Tashawna’s Story

Hi, I’m Tashawna. And I’m no stranger to homelessness. When I was young, my family lived in a shelter while my mother struggled to rebuild our lives. There were times where things would improve for a while, but the chaos always returned. Instead of a safe and stable home, I grew up with trauma that I’m still dealing with today. Looking back, some of my decisions only made things worse. With nowhere to go and searching for security, I eventually ended up in an abusive relationship.

The cost of housing made it even more difficult for me to escape. Out of desperation, I ended up living in an illegal basement apartment. Shortly after I moved in, a fire broke out that burned most of my clothes, possessions and made the apartment unlivable. Within a few weeks’ time and at the height of the pandemic, I also lost my job. I was completely hopeless.

I’ll never forget when a friend handed me a flyer from REST Centres, that finally gave me a sense of hope.

My case worker at REST Centres has made a huge difference in my life. The care plan we created helped me recover lost ID’s, find temporary housing and buy groceries. I’m also part of two support groups, Road to Recovery, a group focused on healing from trauma, and as an aspiring entrepreneur, the Let's Talk Business club.

Recently, my long-awaited social housing application was approved! REST Centres helped me acquire furniture and provided me with things like blankets, pots and utensils to help me set-up my new home. With their support, I’m finally making progress towards my independence and learned that there really is light in the darkness places.