My name is Christianna and I’m writing to you because of the closure of The Way Out Shelter.
I unfortunately found myself homeless due to reasons beyond my control in 2022, and the only place that would help me was the Way Out Shelter. I had just recently separated from my husband and I didn’t know where or what to do. But the beautiful souls who worked at the shelter accepted me and welcomed me with warm hearts. I was very suicidal and a big handful, but the members of the staff gently kept an eye on me and were always reassuring me that I didn’t need to be so sad. If it wasn’t for the caring of the staff at the shelter, I would be dead right now.
I would like to share a poem with you and I really hope it will show people how important shelters really are and that you cannot judge by some awkward situations that may have occurred.
Don’t judge me
Quickly she shivers herself awake and wearily looks around her camp,
wind torn and rain soaked, there’s nothing left again.
Into a well-worn garbage bag goes all that she owns,
two blankets, a pillow and one faded picture.
Under a well overgrown tree she stashes her belongs.
Standing as tall as she will allow herself to,
She runs her fingers through knotted, soaked hair and uses the cuff of her sweater to wipe her face,
again she must face going into town.
Look at the drunk freak they say as she passes their way,
cutting her arms for sympathy, geek.
But she pays them no mind, she’s been through it before,
used, robbed, raped, been through it all.
Her head she still carries high, her pride still intact.
Walk a mile in my shoes, one minute in my heart,
you would not do what I choose or survive one day,
for as you watch me, you are falling apart,
and I have one gift greater than all,
God has been with me right from the start.
Christianna Ongley,
Nelson, BC
newsroom@castlegarnews.com
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