Maxine de Jong never imagined a life where she would face becoming homeless, but that’s where her journey has brought her.
She is currently staying in the SAFE Society’s emergency shelter, a last resort for her along with her adolescent son and granddaughter.
Although her family has been placed on a waitlist for emergency housing, she’s hoping something will become available or someone will step forward before her time at the shelter expires.
“I don’t know how long we’re going to be able to stay here. The last thing I want is to be homeless with my kids. I want temporary shelter.”
She said the staff at the shelter have been wonderful, providing a safe haven for her and her young people.
“What my goal is with these kids, I want them to be functioning, responsible members of society. I’m not feeling sorry for myself but I don’t want to end up on the streets. I’m not a drug addict, I’m not an alcoholic. I’m trying to pull myself up.”
De Jong receives a disability allowance because of issues she has been left with after life with an abusive spouse, who also abused her daughter. She is also raising her granddaughter while her daughter deals with the aftermath of this abuse.
De Jong moved from the Lower Mainland to the Shuswap, but things haven’t worked out as she had hoped. This latest turn of events comes after getting evicted from her most recent home.
To add to the turmoil, her dog of eight years died following the eviction and her cats had to be re-homed.
She says the eviction was completely unjustified and she has references noting that she and her children are a good family which has been treated badly.
“I’m bonded by the government, I have no criminal record, I can do yard work and all kinds of things around the house, too. I’m very handy, a Joe of all trades.”
And she’s hoping that her life’s fortunes will now turn around.
“Now here we are at the point of literal homelessness and I’m trying not to let it happen. This is something that’s happened, but it’s not who I am. These kids deserve the best start they can.”
And she’s praying that someone will know of a solution.
“The only thing I was hoping for is to have my story out there in case there’s someone who might know of something temporary.”