Olivia's Homeless Dog Drive

Ren here...Hello!

I had a moment today where I was in the warm van with my spoiled dog getting a treat - and I started remembering the past times when we were living in our van along the hot summer California coast. That heat pushed us North to hopefully find some relief and safety. I couldn't leave the van - if I closed it to keep it safe he would suffer, or the window even if left partially open it was at risk of being broken by a well meaning person of privilege or broken in by someone not meaning to be nice at all. I had already received a few notes stuck to my partially open window when I returned from a bathroom break or short trip into a store for necessities stating how terrible I was for leaving him there. I would say, "Where should I leave him?" This was our house for the time being! We both lived in that heat and did the best we could do in it. Together.

Meet Jeanine

Meet Jeanine

It's the cascade effect. She said, “Just look at me. You would think by the way that I look that I’ve been homeless for 20 years.” The reality is that Jeanine's fall into homelessness was about 5 years ago. A single mom put into unsafe situations which lead her to hard choices - a roof over their head or safety for her and her son. Before being faced with those options, she had a successful career and was paying on a home and had relationship with all its ups and downs.

Her story is similar to many. What happens is that it all starts with one thing, and then the snowball effect comes rolling down the hill. It is something that could happen to any of us. First an injury on the job and then payments can’t be made. Next you realize that because of the injury you can’t do very much, or in the same way you use to. Then the house gets taken, and your labeled disabled now. You come to realize you might never make the same amount of money again . Your husband or wife dies. Even more grief. You try and trust a new person and they show themselves to be unsafe. You send your child to stay with extended family in hopes of safety for them. Your alone, a car accident happens and your injured even more. Through doctor appointments and recovery you are trying to understand housing programs and benefits. You are trying to live on no money at all and make it in a cold, hungry world.

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Meet Nick, Sarah, Sofia and Princess

Meet Nick, Sarah, Sofia and Princess

2019 starts off with a fresh reminder that the face of homelessness has been changing. This young family are proof of that. New to Vancouver from Montana, they are doing everything in their power to do what it takes to stay healthy as a family and get inside.

Sofia is the bright-eyed beacon of happiness that keeps this young family motivated! She is a talkative, loving and inquisitive 9 month old and the light of Nick and Sarah’s life. Nick is working hard to get connected with education and work resources here to get his family back inside and keep their life headed in good directions. They were able to get a spot in the WHO which will be help in this process, but with the spot in WHO came a new challenge. Their small senior dog, Princess, wouldn’t be able to stay with them at the shelter. They needed a place their beloved 16 year old senior pet could stay while things get figured out, and that’s how we got to meet this awesome family!