Surviving Edmonton: 1 year spent with homeless people seeking stable housing

This is a special presentation of global news. Survival comes with a story. 3 months and I was in debt,

homeless

and unable to move forward. That was in December 2005. They have been the most difficult 3

year

s of my life. There are certain rules that I had to survive. The stories here are full of struggle, change, and constant uncertainty. I had to walk five miles to go to the bathroom and not a bucket. I cried throughout the entire walk. My hands got blistered. I lost the feeling. It is an unbearable pain. You will die. That's it, this is real life, I'm not going to sugarcoat it or anything, it's really me falling through every crack you can imagine, we start here with Kimberly, this is it, you own it, everything I have, yeah, it's not a lot, but Kimberly Robertson's bag is full of essentials and her essentials.

Everyone knows me and knows that I wear wigs. Years ago. Kimberly worked as a stylist. She is still passionate about it. She found this wig in a pile of snow inside a satin bag. It is something unusual. and unexpected gift and on this day gifts may be appropriate this is my birthday dress because my birthday is tomorrow I will be turning 44 birthdays are often a time to reflect and Kimberly documents everything in her journal another of her essentials the purpose of is to share information with what is happening in the diary it is full of its history a life that few can understand I miss meals a lot this is a very bad time I was in an abandoned house and I woke up and they bit me, it would have been a big spider, there are also dreams, finding other talented, intelligent and positive

people

, establishing a place to call home and a real home that is free of mistakes.

I can see the transformation. I can see the need for change, that's something we have. I can count on those are the hopes for next

year

Kimberly dares to dream something that can be difficult Amit so much uncertainty so often focuses only on the now has to be what is the game plan and for the drop in temperature I don't have one. I go to Hope every night. I don't plan ahead. In fact, I have learned that the power of now is how to survive anything without it. She wouldn't have survived these last few years. It's a romantic statement, but it's far off. more than that for Leanne Whatney and Troy Cardinal it's a fact that he literally saved me from freezing and stuff like that made me say oh yeah the first time I had pneumonia I let her sleep on top of me so I wouldn't get sick lean and Troy have been together since 2011 have been

homeless

since 2019 every day since then have only thought about their present it has been the hardest 3 years of my life Troy and Leanne do not feel safe in the shelter system they say they have had bad experiences like robbery and violence they are also worried that they will be separated if they are not in a shelter where do you sleep on the sidewalk or try to find a hot fan? cardboard and things like that, then put the cardboard on the seat at likeus 30, you will do that, we almost did it last year in winter, we almost froze the white, we had two blankets each and we were on the bench.

Now my hands are blistered, I lost feeling in my hands and feet yet, yes, yes, I've been trying to keep us safe and alive. They have been separated before the devastating effects for Leanne. I can't eat, I can't sleep without worrying about where she is. It's and I like what she's doing or how she's

surviving

out there, but they always find their way back to each other. I still find some barriers to

housing

are easier to break than others. Troy and Leanne used drugs at one point in our interview, we had to take a break to use.

Troy acknowledges that his substance use makes it difficult to find stability, the need to use drugs is always there, sometimes it is stronger than any another need, they will connect with support and lose it as quickly as they should. They take us seriously when we try to tell them that these things are happening to us but all they do is laugh or say you're drinking too much, they recently got hooked up with welfare payments but it's not enough to get you what you really want to get into an apartment , you've been to Wai this year and last year and waiting is not easy when the need is happening now the first night I moved here I slept like a baby on a relatively warm January day Kimberly reflects on her life trying to survive and thrive where he can, he says it's complicated, we need to have a sense of community in Edmonton.

I chose Edmonton. I'm here in Edmonton, you can't get rid of me. She has lived in the city since 2003 and briefly goes to Europe to work as a nanny but when she returned home things started to fall apart she quickly went from having a home to being homeless there is no reason for me to be homeless I really knew I couldn't afford it living in a house like that I would have to do. I didn't let my life slip away from me, but I was still open to the idea that I hadn't tried hard enough to get where I was going tonight.

