Nowhere to Stay

Imagine facing homelessness and having no place to stay. Not having a place to call home is one of the most stressful and scary experiences that can happen to anyone.

“Just like that, I was evicted,” says Shella, 55. “I felt like I’d hit a brick wall at full speed. Losing my home was one more thing I had to try and cope with.”

From an early age, Shella experienced a significant number of challenges, such as parental abandonment, spousal abuse, alcoholism, unemployment and mental illness. Her pain seemed inescapable.

“When you come from dysfunction and brokenness, your whole life is about surviving,” says Shella.

Shella had multiple risk factors for suicide and following her eviction, she developed a plan to end her life. Thanks to a physician who kept a close watch on her, she was apprehended to hospital for treatment before she could carry it out. After several weeks she was released and eventually moved into Belinda’s Place, a multi-service and emergency housing facility operated by The Salvation Army in Newmarket, Ont.

“The goal of Belinda’s Place is to house women as soon as possible, provide wrap-around support and get them back on their feet,” says Theresa McLeod-Treadwell, Program Services Director. “We not only provide emergency and transitional housing for women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, we also offer drop-in and aftercare services that include continued support and practical assistance.”

With a safe place to stay and basic needs met, Shella was able to focus on improving her health, set goals and benefit from other services, such as life-skills training and one-on-one counselling.

Today, Shella lives in the transitional housing component of Belinda’s Place where she continues to develop the skills necessary to live independently. While she works toward having permanent and stable housing, she is focusing on her personal growth and is taking action to fulfill her dreams.

“Because of The Salvation Army I can focus on who I am and where I want to be,” says Shella. “I’m hoping to become a professional in mental health as a peer support worker.  

“This is the first time in a long time I’ve felt valued and have a sense of purpose. This time the brick wall didn’t win. I can’t tell you how huge that is.”