By Stephanie Gauthier 香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淚 was sleeping outside of a restaurant,香蕉视频直播� 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.香蕉视频直播�

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

香蕉视频直播淭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.香蕉视频直播�

It wasn香蕉视频直播檛 the first time Lee had experienced poor treatment, she has witnessed plenty of examples of stigma in action.

香蕉视频直播淚t just made me want to use more,香蕉视频直播� she said.

How could it not? Unsheltered homelessness is hard, but life in a shelter came with its own challenges. It香蕉视频直播檚 hard to feel safe in a shelter, especially for women.

香蕉视频直播淚 basically just had a bed,香蕉视频直播� said Lee. 香蕉视频直播淣o privacy whatsoever, and there香蕉视频直播檚 (sic) guys and girls and it香蕉视频直播檚 all mixed. You don香蕉视频直播檛 know who you香蕉视频直播檙e sleeping six feet away from.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淚 was in search of a better life,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚 have an illness, my liver, and I wasn香蕉视频直播檛 getting help medically in Saskatchewan or Manitoba.香蕉视频直播�

Lee香蕉视频直播檚 cousin had moved by the time she arrived, leaving her in a new city without a support structure.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been kind of a transient person my whole life,香蕉视频直播� she added. 香蕉视频直播淚 just worked and went from place to place to place, and when things didn香蕉视频直播檛 work out I just kept persevering.香蕉视频直播�

Leee now lives at Ellis Place, a subsidized, supportive housing site in Kelowna. Life isn香蕉视频直播檛 perfect, but it香蕉视频直播檚 better. She has access to the staff and other supports. Lee is happy with where she is. She香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a start and I香蕉视频直播檓 okay with that.香蕉视频直播�

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

Read More: Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Journey Home launches Face Homelessness campaign

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