, with kits and uses his Facebook page - Breaking the Cycle Tassie - to advocate for positive lifestyle change.
"I engage with the homeless community and have a chat," he said.
"The kits could include tents, blowup mattresses, hand warmers, beanies, socks, undies."
Using his story to inspire others, Mr Smith's advocacy has helped him just as much as it's helped others.
"I met a bloke with his 14-year-old kid who is homeless. He actually follows me on TikTok, and he thanked me for helping him," he said.
"It's crazy. I go into the CBD and I get at least two people who want to shake my hand."
With first-hand experience of homelessness, Mr Smith said substance abuse was often a path those sleeping rough went down.
He urged the community to be more understanding of people's circumstances.
"It's the cold, alcohol helps people go to sleep and stay asleep," he said.
"People say they should 'get a job', but you can't on four hours of sleep. In weather like this, you wake up soaked, and you have to find somewhere to shower.
"All you want to do is block it all out, drink and use drugs."
'Don't give up'
Mr Smith said he wanted to show people, especially youth, that they can "break the cycle" of criminality, drug and alcohol use, they are born into.
"You can break that cycle, even if you come from disadvantaged families - you've got to put your head down and work hard, he said.
"Don't give up, there is hope. If I can do it, anybody can."
With his life together, Mr Smith said he felt better than he ever has, and although some days are harder than others, he wouldn't have it any other way.
"I'm 74 days clean and sober, and it feels good. My head feels so clear, I can think properly, it's great," he said.
When Ashley Smith woke up from his third overdose, he knew something had to give.
Finding himself in and out of jail, homeless and abusing substances, Mr Smith was left with nothing.
But he knew one thing: life had more to offer.
"I thought, I've got to do something with my life - being in prison, living on the streets, drinking in parks, there had to be something bigger," Mr Smith said.
Growing up in a troubled family, Mr Smith said most of his family were in jail.
After a domestic violence incident involving his mother and stepfather a few years ago, Mr Smith's mother was sentenced to long-term imprisonment.
As a result, Mr Smith was evicted from the home where he had been living for ten years and became homeless.
"I lived on the street for about 12 months, I've lived behind skip bins, in a safe space shelter, I've been to prison five times, it got to the point that I thought it was normal," he said.
After numerous stints in rehab and multiple attempts at treatment in facilities across Australia, Mr Smith made the decision to turn his life around for good 12 months ago after an almost fatal overdose.
A few weeks ago, he returned from Melbourne, where he spent two months in a sober house. He's since secured housing in Launceston and started a business cleaning solar panels.
But there was still something he had to do - give back.
"I want to give back now. I feel like it's my purpose now to help the youth and the community," he said.
Mr Smith made it his mission to supply the homeless community in Launceston, TAS, with kits and uses his Facebook page - Breaking the Cycle Tassie - to advocate for positive lifestyle change.
"I engage with the homeless community and have a chat," he said.
"The kits could include tents, blowup mattresses, hand warmers, beanies, socks, undies."
Using his story to inspire others, Mr Smith's advocacy has helped him just as much as it's helped others.
"I met a bloke with his 14-year-old kid who is homeless. He actually follows me on TikTok, and he thanked me for helping him," he said.
"It's crazy. I go into the CBD and I get at least two people who want to shake my hand."
With first-hand experience of homelessness, Mr Smith said substance abuse was often a path those sleeping rough went down.
He urged the community to be more understanding of people's circumstances.
"It's the cold, alcohol helps people go to sleep and stay asleep," he said.
"People say they should 'get a job', but you can't on four hours of sleep. In weather like this, you wake up soaked, and you have to find somewhere to shower.
"All you want to do is block it all out, drink and use drugs."
'Don't give up'
Mr Smith said he wanted to show people, especially youth, that they can "break the cycle" of criminality, drug and alcohol use, they are born into.
"You can break that cycle, even if you come from disadvantaged families - you've got to put your head down and work hard, he said.
"Don't give up, there is hope. If I can do it, anybody can."
With his life together, Mr Smith said he felt better than he ever has, and although some days are harder than others, he wouldn't have it any other way.
"I'm 74 days clean and sober, and it feels good. My head feels so clear, I can think properly, it's great," he said.
When Ashley Smith woke up from his third overdose, he knew something had to give.
Finding himself in and out of jail, homeless and abusing substances, Mr Smith was left with nothing.
But he knew one thing: life had more to offer.
"I thought, I've got to do something with my life - being in prison, living on the streets, drinking in parks, there had to be something bigger," Mr Smith said.
Growing up in a troubled family, Mr Smith said most of his family were in jail.
After a domestic violence incident involving his mother and stepfather a few years ago, Mr Smith's mother was sentenced to long-term imprisonment.
As a result, Mr Smith was evicted from the home where he had been living for ten years and became homeless.
"I lived on the street for about 12 months, I've lived behind skip bins, in a safe space shelter, I've been to prison five times, it got to the point that I thought it was normal," he said.
After numerous stints in rehab and multiple attempts at treatment in facilities across Australia, Mr Smith made the decision to turn his life around for good 12 months ago after an almost fatal overdose.
A few weeks ago, he returned from Melbourne, where he spent two months in a sober house. He's since secured housing in Launceston and started a business cleaning solar panels.
But there was still something he had to do - give back.
"I want to give back now. I feel like it's my purpose now to help the youth and the community," he said.
Mr Smith made it his mission to supply the homeless community in Launceston, TAS, with kits and uses his Facebook page - Breaking the Cycle Tassie - to advocate for positive lifestyle change.
"I engage with the homeless community and have a chat," he said.
"The kits could include tents, blowup mattresses, hand warmers, beanies, socks, undies."
Using his story to inspire others, Mr Smith's advocacy has helped him just as much as it's helped others.
"I met a bloke with his 14-year-old kid who is homeless. He actually follows me on TikTok, and he thanked me for helping him," he said.
"It's crazy. I go into the CBD and I get at least two people who want to shake my hand."
With first-hand experience of homelessness, Mr Smith said substance abuse was often a path those sleeping rough went down.
He urged the community to be more understanding of people's circumstances.
"It's the cold, alcohol helps people go to sleep and stay asleep," he said.
"People say they should 'get a job', but you can't on four hours of sleep. In weather like this, you wake up soaked, and you have to find somewhere to shower.
"All you want to do is block it all out, drink and use drugs."
'Don't give up'
Mr Smith said he wanted to show people, especially youth, that they can "break the cycle" of criminality, drug and alcohol use, they are born into.
"You can break that cycle, even if you come from disadvantaged families - you've got to put your head down and work hard, he said.
"Don't give up, there is hope. If I can do it, anybody can."
With his life together, Mr Smith said he felt better than he ever has, and although some days are harder than others, he wouldn't have it any other way.
"I'm 74 days clean and sober, and it feels good. My head feels so clear, I can think properly, it's great," he said.
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