Krystal grew up in Ottawa. Like many of us, she works hard, loves her family, and cheers for her favourite sports team. But for years, she carried a heartbreaking burden: her mom’s struggle with alcoholism and homelessness.
Despite every effort, from calling housing offices to trying to engage MPs to help her mom find assistance, nothing seemed to work. Krystal eventually welcomed her mom into her home, but her mom’s addiction made it impossible to maintain this living situation. With nowhere else to turn, Krystal made the painful decision to bring her mom to Shepherds of Good Hope’s transitional shelter in the heart of Lowertown.
“It tore my heart into a million pieces,” Krystal recalls. “I thought, I cannot believe I did this to my own flesh and blood.”
Months later, in August 2024, everything changed. Krystal had never stopped advocating for her mother. One day, Krystal got the call that changed her life: “We’d like your mom to join The Oaks family.”
The Oaks is one of Shepherds of Good Hope’s six supportive housing residences, with 24/7 care provided by staff and nurses. On August 12, her mom moved in. Not long after, a nurse said the words Krystal will always remember: “You no longer have to be her caregiver. You can go back to being her daughter.”
The relief was indescribable. Her mom was safe. Krystal could simply be her daughter again.
Krystal’s mom is one of 339 people who have a supportive home of their own at Shepherds of Good Hope. While every story is different, and no two outcomes are the same, stories like Krystal’s and her mom’s showcase the importance of safe, supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness.
Right now, more families are waiting for that life-changing call: “We’ve found you a home.”
Learn more about supportive housing, and how you can support Krystal, her mom, and others at www.sghottawa.com.
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