Housing Outreach for the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre DEWC

Just wanted to show you a picture of Audrey's place before, quite sparse, only a chair where she sat by the window to crochet.  She said she sat in silence most days as she did not even have a radio. She was sleeping on an air mattress on the floor and was having great difficulty getting up as her legs are weak from the heart surgery she had in 2011.   Sleeping on the air mattress was worsening her existing physical health conditions and I think putting new and unnecessary stressors on her mind too.   She was crying and very distraught, her words, story and struggles touched all of us deeply.

For 4 days Jen, Lynda and I rallied together to get her most "bare minimum, necessity" type of  items from our family/friends, purchased a few things ourselves and with some donations we had.   We were able to use Lynda and her husband's truck and dolly and my SUV, loaded up with all the items and met Audrey at her new place on Sunday.

And after - we brought her most things on her list including this lovely loveseat sofa bed, bedding and throw pillows for her to get off the floor an adorable little kitchen table and chairs from Jen and Lynda, microwave, blender, coffee maker, all types of kitchenware,  a tote with a lid (as she had found a roach on her counter) end table, coffee table, lamp, stereo, alarm clock,  food, cleaning supplies, towels, pictures for her wall, some clothes and a cozy bathrobe/slippers, toiletries,  a "housewarming" plant, fruit basket etc. etc.   She was so excited and said she had "the Goosebumps" for all that we had done for her. 

The last one is a picture that we had taken by some "passing Police officers" when we were finished and outside Audrey's building.  They were very happy to hear of our new friendship and why it was important that we capture this moment for all of us~