Homelessness can happen to anyone

There are a lot of social issues that we as individuals, families and communities have to deal with on a daily basis. In a growing community, social issues and social ills are sometimes difficult to deal with.

Anyone can admit that they have some issues that they were, or are being confronted with. Sometimes individuals do not, or cannot, successfully bring closure to some of their personal problems. When we are heavily burdened with dilemmas, we sometimes turn to substances that we think will mask us.

These masking substances include alcohol, marijuana and other addictions, which cost money. When we hide heavily behind these walls, it drains us financially and taxes us in other ways. Personal finances are usually depleted, putting us in situations that are unpleasant.

Other people can see through our mask, but most are silent, knowing that we have to walk the sometimes lonely path we put ourselves on. Even if someone were to loudly show us that we have a problem, sometimes we just ignore them, and in turn, put additional layers of masks on ourselves.

In spending our cash for the quick flash of highs that we want and need, we end up unable to pay our bills, and rent is usually the first bill that we throw in the garbage. In fact, it is the most important payment we should regularly make. We eventually have arrears, which get a life of their own, and in the end they become one of the great burdens that we cannot, or will not, deal with.

We put our landlord in a situation where they have the legal right to evict us. Upon eviction, we usually say it’s the landlord’s fault, which is another mask.

At first we stay with family or friends, and because we already have masks that drain our finances, we are usually unable to devote full attention to paying the living costs at the place where we’re staying. This puts our welcome into the cold storage, and we have to move on. We end up doing the same masking game.

Some end up at the homeless shelter. If the shelter were not there, we would probably sleep in a shack. It’s good to get a clean bed to sleep on, but one of the burdens we carry with us is that when you stay at the homeless shelter, it is a very tiring life.

We end up walking the streets of Iqaluit, imprisoned within ourselves. This is a very embarrassing life, truly humbling. Sometimes we cry alone. It is indeed a lonely low-life existence.

To those who have rental arrears, pay your bills. To those who take in the homeless, your loving hearts and caring minds are indeed priceless.

To those who turn away the homeless, you may keep your castles. To the people who administer the homeless shelter, thank you for being there, when our heads had no place to lay down.

To the Iqaluit Housing Authority, when a radio announcement requests a tenant to call the office, I sometimes think that person is on their way to the lonely streets of Iqaluit, publicity given, before the person even starts that long lonely walk.

To those people who resist the Salvation Army’s attempts to improve services for the homeless: remember, all the homeless people once thought that they would never have to leave their homes. If it happens to them, you, or your family members or friends could become your shelter neighbors too. The City of Iqaluit should not deal with this like a little Toronto.

Believe me, there is not much distance from where you are now to being on the other side of the window.

Editor’s note: This guest editorial was submitted to us by a former client of the Iqaluit shelter for homeless people. It was written in response to those residents who oppose moving the shelter to a larger building in Lower Base.