By Stephanie Gauthier 含羞草研究社� Contributor.

Lee has lived through hard times.

Homelessness, substance use, and poverty have all been part of it. Some of the toughest things are surprising, like stigma and the hostility it creates. Last winter, Lee split her time between the streets and a shelter, accessing the shelter only on the coldest evenings.

含羞草研究社淚 was sleeping outside of a restaurant,含羞草研究社� said Lee. It was freezing out that night and I slept under there with my hairdryer. They had a plug-in on the outside wall and I had a tarp and a blanket and I was sleeping underneath that and I had the hairdryer going on me all night to stay warm because I thought I was going to freeze to death.含羞草研究社�

It was a hard night, more difficult and frightening than most people can imagine, and then it got worse.

含羞草研究社淭his one fellow came out of the restaurant and he called me every name in the book and told me to get out of there, so I packed up and left.含羞草研究社�

It wasn含羞草研究社檛 the first time Lee had experienced poor treatment, she has witnessed plenty of examples of stigma in action.

含羞草研究社淚t just made me want to use more,含羞草研究社� she said.

How could it not? Unsheltered homelessness is hard, but life in a shelter came with its own challenges. It含羞草研究社檚 hard to feel safe in a shelter, especially for women.

含羞草研究社淚 basically just had a bed,含羞草研究社� said Lee. 含羞草研究社淣o privacy whatsoever, and there含羞草研究社檚 (sic) guys and girls and it含羞草研究社檚 all mixed. You don含羞草研究社檛 know who you含羞草研究社檙e sleeping six feet away from.含羞草研究社�

Her health was another factor that made homelessness, and life in a shelter, more difficult. Lee moved from Saskatchewan in 2021 based on an invitation from her cousin.

含羞草研究社淚 was in search of a better life,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淚 have an illness, my liver, and I wasn含羞草研究社檛 getting help medically in Saskatchewan or Manitoba.含羞草研究社�

Lee含羞草研究社檚 cousin had moved by the time she arrived, leaving her in a new city without a support structure.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e been kind of a transient person my whole life,含羞草研究社� she added. 含羞草研究社淚 just worked and went from place to place to place, and when things didn含羞草研究社檛 work out I just kept persevering.含羞草研究社�

Leee now lives at Ellis Place, a subsidized, supportive housing site in Kelowna. Life isn含羞草研究社檛 perfect, but it含羞草研究社檚 better. She has access to the staff and other supports. Lee is happy with where she is. She含羞草研究社檚 joined a local community church where she volunteers. Lee faces a great deal of uncertainty still, but she finds joy in her home and her church.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a start and I含羞草研究社檓 okay with that.含羞草研究社�

Read More: Chocolate and empathy, advice from an outreach volunteer on Kelowna streets

Read More: Kelowna含羞草研究社檚 Journey Home launches Face Homelessness campaign

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