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8 economist sunsuntribune social issues saturday dec 4 2004 shelters help get homeless back on track by caroline grech staff writer they may have taken very differ ent paths to get to a homeless shel ter but they all have one thing in common they never thought it would happen to them pauline thompson still remem bers the day three years ago when she finally had no choice but to go to leeder place in east gwillimbury the taxi driver dropped her and her five young children off across the street with children in tow the youngest being twoyearold twins she began to panic when she looked around and only saw men not real izing she mistakenly walked into the mens shelter not the family shelter prior to coming to the shelter ms thompson a single mother and her family were living at her friends sub sidized housing complex she was only able to stay there a month before her friends rent would rise leaving her no choice but to go elsewhere by the time ms thompson reached leeder place she had already been on a waiting list for subsidized housing in both york and toronto for about seven years i would call them every day and they would say you are at the top of the list ms thompson said the markham native got a job at tim hortons but couldnt keep it because she could not get subsi dized daycare for her children who at the time ranged in age from two toll arriving at the shelter ms thompson felt shame i figured id let my kids down not being able to provide for my kids im the one thats protecting them i felt that i let them down ms thompson said adding she didnt brian doucette porter place client has been at shelter for more than a week know where else to go letting her children down wasnt the only fear ms thompson carried when she walked through the doors of leeder place i was worried that childrens aid would take my kids away she said two weeks after arriving at the shelter ms thompson received news she would receive subsidized housing but not for another two months leaving her no choice but to stay at the shelter in the interim three years later she is employed by molly maid and is able to provide a home for her children looking back ms thompson doesnt know where she would be today had she not sought the shelter similar to others who use shel ters ms thompson never imagined she would need the services you never think in your wildest dreams that it could happen she said you see it and feel pity but i never thought it would be me while ms thompsons story rec ollects for 44yearold brian doucette the story is his reality residing at porter place mr doucette has been at the shelter for 10 days no stranger to the battles of alcohol and drug addiction the for mer stone masons ability to work came to a crashing halt with a car accident in 1995 that left him with numerous injuries losing 85 per cent of the sight in his left eye and enduring spinal injuries mr doucette is trying to get disability insurance youre nothing without your health mr doucette said coming to porter place from toronto mr doucette is hoping to get into a life skills program in the city in the new year but cant afford a place to stay now he like ms thompson never thought he would need the services of a shelter it never came to my mind i couldnt even imagine it special 1 5goff h h5 spread over your 1h hf first 4 house qljf cleaning visits new customers only not valid with other offers expires jan 31 2005- some conditions apply 9054712929 ersy maids f one less thing to worry about wwwfonnerrymaidscomon1 07 1 now open u d i o mindful movement far body soul nia mates yoga 20 crown steel drive unit 7 east of warden at 14th ave 905513move for a complete listing of classes visit our website wtvtvstiidioyohocom a gome fusion custom kitchens bath refacing refinishing renovations ceramic tiles flooring 90520t5136 5594 hwy 7 unit 18 markham sherwood plaza ii mm brtbbfllffwrl loo hc our best 1imh the spa si salon 160 main st unionvllle adjacent 10 blacksmith bistro k t www 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