Dear Canadian Government,
“Do not judge by appearances, a rich heart may be under a poor coat.” - Scottish proverb.
I used to work as an accountant at the RBC bank in Niagara Falls. Life was terrific - there was work flowing into our branch, had my own spacious apartment, cooked my own meals and slept in a cozy queen-sized bed. However, here I am, wearing ratty clothes and posting from the local library. So how could I get into such a terrible situation in such a short period of time?
A man in my branch botched their part for a big project. All he did was miscalculate a small line of information. Our partner had moved the project to another company. Our reputation was ruined and word had got around that we weren’t reliable. Our trust with many other branches and companies diminished. Soon, dozens of people were fired, including me. After two days, there was a “for sale” sign in front of our office. I sent resumés to countless banks, but no one trusted me, as I was from a department that they saw as faithless.
That is how I became homeless. I’m not an alcoholic or a drug addict. You might think I’m dangerous and an uneducated criminal, someone that left their home to terrorize the streets. I have a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Ottawa. Anyone can be homeless. I didn’t choose to be homeless, and I have never committed a crime.
Homeless people need your help. Spreading the word will help us more than you think. We don’t just want your money. A smile or a simple hello will make our day. The biggest solution to homelessness is to prevent it beforehand. Campaigns, volunteering in fundraising drives, support projects, we need all the help we can get. Talk with each other and bring this issue up in your next meeting. Together, we can stop homelessness.
Sincerely,
Daniel P
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