By Scott Browning
I met a young woman while out running an errand.
I am a nature lover and because of this, my ears picked up the sound of a Cooper's Hawk. It went to a nearby tree, and I pulled out my camera phone to get a picture. Easier said than done. The bird hid itself well and it was hard to get a visual. Its movement went from tree to tree and when it landed on a nearby chimney vent stack, I finally got a couple of shots.
Simultaneously, a person (whom I shall call Taylor) was passing by. In my enthusiasm, I wanted to share my photographic ability. However, that turned out to be a brief shared moment of humour at my expense because, upon review of the photos, I had captured the prey (a pigeon) and not the raptor (the hawk).
A brief exchange with this soon-to-be friend led to an exchange of shared interests and an Everything Bagel at Timmies. As we talked, she shared her story of recent trauma. Her mother and brother had died within the last six months. She was estranged from her son. She was on the brink of being homeless. I learned that this very nice woman, who happened to be Indigenous, was being exploited, and in need of aid.
I decided to help as best I could.
I discovered she needed nighttime clothes because she was, from time-to-time, staying and finding shelter with various relatives or wherever she could. Unfortunately, these were temporary, by-chance arrangements and everything she had brought with her from up North had been stolen, including her ID.
We spent the best of the morning and early afternoon chilling in conversation. I bought her some toiletry essentials at the Dollar Store; we shared some fruit in the shade to re-energize ourselves and to get out of the 31°C, no-breeze, heat. By this time, it was sweltering.
We spent about an hour at Value Village in the air-conditioned resale store so she could kill time before picking up her mail at the Women's Centre. This took her mind off her troubles.
I asked her what else I could do to help. She needed assistance getting an apartment; she was on the waiting list for an appointment in one week, but she was afraid her circumstances could prevent this. She needed to pick up her mail and wash and clean herself at the facilities available at the Women’s Resource Centre.
I assured her I would help her as best I could and gave her my contact card and next drove her to the Women's Centre.
At the Centre, a dispute broke out in the washroom while she was washing up and another woman accused her of stealing something she had left there. (The woman was using the washroom to transfer drugs). My friend was being threatened when the agreement got loud when the culprit's perceived behaviour surfaced. My brave friend returned to me, I was sitting in my car in the heat; she told me that she was about to be jumped and ganged up on because of what had just happened.
At this time, the Centre’s CCTV cameras were being used and the supervisor appeared wanting to sort things out. I introduced myself and we discussed my concerns about my friend’s safety and her dire need to avoid homelessness. I mentioned that if she had been at the Centre, and a woman’s safety was in question, it was a problem. Upon further discussion, the supervisor agreed to recognize those issues and help my soon-to-be homeless friend with her safety and accommodation needs.
I left Taylor there, knowing she just wanted to get back to her home in the North to be with her extended family and son. (I am not sure but hope the Women's Resource Centre is equipped to handle such needs). As I left her, I did so, hoping she would get the help she needed and renew my belief in the Agape way of the Samaritan.
This is a part of my commitment to reconciliation. I am wondering if I will ever hear from her again, or if I can be of service. I left my card with Taylor and told her she could rely on me to help her in an emergency or if she was having trouble.
