We received a wonderful letter from a client on her journey from homelessness to having her first home. Her success demonstrates the importance of ongoing support for people experiencing homelessness. Housing, while critical, is one part of the equation; wrap around services are also needed. She’s now had her housing for two years.
My housing means everything to me. When I got out of treatment, I didn’t have anywhere to go. I didn’t want to go back to my old ways. If I didn’t have my housing, I would have died. You can’t fight a drug addiction if you have no home. I reached out to VIHA for help. They housed me within two days. I have been here two years. I have home visits every week. They showed me how to pay bills and shop for food. I have a real pretty place. I am in school. I have a car. I have a life beyond my wildest dreams. I have three years clean. Housing works. We need it. They loved me until I could love myself. This is my first home. I have been homeless since I was 12 years old. My home means everything to me. I had an option. I reached out to outreach homeless prevention team. My home is a blessing. They helped me furnish my home. They showed me how to work a TV. Being inside was a change. I went through one hell of a time indoors. When I get indoors I face a lot of fears of wanting to go back outside because inside is where I got hurt as a child. Having an outreach worker for home visits from Island Crisis Care is very crucial to a street person. They taught me how to trust. They loved me until I could love myself.
Oceanside Homelessness Task Force - District 69, Parksville, BC 