By Stephanie Gauthier 害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淚 was sleeping outside of a restaurant,害羞草研究所� 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.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淭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.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚t just made me want to use more,害羞草研究所� she said.

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

害羞草研究所淚 basically just had a bed,害羞草研究所� said Lee. 害羞草研究所淣o privacy whatsoever, and there害羞草研究所檚 (sic) guys and girls and it害羞草研究所檚 all mixed. You don害羞草研究所檛 know who you害羞草研究所檙e sleeping six feet away from.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淚 was in search of a better life,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 have an illness, my liver, and I wasn害羞草研究所檛 getting help medically in Saskatchewan or Manitoba.害羞草研究所�

Lee害羞草研究所檚 cousin had moved by the time she arrived, leaving her in a new city without a support structure.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been kind of a transient person my whole life,害羞草研究所� she added. 害羞草研究所淚 just worked and went from place to place to place, and when things didn害羞草研究所檛 work out I just kept persevering.害羞草研究所�

Leee now lives at Ellis Place, a subsidized, supportive housing site in Kelowna. Life isn害羞草研究所檛 perfect, but it害羞草研究所檚 better. She has access to the staff and other supports. Lee is happy with where she is. She害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a start and I害羞草研究所檓 okay with that.害羞草研究所�

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

Read More: Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Journey Home launches Face Homelessness campaign

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