Help Christine Get Housing
Donation protected
Christine was living in a tent outside the soup kitchen before she had to go to the hospital. After being released she had no where to go, and had been living outside on a park bench in Kitchener.
I spent several hours with Christine on Friday. She told me that she is mid-thirties, lived in Kitchener most of her life, and attended Cameron Heights - perhaps you know her? As we chatted, I realized how smart she is - so knowledgeable about so many obscure things. She is well spoken and I told her that I thought she should write a book. She said that she has no parents or siblings, no aunts or uncles, and that she has two children. Christine hasn't had an easy life. She broke down and cried numerous times during our visit. I shutter to think about the trauma she has endured, and the invisible damage it caused. My heart is broken.
The intention of my visit was to do a wellness check, bring a hot coffee and food and talk with Christine. Thankfully before I left her, the Working Center pitched a tent on the snow beside the park bench and she had moved into it. It broke my heart leaving her there in the cold knowing that it is going down to feeling like -20 overnight, even with the sleeping mats, thermal pad & emergency blankets, sleeping bags and blankets.
As a community we need to do better. Often people want to help but don't know how. This fundraiser is how you can help.
The money will be used to get a better structure than a tent that will be Christine's to live in. Something with a real bed to sleep on, floor space to stand, windows, and a lock on the door. It will be placed in a location where she will have access to essentials - food, water, bathroom, clothing, laundry and friends.
Christine is a special, fragile soul requiring a special housing situation. This opportunity will help to provide Christine with shelter all year round, safety, warmth and friendships - things that some people may take for granted, and Christine is secretly longing for.
So many of us have been touched hearing about or seeing where Christine is living. Let's pull together to help her get a little place of her own.
It takes a village .... thank you for being in Christine's village.
Kathy
I spent several hours with Christine on Friday. She told me that she is mid-thirties, lived in Kitchener most of her life, and attended Cameron Heights - perhaps you know her? As we chatted, I realized how smart she is - so knowledgeable about so many obscure things. She is well spoken and I told her that I thought she should write a book. She said that she has no parents or siblings, no aunts or uncles, and that she has two children. Christine hasn't had an easy life. She broke down and cried numerous times during our visit. I shutter to think about the trauma she has endured, and the invisible damage it caused. My heart is broken.
The intention of my visit was to do a wellness check, bring a hot coffee and food and talk with Christine. Thankfully before I left her, the Working Center pitched a tent on the snow beside the park bench and she had moved into it. It broke my heart leaving her there in the cold knowing that it is going down to feeling like -20 overnight, even with the sleeping mats, thermal pad & emergency blankets, sleeping bags and blankets.
As a community we need to do better. Often people want to help but don't know how. This fundraiser is how you can help.
The money will be used to get a better structure than a tent that will be Christine's to live in. Something with a real bed to sleep on, floor space to stand, windows, and a lock on the door. It will be placed in a location where she will have access to essentials - food, water, bathroom, clothing, laundry and friends.
Christine is a special, fragile soul requiring a special housing situation. This opportunity will help to provide Christine with shelter all year round, safety, warmth and friendships - things that some people may take for granted, and Christine is secretly longing for.
So many of us have been touched hearing about or seeing where Christine is living. Let's pull together to help her get a little place of her own.
It takes a village .... thank you for being in Christine's village.
Kathy
Organizer
Kathy Kibble
Organizer
Waterloo, ON