When Doug was injured at work, he never imagined he would become homeless as a result.
“When I came to the shelter, I only had the clothes on my back,” he recalls, still visibly shaken by the experience.
“Life was ticking along great. I worked in construction and was saving up for a down payment on a home. But one morning, the scaffolding I was on collapsed. I had back and leg injuries and couldn’t work. I ran through my savings in a few months and lost my apartment. I thought, at least it’s summer, and I won’t freeze…”
But that summer was brutally hot.
“It just shows how quickly these things can happen, and your life can spiral out of control,” Doug reflects.
For many homeless people in our community, escaping the summer heat becomes a matter not of comfort, but of survival.
Homeless and depressed, Doug was overwhelmed by the heat. He says, “When I finally got myself to Mission Services’ Emergency Shelter, I was sick and dehydrated. I had trouble accessing my employment insurance payments and just had the clothes on my back.”
Doug was incredibly grateful to sleep in a bed, cool off with a shower, and enjoy regular meals. Our staff helped him sort out his employment insurance benefits and find an affordable place to live.
“I’m so happy this place exists,” Doug explains. “If it didn’t, I don’t know where I’d be.”
