Dee’s Story

“Unwanted. Alone. I never want anyone to feel this way. Especially kids.”

Feisty, confident Dee experienced homelessness for years at a time. Past and present addictions are part of the ebb and flow of her messy, beautiful life.  She is passionate about her kids and teaching them to be good people. She currently lives in affordable housing with her husband.

Dee has given Jewels of HOPE permission to share her photos and her story as written below:

My Purpose

What gives me purpose is to see my street kids be good people. Even though they are not my blood, I love them as if they were. I teach them to be kind to each other. I teach them not to steal. Just because we are addicts doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be good people.  

It makes me incredibly happy to see my street kids. They have a big place in my heart. They always have, and always will. It makes me happy to see them take care of each other. I was raised to love kids. How I was raised has a lot to do with what made me who I am.

 People have helped me along the way by believing in me, seeing the good in me beyond the substance misuse and unhealthy lifestyle. They have all added pieces to influence my desire to change my life in a better way. Kindness, support, faith and consistent love makes a difference, even though it may not be visible for long periods of time.

The difficult things

As an early teen, I discovered that I was adopted. I felt so alone, unwanted and it completely derailed me. There is no greater pain than to not be wanted, to feel like you don’t matter, and that your identity has no grounding, support or loving roots.

I don't want anybody to feel that way especially kids. It breaks my heart. 

What makes me sad

People who are addicts and/or experience homeless experience human emotions all the time.

It makes me incredibly sad to hear about any of my kids overdosing.  

It breaks my heart to see new kids on the streets and getting hooked on drugs.

It makes me sad to see and hear people in the world arguing and fighting. 

What I long for

I wish people would find peace to see each other as valued human beings.

I wish for more affordable apartments were available for my people. Places to call home that we can afford, especially the younger street kids. A place where they could have enough safety and enough help over time to find their way to a healthy life. 

My message to my community

I/we can feel the strong judgements around addiction and/or homelessness. I wish people would listen to our individual stories and not make judgements about what they don’t know or have not experienced for themselves. Many of my friends on the street have turned to addictions because they have lost their homes or their jobs or really important relationships that left them feeling hopeless. The depth of pain gets covered in a temporary reprieve of substances and habits that quickly become all-consuming.

Homelessness and chosen habits aren’t always about addition.  
Please remember that we are your sisters, your brothers, your moms and your dads.

Please remember that pain has brought us here.

 Next time you see a homeless person, can you give us the dignity of not assuming, and instead ask be curious about ‘what put this person on the streets?’.  I think you would be surprised.

Sometimes we look scary.  Sometimes we act scary.  A lot of the time we act like that just to keep ourselves safe from others who want to harm us.

Jewels of HOPE & HOPE Outreach Okanagan

Because HOPE Outreach Okanagan has been so consistent with their outreach program and support of me on and off the streets, I trust them. So when I had an opportunity to make bracelets with Jewels of HOPE, it made me happy to find a way to communicate HOPE and dignity for the people I love.

When you buy a bracelet that I have made from the Jewels of HOPE, please remember that we long for human dignity, and a safe and healthy life for ourselves and for those we love. Please remember that all of us are people that matter.

I learned how to make the bracelets at a picnic bench in a community garden. I’m having fun! And I’m happy to share my story if it can help others in some way.