In our 2023 winter newsletter, we asked donors to support our latest housing project in the neighbourhood of Montrose. One of the tenants these donations supported, Jennifer, moved in with her daughter and five grandchildren in August 2024.
Jennifer’s journey to Right at Home was not an easy one. Jennifer left her childhood home in Paul Band at 18 years old, but when her mother needed support, she moved back home at the age of 54, with her grandchildren, who were in her custody. Jennifer was disheartened to see her childhood home in disrepair. There was black mold in the walls, cracked flooring, and the bath tub was sinking through the floor into the basement. Jennifer felt there was a lack of support for her situation. She tried for a very long time to get resources and financial support to repair the home and make it livable once again, but after two years, her mother passed away and Jennifer felt she could not struggle with the home repairs any longer. This resulted in a tough period for Jennifer, moving from one substandard living situation to another for almost one year. At one point, Jennifer lived in a three bedroom home with 10 occupants. Later, she moved to a 2-bedroom apartment with herself and 6 children. Jennifer found herself in a situation with an irresponsible landlord. When her fridge broke, the landlord did not repair it for two months, and only after she lodged a complaint with health services. Due to the extra food costs she had to cover, she fell behind in rent and was taken to court, to be evicted from her home. For 6 months, Jennifer and her grandchildren were residing in hotels, one of which had a mouse and cockroach infestation.
“It was tough not having a home,” Jennifer tells us. “You couldn’t plan for anything. The kids hated it. We were living with such poor conditions. I was so worried if I did not find a good home, I would lose these kids to the system because I couldn’t provide for them.”
Today, Jennifer has made a home in our Montrose townhomes. It is the one thing she keeps repeating when you ask her how her situation has changed: “It’s a home. It feels like home.” She has felt welcomed by neighbours, and says people will wave to her when she’s on the front porch. She’s made friends with the other tenants who live in the townhomes as well. She feels safe in the neighbourhood. “People are looking out for each other here,” Jennifer says.
But most of all, Jennifer says it’s good for her grandchildren, aged 7-16 years old. They have a nearby playground to play in. Her two oldest grandchildren have become active in sports, and both participated in the Indigenous Games this year. “One of them says he wants to be a basketball player,” Jennifer told us. “I told him he could join a college team.” With a solid foundation for a home, Jennifer feels her grandchildren can see a positive future. “Before, all their friends were becoming alcoholics or addicts, but they have good opportunities now. They’re going to the rec centre and spend all day there.”
When asked what Jennifer would like to say to others who are in a similar situation to her, she says “when you find a good home, take pride in it and keep it as long as you can.” Jennifer also wants anyone skeptical of affordable housing to know that her home is beautiful and “affordable doesn’t mean it can’t look nice”.
Jennifer says “I want to live here forever”. We’re proud to have her call Montrose home.
