GLEN IS GRATEFUL TO BE HOME

Glen has spent much of his adult life in and out of shelters across Canada, including The Ottawa Mission, struggling with addiction and trying to find a way to stabilize his life.

Glen stayed with us for several months last year and says although life is pretty chaotic living in a shelter and sharing a dorm with others, he feels The Mission is one of the best shelters in Canada. He appreciates the volunteers and staff that work hard every day to keep the shelter clean and prepare meals for people staying here. Glen goes on to say, “Dealing with a serious addiction for most of my life left me on the streets for years. I’m a very private person and asking for help was hard – I always felt judged. But I didn’t feel that way at The Mission. A housing case manager worked with me to find a safe and affordable place to live which, in turn, stabilized my life. I live alone and still visit The Mission from time to time for a meal because it is a very welcoming place.”

Glen adds that even now that he has his own place he continues to receive support for practical things like how to pay bills and establish routine in his life. Glen has few friends and admits loneliness can hit sometimes. But he’s very happy to finally have a place of his own and grateful to The Mission and its supporters for their generosity.