This is the fourth in a series of columns written by staff from The Lighthouse to help the community better understand people experiencing homelessness and those who support them. This column will appear every other Monday. (Click here to read the first column. Click here to read the second column. Click here to read the third column).
Linda Goss showed up to The Lighthouse with only a suitcase in hand. No winter coat. Barely any underwear.
A family breakdown led to Linda experiencing homelessness for the first time at age 73. She stayed at The Lighthouse for four months until she eventually found housing.
After the first column in this series was published, Linda reached out to The Lighthouse and asked to share her story. She said people need to understand what it’s really like experiencing homelessness — especially for a senior.
Linda first stayed with her son and his girlfriend and eventually they all moved to the girlfriend's mother's place. Unfortunately, that didn’t end well for the girlfriend and her mother.
Linda later stayed with her son and girlfriend in a hotel, but there were differences of opinions. Eventually, Linda needed to leave. She left all her personal possessions and clothes behind in the process.
Linda’s sister-in-law lived in Oro-Medonte, and although she couldn’t have Linda stay with her, she mentioned The Lighthouse to Linda. They reached out to our ministry co-ordinator and Linda waited on the shelter’s triage list for three days until a bed became available.
She recalls how she was welcomed to The Lighthouse with open arms and felt so blessed.
When we think of people in a homeless shelter, how often do we think of seniors? It happens far more than you might think.
So, what was it like for a senior to be in an emergency homeless shelter?
Linda looks back and shares how she became “family” with some of the other older participants; they were the “rowdy” table in the cafe. Laughing, doing puzzles, crafts and more.
These relationships were key to her stay at The Lighthouse. Even now that they have moved into housing, Linda goes for tea every week with one of her friends that she met during her stay in the shelter.
“All the staff and volunteers were amazing,” Linda said. The team did all they could for Linda, while serving a nearly full house of other participants to care for.
What does a stay at The Lighthouse look like?
Linda met with her housing worker every week. As she says, “If you work the program, it works.” When Linda first arrived, she had $1,475/month from old age pension and CPP to live on. It was impossible to find a safe place to live.
“Prices are outrageous," she says.
Eventually, working together, she was able to increase her income to $2,000/month. With this increase and a rent supplement, she was able to find a place at Hillcrest for $1,400/month, leaving her with $600/month for food, transportation, loan payment, and any other expenses.
Although it doesn’t leave her much at the end of the month, she is so thankful for the place to stay. She is very good at budgeting to make her money last. She is hoping her rent supplement will continue after June, and she continues to work with The Lighthouse’s housing worker as well as Empower Simcoe’s housing access worker.
Staying at a shelter may not always make one feel safe. Linda didn’t carry money around in fear of losing it or having it stolen. If someone is struggling with addiction, they can be unpredictable. She understands this well, as her son lives with addictions. But Linda learned to live in a congregate living setting.
Some of the younger participants were kind. Others were cruel. Some would say “You’re old. You don’t belong here.”
Meeting with our ministry co-ordinator and attending Redeemer City Church helped Linda stay hopeful. It was added support.
Linda used a walker while at The Lighthouse and she was beyond thankful for the on-site medical clinic, seeing the paramedics and doctors. She does have a family doctor, however, he is in Barrie.
For a senior woman with a walker to try to get to the city bus, the Linx bus to Barrie, then to her doctor and back again in the middle of winter, wasn’t possible. It’s not as easy to “get the bus” as you might think.
When asked what Linda gained from her experience of homelessness and her time spent at The Lighthouse, her answer was simple: knowledge. No one understands how bad it is to be homeless unless you experience it. People say “just get a job.” They don’t understand. Homelessness can happen to anyone.
Linda’s story is now heading in a healthy direction.
A month ago, Linda came back into The Lighthouse to meet with our volunteer supervisor. She wants to give back. She no longer needs her walker and is much healthier.
Homelessness can take a huge toll on physical and mental health. She worked in a kitchen for 40 years and is looking forward to giving back to those who need it by providing a good meal as a kitchen volunteer.
In Linda’s words: “Not just the young are homeless. It can happen to seniors, too.”
Linda Goodall is the executive director at The Lighthouse and can be reached, via email, at [email protected]
