Homelessness happens

I am writing you in regards to how people become homeless even though we have a government office that says they are here to assist the low income community.

Recently my husband and I have resulted in applying to Social Services to get by, our circumstances are a whole lot different than regular recipients that apply. You see for 51 years my husband worked hard however, after being a productive member of society, when we need help the government won't assist us. I guess being totally honest with the Ministry doesn’t pay off. I myself am on their disability program but to them, so what. I'm just another number in the system, I have sleep apnea in which I need electricity for. I was in a wheelchair for ten years but have worked my way out of it. I have rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. On top of that I have diabetes, PTSD, and now depression. However, they don’t care. I’m just a file number in the system.

My husband is 67 and is ailing from typical old age aches and pains that come with years of working in construction as an electrician. He has been trying to find work but it's not easy for a man at his age. He's overqualified or too old.

When we received a “courtesy” call from BC Hydro at 3:45 in the afternoon letting us know they will be disconnecting our power I was appalled. I asked for an extension but they denied, they said I have  until midnight even after I explained to them I submitted the disconnection notice to the Ministry last week. They didn't care, they said “well I suggest you call them”. By this time it was after 4pm, the Ministry called back approximately around 5:30. They denied my request and told me they would send me forms to appeal their decision, no compassion what so ever.

I have had my son's family stay with us, they have an eight year old and a two year old. They are here until the 25th when my daughters husband can drive up here to pick them up and move them down to the coast. I explained to hydro we had children here but no compassion here either. If the welfare rates don’t go up there will be more tent cities being built. I saw a woman and her baby going down into tent city, God help her and that baby. This is a serious matter that Trudeau should be looking into instead of legalizing marijuana!

Last Christmas I had my purse stolen, instead of retaliation I gave her a Christmas hamper with the help of Vernon police. I’ve given the missing women a voice by writing and giving the community an insight to life downtown eastside, it was the Robert Pickton trial I was reporting on. Prior to that I came close to being one of the missing women, it was my husband who was a big part of me being here today.

If you could imagine yourself living in your dwelling with no power to cook (what little food we have) or no heat, lights, warm water, let alone money how would you feel? What would you do? Why is welfare so low? When will poverty get help? Is building an apartment complex for 98 homeless people going to make a change? No! There needs to be more! Like how many of those people are druggies or alcoholics? How many are mental health? This is how the Ministry lets people live? 

It has been almost 20 years since either of us has picked up any mind altering substance. I’ve been giving myself to those who need help since then, I’d love to work at a legit paying job. As a lady of the night there aren’t benefits or EI, CPP, old age securities, RRSP’s. 

I took care of 5 of my grandchildren. I’ve volunteered because I don’t have the education or skills to do anything else. 

Pauline Vankoll