By Stephanie Gauthier 91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淚 was sleeping outside of a restaurant,91裸聊视频� 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.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淭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.91裸聊视频�

It wasn91裸聊视频檛 the first time Lee had experienced poor treatment, she has witnessed plenty of examples of stigma in action.

91裸聊视频淚t just made me want to use more,91裸聊视频� she said.

How could it not? Unsheltered homelessness is hard, but life in a shelter came with its own challenges. It91裸聊视频檚 hard to feel safe in a shelter, especially for women.

91裸聊视频淚 basically just had a bed,91裸聊视频� said Lee. 91裸聊视频淣o privacy whatsoever, and there91裸聊视频檚 (sic) guys and girls and it91裸聊视频檚 all mixed. You don91裸聊视频檛 know who you91裸聊视频檙e sleeping six feet away from.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚 was in search of a better life,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚 have an illness, my liver, and I wasn91裸聊视频檛 getting help medically in Saskatchewan or Manitoba.91裸聊视频�

Lee91裸聊视频檚 cousin had moved by the time she arrived, leaving her in a new city without a support structure.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e been kind of a transient person my whole life,91裸聊视频� she added. 91裸聊视频淚 just worked and went from place to place to place, and when things didn91裸聊视频檛 work out I just kept persevering.91裸聊视频�

Leee now lives at Ellis Place, a subsidized, supportive housing site in Kelowna. Life isn91裸聊视频檛 perfect, but it91裸聊视频檚 better. She has access to the staff and other supports. Lee is happy with where she is. She91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a start and I91裸聊视频檓 okay with that.91裸聊视频�

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

Read More: Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 Journey Home launches Face Homelessness campaign

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