When the Streets are Safer than Affordable Housing
You may be surprised to learn that I have heard this been said many times. Today, it was said by Sarah – a young person in our art...
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- Nov 27, 2017
A Homeless Vet’s Journey: Week 1
For the audio introduction to A Homeless Vet’s Journey click play below: Kurk had served several tours of duty in the armed forces,...
- Nov 2, 2017
Searching for Affordable Housing
You would think that in a city like Ottawa, when a vulnerable citizen faces a crisis and loses their housing, there would be a system in...
- Feb 11, 2016
Celiac on the Streets
Some people have a policy to only give food to panhandlers. Some even get offended if the panhandler rejects the offer of food. For these...
- Apr 24, 2015
“What Am I Supposed To Do?”
Last week, I was doing outreach downtown when I came across Ben. Ben is one of the “oldtimers” – one of several men who have been on the...
- Dec 15, 2014
Shane’s Story, Episode 5: My Own Place
Shane’s Story is a eight episode blog post where Shane tells her story in her own words. Each week in December, on Mondays and Thursdays...
- Jan 9, 2014
New Perspective on Home
I attend St. Albans Anglican Church in downtown Ottawa. We are lucky to have space in the midst of both the Market, nearby Centretown,...
- Dec 18, 2013
“Tessa’s Home” Episode 7: A Real Home for Christmas
Tessa’s Home is an 8 part series running until December 27th. To listen to the audio backgrounder from family radio CHRI, click below....
- Nov 18, 2013
Everything I Have
“It happened again. I have to leave,” she told me in a panic. Laura had called me several times that week. She was always in a panic...
- Oct 14, 2013
When Can I Take This Off?
I was talking with someone recently who had obtained housing. They have been on the street since their early teens—both sleeping on the...
- Aug 26, 2013
Stories from the Street: Size Doesn’t Matter
This episode of ‘Stories from the Street’ is a little different, because it is not a verbatim story told by a street-friend. Instead,...
- Sep 19, 2011
Street Outreach: An Encounter!
The Street Outreach team met Bess and Ken near Confederation Park near the first of September. They came up to us asking for sleeping...
- Oct 29, 2010
Gary – a story about Resiliency (and more)
Gary came down the stairs at the drop in, saw me and said, “I haven’t got your money yet. I know it’s been three years. I’m working on...
- Sep 2, 2010
LIfe on the Streets 3: Panhandling
We see people panhandling for loose change all the time in our cities. It’s commonplace. We have come to adopt certain attitudes...
- Aug 21, 2010
Life on the Streets I: Walking
I arrived back in Ottawa late last night and drove through the downtown area on the way home. I saw a man walking with a garbage bag over...
- Aug 21, 2010
Life on the Streets I – Walk
I arrived back in Ottawa late last night and drove through the downtown area on the way home. I saw a man walking with a garbage bag over...
- Jul 22, 2010
Getting a Place of Your Own
Harry has been desperately searching for shelter since he was released from jail three months ago. He has been squeaky clean – no drugs...