Life in the street Life in the street Background In the course of any given year in Montréal, nearly 5,000 kids can be found living on the streets or in high-risk situations. For some of them, their time on the streets is short-lived. For many others, however, it only marks the beginning of a life of destitution. Lots of these kids are themselves innocent victims of circumstances they had no hand in creating. Most of them have never felt what it is to belong to a real family - to be loved and nurtured, respected and encouraged. Street kids do not end up homeless of their own volition. Many of them are victims of violence, have led lives of isolation or suffer from serious emotional problems. The overwhelming majority have never known the joy of a healthy family situation and have instead had to grapple with the problems associated with institutional life. In many cases, they lack a good education and are ready to do anything to earn the money they need to survive. They are prime targets for the pimps and drug traffickers who are quick to see in them the signs of easy prey. They lack practical financial knowledge and have an insufficient level of education. They have neither the self-esteem nor the existing emotional support system they need to build their self-respect and realize their inner and as-yet untapped potential. Sadly but inevitably, these kids eventually grow into adults who, with minimal education and little or no job-related training, are prone to spiralling into a vicious cycle of poverty. Chez Pops helped me get my life back on track. The last couple of years I spent in a drug haze made me want to get out and do something constructive with my life. I realized this last year, when I got back from Vancouver. My body was covered in track marks - I was 25 pounds underweight, strung out on heroin and, what's worse, I was empty inside. It was time for me to do something. Dans la rue had a notice up for a job in the art workshop as part of a work integration program. I applied and got the job. This unforgettable experience made a huge impact on me. It gave me back my confidence. It showed me that, in spite of everything, I could still accomplish a lot and grow as a person. And it let me rediscover my artistic side - something I had neglected for years. I signed up for a methadone program that helped me function while I worked on getting the heroin out of my system. When I finished up my job at Chez Pops, I let them know I wanted to go back to school. Everyone supported me, and they even gave me the financial aid I needed - that was a major roadblock for me. Today, I'm off methadone and in September I'm going back to school in an automotive mechanics program I finally have the courage to do. To get back on your feet, you have to set your mind to it and never, ever give up hope. I know that a great deal of my own success is due to the people at Dans la rue. They made it possible for me to chase after my dreams. And I'm sure others will follow in my footsteps... Thanks, Val One day I woke up and found myself living on the street because of my heroin and cocaine addiction. The people at the Chez Pops Day Centre gave me hope, told me I could get off the street and off drugs. They listened to me, supported me and were there for me all the way. Then, after the street, the Bunker and other shelters, I found an apartment and slowly started to learn how to take care of myself. I've been clean for over a year now - and they're still there for me. They believe in me - they've always believed in me and my ability to do something good with my life. They gave me a job working at the depot as part of a nine-month work integration program. That helped me get back my confidence and build my self-esteem. Thanks to Dans la rue and the hope they gave me, now I'm going back to school. Soon I'll be in cegep and I'm really proud of that. Thank you to all the donors. Your donations have helped me get to where I am today. Nancy Hey, all! My name is Patricia and I’m 23 years old. I started coming to Le Bon Dieu dans la rue when I could no longer make ends meet. After 20 years with a cloud hanging over my head, my thoughts had turned very dark. I was looking for work, a place to live, and someone to confide in and provide me with some words of wisdom to help me cope. I had no hope and no light in my life. I suffered from an addiction that played with my emotions. The people at the Day Centre were there to listen, understand and teach me the many things I needed to grow as a person. I signed up with some of their back-to-work programs, and they helped me learn a lot about myself and encouraged me to do something with my life. In fact, during the last program I was involved in at Le Bon Dieu dans la rue, I started to write a book. Doing this has taught me a lot about who I really am and life in general and has helped me feel more independent. Ever since I found out that there was someone who cared, I know where I can turn to get the support I need to achieve my goals. Thank you. Patricia Long before the moment I finally saw the light of day, I was born. Nearly 22 years went by in between. An enormous cloud hung over me that entire time, like a magnet sticking to the chain of my childhood. This cloud has brought me rain, snow, bitter cold and isolation…and led me straight into a very hard life. I knew the street long before I knew myself. I knew all about the street - and the traps it has waiting for you in the back of the darkest alleyways, when you're at your lowest. Then, almost like magic, I found Pops. Over time, he helped mop up the mess left by the storm - like a ray of sun bursting through the cloud. He built up my confidence, my understanding and, above all, my determination. Thanks to him, I found strengths in myself that I didn't even know existed. I overcame obstacles. I broadened my horizons. And I found out that life does have good things to offer. Without Dans la rue, I would never have become whom I am today - a young man who enjoys everything to the fullest. Fred I’ve certainly come a long way since 1997, and for that I owe a lot to Dans la Rue. After five years living in absolute poverty, I started wanting and hoping for a better future. Why? Because I wanted to give my son the comfort of having his own room and the security of living in a stable, warm and supportive environment. So I found several jobs that helped me scrape by. Then, thanks to a friend of mine, I was hired as a janitor at Dans la Rue, first part-time, then full-time. I was thrilled because I could see that they were helping people just like me. I ended up moving once and for all to Montreal and I started to see new horizons opening up for me. Then, after several months of serious consideration and long talks with one of the counsellors at Dans la Rue, I decided to go back to school. The support they gave me helped me believe in myself and my chances for success. Dans la Rue arranged for a “guardian angel” to back me financially so I could afford to pay for school and day care for my son. Today, I’m an executive secretary working in the legal department of a multinational firm. I’m very grateful to everyone who gave me their unwavering support and encouragement. I am now living out my dream, thanks to Dans la Rue and its generous supporters. Thank you. Keena A total of more than 135 people work as volunteers at Dans la rue.