Whitby HART Hub saves life, reconnects family

“I was really determined,” recalled Kevin, “I had never thought of committing suicide in my life, but enough was enough.”

Kevin, who, to this day, has never dealt with addiction was living out of his truck, dealing with stage-4 cancer, Kevin was running out of options as a late January cold-snap loomed. If not for the intervention of a community volunteer named Adam, he likely would not have survived the night.

“I was shaking so bad,” he recalled. “I had a sleeping bag over me and couldn’t start the truck, couldn’t get out of the truck. Then out of the blue, in the middle of the night, Adam came by.”

Adam pulled Kevin into his truck to warm him up, ensuring Kevin made it through the night. The next morning, Kevin went to shower at Gate 3:16 (An outreach centre commonly referred to as “the Gate”) when Al, a social worker Kevin has a good relationship with had some good news.

“Al told me, ‘I got something for you.’,” explained Kevin.

Al mentioned HART Hub case Manager Stephan Borau. Stephan met Kevin at the Gate, and after learning more about Kevin, determined he may be eligible for the HART Hub’s Transitional Housing program. Kevin was not optimistic.

“I had low fuel, like there was nothing left,” he said. “I thought, this is going to be something that’s going to take weeks, and I don’t have weeks, and I need hours, right?”

To his surprise, Kevin was moved in the same day he met Stephan. Through teary eyes he recounted the impact of going from living in a truck, to a room with a bed, toilet, and shower.

“I couldn’t believe there’s a place I can, you know, to have a shower when you want,” he explained. “Get up and brush your teeth, the simple things.”

The positive impacts continued to mount up for Kevin, who is now able to continue his cancer care.

“The doctors couldn’t believe it,” explained Kevin. “They said they could see it all over me, the colour returned to my face, my mood has changed, they called it a miracle.”

While Kevin’s cancer is terminal and challenges still lie ahead, the HART Hub’s transitional housing program provides Kevin with the resources to live a dignified life. Without having to worry about how he will survive the night in his truck, he’s able to focus on reclaiming his life. Kevin is now reconnected with his mother, a foundational figure in his life, and communicates with her regularly. His mother is extremely grateful for the support and services the HART Hub provides, allowing her son to reconnect with her.

“I believe it was spiritual,” said Kevin, a devout Christian. “Stephan, his personality, everybody tried, like Alan from the Gate, and everything came together because it wasn’t me.”

Kevin, who celebrated his 63^rd birthday on February 24^th, still can’t quite believe how much has changed for him since that cold January night.

“I didn’t know a place like this existed,” exclaimed Kevin. “If you would have showed me a picture and told me that night, I would have not believed it.”

If you believe you, or someone you may know could be eligible for HART Hub services, please click here to learn more.