Anne’s Journey
Anne is a proud single mom, an incredible artist, and a longtime Kettle Member. Today, she is 6+ years sober and lives a happy, healthy life with her two young children. This is her story.
I left my town in Quebec in the summer of 2014 to pick fruit in the Okanagan but ended up staying for the winter and working another summer in the fields. At the time I was partying and experimenting with drugs which became problematic.
After couch surfing for a little while in Vancouver, I eventually became homeless and found a community on Commercial Drive. I felt like I belonged there.
I remember being directed to The Kettle by other young people who told me it was a place to go, to hang out, to get a meal.
That’s where I met George from The Kettle’s Homeless Outreach team in 2015. He helped me from time to time, making sure I had the things I needed like clothing, snacks, and water. He helped me get set up with social assistance and shelter that winter.
April 2016 was the month I got sober.
Things had gotten really bad and I suffered from an episode of drug-induced psychosis. I was fearful of everybody and thought everyone wanted to kill me so I was walking day and night. Having studied psychology, I could recognize the signs but the fear was too paralyzing.
While I had received vital support from George and The Kettle in the past, it was in April 2016 that The Kettle saved my life.
Because I had built trust with George, I went to him in my most vulnerable moment to tell him what was happening to me. I have a vivid memory of leaving his office crying and shaking in uncontrollable fear – I asked him “are you going to kill me now?” I was sure that everyone was out to hurt me but instead, he just hugged me and I felt safe for a few seconds.
At that moment he helped me. I was too afraid to do anything but that was the catalyst – I knew if I didn’t get sober I was definitely going to die.
April 23rd 2016 is my date of sobriety. I am sober but I didn’t do it alone. All along the way, I had people looking out for me.
Finding a Home
In 2020 after five years of treatment, my mom lost her battle with cancer. I was able to say goodbye to her – to be there with my daughter. We said what we had to say, we said I love you – not many people get to say goodbye to the people they care about. I had this opportunity in my life because I went to The Kettle.
I returned to Vancouver with a toddler and an infant in 2021 to stay with a friend in their studio apartment while I looked for housing, but it was seemingly impossible. When you’re a full-time mom, you can’t get a job because you don’t have child care. Then they want you to have a job to have housing - so it’s really just a cycle that doesn’t end. It got to the point where I was desperate to find affordable housing for me and my two kids so we wouldn’t have to turn to a shelter, so I reached back out to The Kettle for support.
“The thing about The Kettle is that when you are ready to do the effort necessary to better your life, they are there – and they are going to do everything they can. ”
The team got me an interview for a subsidized suite available in the West End – a two-bedroom unit with a patio overlooking the playground. I was interviewed on December 28th, 2021 and moved into my new home on January 1st, 2022. I was amazed and relieved at how quickly things fell into place.
I have been sober for over six years now. I raise my kids alone and it’s a lot of work but they are pretty good people. I have friends, interviews for work – for daycare… it’s a pretty good life.
Healing Through Art
I grew up loved, I played sports, I was good at school – but ever since I was a kid I’ve felt very alone, unlovable and like I was never enough. Through the years I have met so many people with different backgrounds and from different walks of life and I’ve learned that we all share a desire to feel understood and loved.
I’ve always had a hard time connecting with people. My emotions are very big – I’ve been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder – so my highs and lows are higher and lower than what others might experience. When I am creating art, it’s like everything disappears and I am exactly where I need to be.
I started to draw and paint when I was homeless, it was the one thing that would bring me a little bit of light and joy at the moment. I liked to do art at The Kettle and I remember the staff being so encouraging of my passion, it helped me a lot just to pursue it.
You can support Anne’s art through her website here: https://www.madeofwilderness.com/