A young Sarnia man shared his story of overcoming homelessness at an anti-poverty rally at Sarnia City Hall over the noon hour Friday.
"I had an interesting upbringing," said Christopher French. "I lived in two separate homes, because my parents were separated. At one home I was pretty middle-class and at the other home, we were pretty deep in poverty. So, I grew up straddling both worlds."
Christopher French shares story of overcoming homelessness at a rally to end poverty. October 5, 2018 Photo by Melanie Irwin
When he was 18, French said his mom kicked him out of the house and he found himself without a job, no high school diploma and living on the streets.
"I got on Ontario Works and started learning about that struggle," he said. "With Ontario Works you used to get $500 dollars, my rent was $400. So, I had enough money to pay rent and make sure I had a place to live, but that was about it. There was no groceries. So, I lived off the food bank and Ontario Works and that became my life for a long time, -- a couple of years."
French said his life started to turn around when he was introduced to Lambton's Circles program -- which uses a community approach to support and befriend those who want to leave poverty behind.
"You build your circle, you start building your resources and start discovering strengths you didn't know you had," he said. "So, after a couple years in circles, I decided maybe I should take some of this experience I've had and try to help people. So, I took the social service worker program."
Since graduating from Lambton College in April, French said he's been hired by the Good Shepherds Lodge and the Haven Youth Shelter.
"It's really cool to be on the other side, putting forth that knowledge that I had from those experiences and trying to help people who are maybe stuck in vulnerable situations," he said.
The 12th annual rally was organized by the Poverty Reduction Network of Sarnia-Lambton.
Those in attendance were asked to sign two petitions.
One called on the Doug Ford government to restore social assistance funding.
Shortly after being elected in June, the Progressive Conservatives announced a 50 per cent reduction in the planned increase to the Ontario Disability Support Program and Ontario Works rates.
Another petition called for the reversal of a decision to axe the provincial basic income pilot project next March.
Rally to end poverty underway at Sarnia City Hall. ##SLont pic.twitter.com/PV2zqlAzkE
— Melanie Irwin (@MIrwinCHOKNews) October 5, 2018
