After trauma, a place to get back on her feet

COMMUNITY OF CARE: When nanny Isabel Supina has to work overnight, her neighbours, at Lift’s Supportive Housing building, help care for her dog Ollie.

Isabel Supina grew up on Texada Island and moved to Powell River when she was 14. The full-time nanny lives in Lift’s supportive housing building on Joyce Avenue.

On why qathet is home

• I’ve moved away a couple times, but I just always end up coming back. I have family here, my mom and my brother. I know everyone. And I like the ocean. As a nanny, I’ve been part of the three kids’ lives for more than two years.

On challenges finding housing here

• I’m on disability, so finding a place to rent for a reasonable price is hard, plus they only give you a really small amount for rent [BC Disability Assistance shelter allowance is $375 a month]. There’s still quite a bit of housing available from what I’ve seen. It’s just out of any reasonable price range. Like, I’ve seen a lot of houses go up for rent or for sale, but the price on it – no person can really afford that, even when you’re working full-time.

On supported housing as a solution

• It helped get me out of an abusive relationship and off the streets. My only place to live at that time was in a tent. So it helped me not live there. There’s a bad stigma around supportive housing. I get judged a lot. But everyone’s really kind. I’ve been able to save a lot of money, and I’m going back to school.

DOGS ARE IN THE DOG HOUSE: Many landlords refuse to rent to dog-owners, reports Isabel Supina, but her dog Ollie is able to live with her in her suite at Supportive Housing.

Photo by Claudia Medina

On what support looks like

• With COVID, guests weren’t even allowed in or when they were allowed, and they were only allowed in for a certain period of time. And it was a good excuse. I was really bad at letting people overstay their welcome in my old place and then getting in trouble for it when things went too far or they acted badly. This place doesn’t allow that. And it’s not my fault either. So I don’t have to feel guilty about it.

On the importance of animal family

• I have a dog called Ollie. It’s impossible to find a pet-friendly home. Especially big dogs. He has never made even a scratch in the apartment that I live in, but people always assume big dogs create damage. Emotionally, having Ollie helps a lot. He gets me outside and active a lot more because he has to go out every day or else he gets bored. So at least an hour a day, I’m outside walking.

On good neighbours

• People in my building babysit Ollie when I go to work. Sometimes my shift is longer than eight hours and I’m away for a couple of days. So it’s nice that people will babysit for Ollie. Everyone’s really kind in there.

On the future

• I’m looking to move out at this point. I’m looking for a place with a bigger yard so Ollie can go out. I have a few friends who are actually on the list to get in to supportive housing.

Home at last – the series

This is the fourth in a series of six monthly articles, produced in collaboration with social planner Meriko Kubota (City of Powell River, qathet Regional District and Tla’amin Nation), qathet Living editor Pieta Woolley, filmmaker Claudia Medina, several local nonprofits and, of course, the individuals who graciously agreed to tell their stories.

These are success stories – locals who have found housing solutions in spite of a record tight market and scarcity of affordable public or private housing.

Everyone involved in this project hopes these stories inspire locals to work towards decent, stable housing solutions for all our neighbours.

Tell your housing story at participatepr.ca