Lisa's Story

I left home at 15 because I thought I could do better on my own. I had been moving from one parent to the other, and because of this I didn't attend a consistent school. I really wanted to use school to help me and one school in particular showed me how important education could be. I got my grade 10 but I decided to go out to work and not go further in school.

I spent the next fifteen years living in rooms; occasionally back with my parents and in shelters. At one point I was even homeless and I slept in a park. But I wasn't coming in contact with the right type of people and I was doing street drugs at this time.

During this period I did go to the psychiatric ward at York Finch Hospital and at the Clark Institute and saw a psychiatrist. I saw other counselors at a variety of agencies over this time as well. I was diagnosed with different types of depression and was prescribed Paxil. It did help me through some tough times but I really didn't like the idea of taking medication and the way I felt when I was on it. I would get negative thoughts and I was concerned about the side effects so I would stop taking the medication but I was also concerned about stable housing.

I talked to a counselor who worked for a housing and support agency and I got some hope from her. By this time I had pretty much stopped doing street drugs and I didn't want to keep being involved in the street lifestyle. I wanted more stability in my life and to do things properly. I was getting support and I was able to use that support but on the other hand not having stable housing made it very difficult. I started to apply to different housing agencies.

I moved from one place to another for a number of years anywhere from rooming houses to boarding homes to church basements in the Out of the Cold Program. I felt I was heading in the wrong direction. I was mentally drained and I felt I really needed something. I went to a women's shelter and it was here that I finally started to get my mental stability back. I also had a stable relationship that supported me. I felt safe here and they referred me to another house that provided me with a comfortable and secure place to live. After a year I became pregnant. The staff, at the house, was very supportive even though I couldn't stay there once my son was born. My counselor was instrumental in getting me my current supportive housing with Mainstay Housing. I've been in this apartment for almost six years with my son. I feel I am more stable now. Once you are in a place of your own I think the stability is good. It has enabled me to grow.

I am happy that I am in housing now but it doesn't make everything picture perfect. I need the support as well to help me to get through the tough times because there still are tough times. I talk to support workers and counselors when I need it. I think you need the combination of stable housing with supports.