Here’s an inspiring story that starts with “I” and ends with “we.” Anick has been working for many years with people experiencing homelessness, in roles ranging from outreach to clinical supervision, undertaking a PhD dissertation in trauma-informed practices along the way. Her entire career has been devoted to understanding, supporting and guiding some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society.
Direct experience with hidden homelessness
Before she started working with youth, Anick went through a period of hidden homelessness in a rural area, crashing at friends’ or sleeping in a tent, while trying to stay in school. It was only later that she understood that there was an actual name for the predicament she found herself in.
Her experience, which she kept silent about for a long time, shaped her empathetic view of the world and her in-depth understanding of what today’s youth are going through.
“I was managing. I was getting by. But I didn’t consider myself ‘homeless.’”
A caring presence that changed everything
Anick managed to get ahead because of the timely support she received from kind-hearted adults who listened to her and pointed her in the right direction, sometimes without even knowing the full extent of what she was going through. They helped her without expecting anything in return: her first support network was born.
“I’m not a self-made success story. I’m what happens when a community comes together.”
She is adamant that exiting homelessness is a group effort. It takes connections and resources, along with that spark that is reignited when you believe there is a better future on the horizon.
Dans la rue: Rediscovering the values that shaped her path
At Dans la rue, Anick found an organization whose core values are closely aligned with her own: a group of considerate people driven to create change.
The wraparound approach, the dedication of the counsellors, the wide range of services and the focus on individual creativity all resonate deeply with her.
“It’s not just about what we provide; it’s about how we go about providing it — with dignity, grace and humanity.”