She will occupy one of 125 spots in the Hope missions. women's space sometimes there is a lot of diarrhea in the space where you sleep yes I basically take everything I have with me because you can't store things there otherwise they would be a really f hotel FY Really fancy hotel Kimberly's sense Humor helps her to cope, but I don't always cry like I have bad days to escape. She dreams. I will live in the trees. Yes, because I want a tree house, but not yet. I wake up late. I'm boiling. Street waiting for lunch. because I just got here at 11:20 a.m. m.

I usually sleep in Hope, wake up for breakfast and then walk to the boil and sit down for lunch, push the button, push the door button and the door at the same time, yeah, there you go here boiling. Street community services. Kimberly guides others on how to fill her days. I'm on you, you've been after me for years. This has been his routine. We give them their name and they will tell us if we have problems or are bad or something like that. Hello Kimberly Robertson. I hope Mission isn't a sleeping space, but it's still an important shelter for right now and on this day there's an extreme cold warning across Edmonton and I'm ganging up like it's scary, like there's not a lot of places to go. , it's a place to spend time charge your phone and heal old wounds they have band-aids for everything how's that spider on your arm doing well, it's better than it was it's such a horrible man I could show it to

people

now, but a abandoned house, don't do it this Construction services a bandage for a life that brings the unexpected How was your morning?

It was okay, it was hard because the lady in a walker threw coffee on me, so I don't have any pants under my pants, yeah, so I have to get a pair. Here there are pants, there are no pants, but that doesn't mean Kimberly can't find what she needs. I draw, I sit down and then, if I have money, which won't be until tomorrow, I'll go have a coffee or something somewhere else, thank you very much. a lot of honey having a coffee there is a moment to relax and think that she reflects on why she feels tied to the routine of The Shelter Systems.

I can't trust Mission Hope to be

stable

enough to even have a job where you can't function as

stable

. I just want a room right now and then I get to work and then I start making money and then we can get on with the right things, like putting the clothes and makeup aside because I can't keep it, it's so weird carrying your closet around. right now. waiting for a call from the police help team that represents human centered engagement and liaison association, she wants to be connected with more resources, you may not do anything but I hope there is accommodation somewhere and , if someone could get me somewhere, the call wouldn't make Kim feel like her long wait must indicate a lack of options.

There are no real

housing

options. I honestly don't think that's what's happening, but there are housing options. Home Reliance alone has at least 400 supportive housing units with more on the way, but many unhoused people raise the same concerns about a lack of options, highlighting an issue that connects people to those resources and the perception of access. I don't know where to get a list. I don't even know how when I write online, where would I sleep tonight? Having your own space is like a blessing in a space that is all Adam Krauss, he filled it and is surrounded by my family.

These two are my grandmother and grandfather. Were you close to them? Oh yes, very. close all these clothes here came from my father passed away 4 years ago it's been 4 years since he last had stable housing he came here about 4 months ago the first night I moved here I slept like a baby before this he stayed in the Hope Missions Herb's Jameson Center he didn't like it, let's just say the building was hell. I pass by here seven times a day every day. I saw a number. Take a picture. Did you have many options? No, tell me why.

I'm laughing at my comment because I honestly didn't think I was going to get this apartment. Kimberly Adam points out the lack of options and personal problems. She doesn't want to tell a long story. I had a bad life when I was there. younger, it is already here and has settled, but it will change in a few days. Your rent will increase 12%, from $490 a month to $550. Krauss lives on a fixed income and says that's about the top of his budget as long as he has a place to live. I'm happy that not all spaces are yours and this one comes with some growing pains.

The building is falling apart but habitable, yet he sees opportunities here for other people without stable housing. If we had buildings like this, we can simply spread them out. everywhere and get people who want to move away, but what it lacks is community. Have you met any of the neighbors? I meet L MOS every day. I do not speak to him. He dreams of returning home to Stony. plane to get closer to family I can finally think about what's next for the Edmonton public. You are right, this homeless situation is very outside the norm. Kimberly's life is a constant rebirth.

