Saskatchewan

Unable to secure housing, man living out of car says he's getting unspoken message 'go back to dealing drugs

On the heels of the Sask. NDP highlighting that hundreds of social housing units are sitting vacant, this Regina man says he's not surprised, having had no success getting on the housing list.

Sober and staying away from crime, this Regina man says trying to get housing is 'depressing'

A man wearing a chain, black T-shirt and sunglasses stands in front of a dark car.
Since Jason Hofley was let out of jail a year and a half ago, he and his partner have been struggling to get a roof over their head. They've been living out of their vehicle for months now. (Janani Whitfield/CBC)

Sometimes the thought goes through Jason Hofley's mind that it would be easier to go back to drug dealing. Before he was busted for charges that included firearms and possession of drugs a few years ago, he had his children with him. 

But after getting out of jail a year and a half ago, the 41-year-old Regina man has been homeless, living on welfare and out of his SUV, and unable to get his children back under his care.

"How can they expect me to afford a six-bedroom house on welfare or even child tax? It's impossible," he said, standing outside the Al Ritchie Community Association to collect food. The previous day, he and his partner tried to beat the 30 C heat out on the streets — while during the winter, they had to huddle under six blankets and deal with frostbite injuries. 

"They're unspokenly saying, 'Go back to dealing drugs and that's when you can afford it,'" he said. "It's ridiculous." 

With him on income support and his spouse on disability income, the pair together get just under $2,000 a month, which makes it hard for him to imagine what they could rent and still have money for all their other needs.

Since getting out of jail, Hofley has tried to turn over a new leaf, with his partner describing him as "sober as f--k," and the couple attending church services at the Salvation Army. 

But he's finding it depressing that his life hasn't gotten better.  

WATCH | Homeless Regina man calls for vacant social housing units to be put into use:

Homeless Regina man calls for vacant social housing units to be put into use

5 days ago
Duration 2:05
A Regina man has been homeless and living in his SUV since getting out of jail a year and a half ago. He is one of many voices calling for vacant social housing units to be used.

"I was an alcoholic, full blown. I was a functional drug user," he said. "But when I was being a bad ass and doing stupid shit, I was actually getting places. I had my kids. Now that I'm this good holy-roller Bible thumper, it's not getting me anywhere."

His spouse keeps urging him to keep his head up and to keep on the straight and narrow.

When Hofley heard this week that the NDP Opposition flagged hundreds of social housing units that are sitting vacant, he nodded. He hasn't been able to get on any housing lists and says visit after visit to housing co-ordinators have been useless to him and others — which, in his eyes, will invariably lead people to commit crimes to survive.

LISTEN: Free food and clothing offered by Regina community association: 
The Al Ritchie Community Association offers a lifeline through really hard times.

Stand around the Al Ritchie Community Association long enough and you'll find others talking about how hard it is to find shelter and stay sober, to be able to live and care for their children who are either staying with family or have been taken into the foster care system. 

Inside, volunteers and staff in this core neighbourhood do their best to fill the gap, by providing free food and clothing, as well as a raft of community programming. 

A man with a goatee and glasses and a blue shirt sits at a desk in front of a computer.
Denis Simard is executive director of the Al Ritchie Community Association. (Radio-Canada)

Every month, about 1,500 people come through the doors here, looking for help, said Denis Simard, the community association's executive director.

"We've become a core part of the lives of people who count on us and they know they can count on us," he said.

They have a small budget but get help from grocery stores and other area businesses to stock the pantry, and partners like Dress for Success add to their clothing supplies.

When the centre closed for a week for some upgrades, volunteers and staff worried about their regulars like Hofley who rely on them.

A woman in a white shirt stands in front of a mirror with her hand on her hip.
Besides food, the Al Ritchie Community Association also offers free clothing to people. (Samanda Brace/CBC News)

"The entire week, we had people knocking on the door … basically saying, 'I have nothing, can you get me something?'" said Simard, adding demand has exploded in the past two years. 

For Hofley, what he needs is more people who are willing to take a chance on him. While it wasn't easy being a single father, he said he loves his children and misses the day-to-day of being with them. He can get food and clothes at Al Ritchie. Now he just needs a roof over his head.

"I want my family back. I want to provide and they're not letting me, like, out of a shady, rough past," he said. "I've overcome it and I feel I'm doing better. But now I'm getting held back and nobody's helping."

LISTEN: A week in and around the Al Ritchie Community Association: 
Al Ritchie's Family Wellness Centre has programs for kids from puzzles and games to baking.
CBC's community engagement producer Janani Whitfield spent some time this week learning about the Al Ritchie Community Association. And she dropped by during its six week camp.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Janani Whitfield

Community engagement producer

Janani Whitfield is a community engagement producer who also edits feature storytelling and First Person columns for CBC Saskatchewan. Contact her at janani.whitfield@cbc.ca.