To whom this may concern: As a mother, a grizzly with a chainsaw type I'm sending my daughters story to practically anyone and everyone and refuse to stop until someone listens and helps her find safe, affordable housing for herself and 2 little ones. This letter has gone to more then 25 different sources, ie: more then 6 different newspapers, MLA's, Bby. mayor, many advocate groups, Libby Davis, of course B.C. Housing and others. Thank you for listening.
My 26yr. old single mom of a 5 yr. old daughter & a baby boy not even 4 mos. old have been in care since the day my grandson was born, Nov. 28th, 07. It's a long complicated story and better told by my daughter but she is attending a 10 wk. program in Abbotsford. She has less then 3wks left in this program when she has been told she will have her children returned to her but here is the clinch. My daughter has been on the B.C. Housing list for 6 yrs. or more with nothing coming available. I realize it's not "first come first served, " but she is in dire need of a affordable, safe housing for her and her children in order to have them returned to her.
In the past 13 mos. she has become homeless 3 different times due to uncontrollable circumstances.
#1- Jan. 2007 her basement suite in New West was flooded by sewage and health inspectors shut the house down. She lost some furniture, clothes, bedding etc. due to the sewage, flooding into her one bedroom she shared with her little one.
#2- Feb. 2007 the only place she could find was in an apartment building behind Highgate Mall which was rampant of crime and drugs. She suffered greatly there but realized she had no choice unless she wanted to pitch a tent. Well, April 07, a fire that started in the suite beneath hers destroyed much of her belongings and left her homeless once again. The city put her up for 5 days in the Best Western at the time. She felt she had no choice but to except the suite offered her in the same disgusting building where she got robbed, had her place vandalized Etc. Due to abuse from the male person in her life and the terrible environment of Housing ie: as I said before but locks on doors not fixed, threats, and verbal abuse from the management she had to pack it in and go to a transition house for a month.
#3- Oct. 2007 she finds an apartment for her daughter and unborn child in New Westminster. She set up home despite the fact this was another building that management did not take care of ie: front door broken in, elevator not working
and she having a very difficult pregnancy living on the 3rd floor found this almost unbearable. About 3 weeks
ago an electrical fire started in the empty suite beside hers and gutted her whole apartment. She has been able to rescue the equivalent of maybe 2 suitcases of her belongings. Everything is gone! We are all so grateful she and the kids weren't home at the time though. B.C. Housing is well aware of all these disasters and still claim yes she is at the top of the need list but NOTHING! My daughter in dealing with the so called Ministry have done absolutely nothing to help her. A lot telephone tag, passing the buck and just simply too busy to care. She hasn't even been able to see her baby in about 3 wks. Of course she has a lawyer but he is too busy too! My heart is breaking for my daughter and grandchildren who by the way were all born her in our wonderful city of Vancouver! I pray someone will please read this and get back to me. I refuse to let my daughter fall through the cracks anymore!
Thank you. Sincerely, Teresa Chernoff
My home ph. #
604-521-2763