She easily gets rid of what is not necessary. That's my bag. I'm going to leave her. still nothing inside after coffee she comes back outside woo it's cold bag of corn very simple the present is where Kimberly lives but the past finds her anyway this is your sleeping bike from the other day yes, but I gave it to a girl who It's very cold outside, maybe that's where she stayed that's where Kimberly draws the line, she says the camps aren't safe, I couldn't be tense like I keep saying because the dangers of all this happen, they burn easily, they have exploded propane tanks. about them in a tent a battle between cold and heat has deadly consequences at least four people burned to death in camps in 2023 many suffered frostbite they get cold yes, my hands are frozen that's why Kimberly is worried about her friends, a mother and her daughter, she's been trying to get them to stay at a shelter Nana, are you here, but sometimes people just disappear?

I'm just looking for a couple called Troy and Leanne. The last time we saw each other was in March, March, March 23rd. What Happened Good?, 23. I was arrested at night while I was walking, but I had a warrant for my arrest, so I don't want to talk about it too much. Kimberly has been serving time for 5 months. I just slept, ate, sat and was sad. I served my sentence, so I don't have to go back to jail anyway for now. After being released, Kimberly found herself in another unusual situation. She connected with the home. I get a chance again, which is funny.

I'm 44 years old, but I get a little worried when someone else has control over my roof. over my head Kimberly is staying at the Salvation Army she is in a stabilization housing program but will soon be moving to the second floor paying one room a week in transitional housing I have been

surviving

well and now I have this opportunity to go back to be like society and be a contributing member, but after so many years without housing, that transition is not easy if I don't like it, I said I will go back to the streets, I think someone will see this and say, but you are guaranteed food, you are sheltered guaranteed, so why?

Because it felt so good when I had to go from one moment to the next in that period of time that was 5 months. So much changed while she was in jail that she discovered her friend Johnny Mack died of drug poisoning at a camp. It still weighs on her, you're going to die, that's all, a reminder that this space provides isolation in many ways, but she feels who has not yet found what they are looking for, reach a safe place. relax that's all you need and she's made progress this year a home base is good true it's nice to have something to count on but kimberly's dream is still if i could build a tree house it would be in my tree house, how was the summer?

I guess they both followed the same circles, but something different was happening in Edmonton for the first time. The city triggered its extreme weather response due to poor air quality. Uswe get up Liquid sore throat. Yes. Our lungs were able to look at the sun. directly Troy and Leanne are out constantly, we can't do anything, we have to walk to get basic things, they are still trying to find accommodation but they have more pressing concerns right now, it always seems to get in the way of tomorrow, the couple . were stolen a few weeks ago they keep their belongings even closer these days a sleeping mat clothes water and no one kits strong D goes out on the street we ended up saving a lot of people in the first 11 months of 2023 608 people in Edmonton died from poisoning opioids Troy and Leanne tried to help some of them we found someone in the back alley some of them would be turning blue already no pulse not breathing yes he does she still has I'm a little scared I'm worried about her why? worrying about Anar I don't like seeing her scared I don't want the other person to die I'm sure they have family brings back bad memories of when I went down no one was around again Leanne points out the only constant in her life Troy I really need Troy and I What would it be like Life without Lean?

I probably feel like I have no purpose in this life. a day-to-day struggle, tomorrow is always very far away, but it comforts them to know that they are together despite everything. How do you feel about the arrival of winter? How is she preparing for winter? I don't even think we're ready for winter. Hi sir. Sorry to bother you, I'm just looking for a couple called Troy and Leanne at the end of November. Troy and Leanne's phone stopped receiving Tex messages, they couldn't be found at shelters or campsites, but the whispers about their whereabouts continued, so Jasper Husky was The last time you saw Troy, you saw if Leanne was with him.

No, he was alone. He was alone. Alright. Troy and Leanne disappear. In January a deep frost sets in. So this is home. How do you stay warm there? Propane heat. Do you ever worry? about the fire no, I catch fire all the time the weather is the least of Vance D's worries you can beat the Cal sometimes you can't beat the people unsafe living conditions gang activity assault some of the reasons why the police from Edmonton says many of these camps couldn't stay D says surviving is complicated they become family, fight, steal and are friends again the night or the next day on a night where the wind chill drops below -40 Justine Cardinals starts to freeze I'm going to like to sleep outside tonight or sleep inside when the bell rings I don't know yet for now she will warm up inside D's tent along with another person D Rash says there are probably 10 people sharing this space overnight in temperatures that freeze the skin in a matter of minutes this man Daniel is wearing a pair of running shoes, how have you been doing in Evon?

