As told to La Presse
As part of a special report in La Presse on the fight against homelessness, journalist Isabelle Ducas met with Christopher McComber, who has been taking part in Dans la rue’s employability and housing support programs. When Christopher became unhoused, he started coming to the Day Centre, mostly to eat. That’s where he met our counsellors and started to build a relationship with them. It was the boost he needed to get things back on track. The staff at Dans la rue helped him set goals and work toward them. Now, he has his sights set on training to become a steelworker.
Employment and housing programs to help get off the streets
Through our employability program, Christopher got a job at Dans la rue, helping out with various tasks that are vital to keeping our operations running smoothly, such as sorting through donated items and prepping hot dogs for the Van. He eventually found a place to live and was accepted into the provincial rent supplement program. He considers himself lucky to have been able to count on Dans la rue for assistance in getting off the street, especially when came time to get his paperwork in order and go apartment hunting. The ongoing support he gets from the counsellors is the reason he can now look to the future with optimism and confidence.