Vance Deakin says he needs a hand up, not a hand out.
The 麻豆精选 man broke his shoulder blade, hit his head and cracked a few ribs falling off a roof while cleaning gutters in Penticton last November. He went through a physiotherapy program, and once it was complete his employer laid him off.
He hasn鈥檛 found long-term work since and is now homeless and living in his car.
The car is an older model Chevrolet that shows the marks of time, but Deakin keeps it tidy. There鈥檚 a blanket on the back seat and a small fan set up on its ceiling to keep his dogs, G and BG, cool. These constant companions are nothing less than family to Deakin.
They鈥檙e also part of the reason he鈥檚 found himself in a rut.
鈥�(I鈥檝e) got no friends, family, anything here. I鈥檝e got one friend but she lives in an apartment building but she has a cat and it鈥檚 no dogs allowed,鈥� he said.
He said trying to find a place in 麻豆精选 that allows dogs has been 鈥渇rustrating.鈥�
鈥淣o one wants to rent with dogs. I don鈥檛 know why but they鈥檒l take a cat,鈥� he said.
At another job he held down briefly, he tied the dogs up in the parking lot and left them with food and water. But after receiving complaints about the animals he was fired.
鈥淚鈥檝e reached out to vets, the SPCA, all the churches. Even just to tie them up, leave the dogs with water and there you go,鈥� he said.
The dogs are his best friends, so he can鈥檛 give them away.
鈥淕 is a birthday present from my girlfriend who died two days after Christmas and she鈥檚 almost 15,鈥� he said.
鈥淏G was a runt of the runts, and she was all beat up and crying and I had to take her.鈥�
Deakin related them to having a child.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 just say, 鈥榦h my situation is not good enough for you and give you up for adoption.鈥欌��
After being laid off, he tried to go on disability but was rejected. When he tried a second time he was told to apply for welfare.
Deakin received some money from WorkSafeBC, but after months of searching for a job he has $15 left.
鈥淭he social assistance is really what gets my nerves鈥� they said apply for welfare so at least you have something. To a guy who鈥檚 been employed 鈥� I鈥檓 physically capable,鈥� he said.
Deakin is still searching for work, but he鈥檚 losing hope.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe no one in the community would say 鈥榟ere鈥檚 a backyard, tie up the dogs and go to work,鈥欌�� he said.
鈥淚 put my car online to try and trade it for a motorhome.鈥�
A general handyman, Deakin said he鈥檚 done roofing previously in Kamloops and finds what he can for work around the Okanagan.
According to director of Emergency Services at the 麻豆精选 Gospel Mission Carl Heimitz, Deakin鈥檚 story is uncommon, but not unheard of.
The Gospel Mission also has a place where people can put their pets.
鈥淧eople do have dogs, mostly in the summers, more. But if they have a car and travel it鈥檚 more common, but that鈥檚 a small percentage (of homeless who have animals,)鈥� said Heimitz.
Most of the people who visit the charity have lost a home, they鈥檙e transient or they鈥檙e disable and very few have a car, he said.
Having pets also makes it harder to find a place in 麻豆精选, said Heimitz.
They鈥檙e all in need of housing. If you have a pet it makes it harder. There鈥檚 not much out there for people with pets.鈥�
He said the Gospel Mission has long waiting lists for affordable housing.