Depressing, where are you sleeping tonight? Daniel, you know? I have no idea. I don't want to lose any more people. Empathy towards some people is a weak trait. Empathic people are. They are not weak, they are human and focus less on meeting basic needs. Kimberly is paying attention to her passions. Instead, art is important, it's important even if you don't think you can draw or anything, just to get whatever's on your head, to have a place to have my stuff all day and then I come home and that's it. it's my space that no one else is in it's nice but there are rules here Kimberly says she doesn't particularly like not being allowed in her room during certain periods of time tell me about this Kim I mean you Are you trying to enter your room and you can't go.

I'm not allowed from 10 to 2 every day. Kimberly Compares the experience to that of a teenager who lives with her parents. This is not a home, it is just a shelter. It really is as if we paid for it. but it's a good quality shelter except the space is contained for me because I pay something and collect one or two outfits, that's the benefit and she's very aware of how she's perceived, she says it's a little easier to fit in now and that. means something to her a bag was my period I don't want to sound like a homeless bum who has as many needs as that sounds maybe superficial or stubborn with the help of the Salvation Army program she is exploring affordable and supportive housing programs She refers to Kimberly being here for no more than 18 months, this space is designed to lead her towards a more permanent solution after so many years living by her own rules, this space forces Kimberly to adopt habits she is not used to.

So far I'm even happier when she was outside even though she was surviving longer. I was actually happier being myself. It is very difficult to live in society. And I don't want to not fit in. That reminds you why you started writing in your journal to show people the complexities of in this life I brought you something wow, thanks to all my current criminal charges again, we're not going to read that and my family at the time had just assumed that things were drug related and my mom never believed my situation and that started my situation even worse. scenario oh you know, okay, that was a heavy one.

I don't like that one, but I've written that story. A lot, it's good to say it out loud, the reason I'm writing it is to lose it well and have someone read it. It doesn't matter, you know it and there is no one who doesn't answer the phone when you call. There is no one who loves you anymore. It seems that you had said that you felt that the year would bring changes. Yes, a lot has changed. Change is the change. The only thing that remains the same is that Today Kimberly is reflecting on her 44th year of life and hopes to set some big goals, take them slow but do them right, you know, like making a bummer, she's still in her housing unit and still looking for a permanent place. live but it's not happening in the past so it's frustrating and it's not a lossless year.

It's fair to say that a year ago some of those people you knew didn't survive to this day. Kimberly says some died in the cold, most died from drug poisoning I guess. I knew that when I met them, but I didn't really realize that you're like a disposable person, you know what I mean? So for me it was like madness. I do not want to lose more people for a simple desire that exists under the weight of a complex issue throughout the country. Kimberly's situation was replicated thousands of times with variations in circumstances and success as a result of economic, social and personal challenges.

There is no way to closing the door on these two decades have almost been shit, it is a life that is uncomfortable, complicated, dangerous, people on the streets struggle to find help, governments struggle to find ways to offer it. Kimberly knows it's not easy to house her. I must say that I like chaos more than calm. I'm trying to learn about that aspect. From me, her life is still full of uncertainty, but she is sure of one thing. If she were outside this winter, she would be dead, as if she were sleeping in a corner somewhere.

I don't think she would make it this year. On our last day together, Kimberly wants to show us where she's been spending her time. It is my favorite place. Do you know what this reminds me of Kim? What is a tree house? No one can hit me from above, no one can hit me from behind, no one can catch me. I am safe, that is the wish of real life inside a dream, I want to be warm, safe and independent, his escape from this reality is his tree house for Adam, he finds it through his family with Troy and Leanne .

Love makes life easier, but everyone wants to go beyond survival. and that's the problem when survival consumes you, little attention is paid to the change happening around you this year, as with so many others, Kimberly simply endures that change. I'm not proud of anything yet, I haven't gotten anywhere yet. Me surviving really still is.