From the Ashes: My Story of Being Indigenous, Homeless, and Finding My Way

by Jesse Thistle

Sometime later I saw a crisis support line number scrawled on the job chalkboard. I called, but the addictions worker told me, “You need three months or more before your employee insurance kicks in.” I wasn’t surprised. I’d tried accessing treatment before, many times, but the places all had long waiting lists, or needed insurance, or were outpatient only—there was always some kind of restriction.

Society, I figured, cares more about criminals than they do about the homeless.