Janet is a tireless advocate for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Having experienced homelessness herself, Janet has made it her mission to volunteer for different advocacy groups in Peel. She recently joined the Peel Alliance to End Homelessness’ Senior Leadership Table to add a lived experience perspective to the work that it does.
We talked to Janet about her work, her experience, the challenges that people face today and what she would like to see happen in the community with respect to affordable housing and homelessness.
1. When did you first experience homelessness?
When I first left an abusive relationship with my children in the States and had to find a place to live for safety. I came to Canada and we stayed in the shelter, and later were released to the street without knowing where to go or sleep.
2. How long were you homeless for?
For about seven months, including my stay in the shelter, friends and motels.
3. When did you receive housing?
I really never receive any housing support as a woman fleeing from abuse. My first rental room, only lasted for a month as I couldn’t take the restrictions and the abuse anymore and went back and forth between friends and motels. I got my first basement apartment with no kitchen towards the end of 2017 and all my money went to paying my rent. The sad thing is, we are towards the end of 2021, and I still have not receive any housing assistance as a woman fleeing abuse and still using all my money to pay rent. Almost five years now and I get worried every day about my housing issues.
4 What are the main challenges for people experiencing homelessness that exist today?
Poverty, safety, fear, lack of accessibility and affordability in housing. Loss of (job) employment. Fear of returning to abuser or bad relationship. Fear of never owing your own place. Homelessness can lead to drug dependence, and street prostitution.
5. What are you doing to advocate for people experiencing homelessness and poverty?
I use my lived experience to volunteer for different advocacy groups to help with homelessness and poverty. I volunteer for Good Food Brampton, Peel Poverty Reduction Strategy Committee (PPRC), Peel Lice Experience Table, Peel Coordinated Access System, Peel Community Advisory Council, Moyo Health & Community Services (formerly Peel HIV).Peel Poverty Action, Peel Peer Advisory Board: Moyo Health & Community Services, The Ghanaian-Canadian Association of Ontario (GCAO).
6. What can people with lived experience do to support those who are experiencing homelessness?
Use your lived experience to advocate for people currently experiencing homelessness. Become a peer support worker, advocate, or volunteer with a homeless organization. Please do not judge a homeless person, everyone has their own story. Join a lived experience advocate group within your region or community. Write letters to government officials to advocates for homeless communities. Be a voice for someone.
7. Do you think Peel Region is doing enough to address homelessness?
I think Peel Region can do better and more to address housing and homelessness issues. 70% of low-income households can’t afford housing, 45% of renters spend over 30% of their income on shelter cost. The wait for a housing subsidy in Peel may be several years, and there are close to 14,000 households on the housing waitlist. In Peel 18% of children 0–17 live in poverty and 16% of racialized communities live in poverty. Poverty and housing issues during a pandemic in the Region of Peel has caused increases in homelessness in Peel. (Poverty in Peel Facts at a Glance 2021)
8. What would you like to see happen in Peel Region – from the government, from agencies and from the community?
I want Peel Region, the government, other agencies, and the community to know, everyone deserves a safe and affordable home and housing is a human right. Homelessness hurts, and affects (mental health) emotional, depression, drug dependance, street prostitution and suicide. Anyone can become homeless so please don’t judge us.
