Katgrrl

Four years ago, in Ottawa, I became severely ill with depression. I was laid off, fell behind in my heat, hydro, water, phone & cable. I maxed out my credit & used up all my savings. Family wouldn't help. I was an embarrassment; I had a "mental illness.” I was evicted & the landlord took everything I owned & destroyed it. I was penniless, jobless & homeless in a matter of months. I huddled in bus shelters mostly & stayed awake 23 hours a day. My family finally let me crash in their basement but soon, they drove me to Toronto & left me at an apartment where a woman agreed to rent me her daughter's old room for $500 a month. I only got $520 a month for food, shelter, travel and clothes from welfare. I was often hungry. I felt abandoned & was verbally abused by the landlady. Her boyfriend used to touch me but I needed that room to stay in. More depression. Finally, the police took me to TEGH Emergency because I wanted to kill myself. Emerg treated me like dirt & then threw me out. I didn’t want to live. But I did. I’ve since found a real apartment & am self-employed. I’m also receiving Disability Benefits. One day at a time.