Escaping the Streets but Haunted by Trauma
Lisa Wiebe, a resident of rural Manitoba, ended her period of homelessness in July 2019, but the shadow of returning to the streets lingers daily. After fleeing a decade-long abusive domestic partnership, she faced profound trauma that made reintegrating into everyday life a monumental challenge. Securing housing near her hometown proved insufficient for stability, as the remote location offered no public transportation and consumed nearly 90 percent of her employment income assistance in rent. This left her with just over $100 monthly for groceries, essentials, and bills.
Isolation in an Inadequate Home
Wiebe describes her first post-homelessness residence as a ‘rabbit hole’—a dim, chilly basement suite lacking proper heat and light. Essential resources like grocery stores, medical facilities, and public transit were absent nearby. The nearest support, including a food bank, sat 11 kilometers away in Steinbach, requiring rides from community outreach volunteers. When those weren’t available, she walked the distance round trip.
Without cellphone service or affordable internet, Wiebe trekked to a local convenience store and gas station for public Wi-Fi to arrange help, rides, or doctor appointments. The owners eventually secured the network with a password, cutting off her access and deepening her isolation.
Health Battles Amid Scarcity
Physical tolls from street life compounded her struggles. Nerve damage in her shoulder and right arm, along with osteophytes on her cervical disc, stemmed partly from hauling her belongings in a backpack for months. That winter, limited food access led to starvation and a malnutrition diagnosis, impairing her ability to digest solids. Community outreach in Steinbach provided vital supplements that aided partial recovery.
She endured the season in solitude, battling severe pain and cold, often curling up by a baseboard heater in the fetal position, tears flowing as she wished for relief. Her cat, Loki, served as her emotional support companion during these dark times.
Navigating the Pandemic and Relocations
By spring 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic intensified her plight, prompting couch-hopping in Steinbach for proximity to vital services. Eventually, she rented an upstairs suite in downtown Steinbach, hoping the location would foster healing. However, in early 2021, her landlord reneged on the lease to accommodate another tenant’s girlfriend, thrusting her back toward the brink of homelessness.
After four months of searching, Wiebe relocated to Crystal City, three hours west of her hometown. Two years post-homelessness, mental health support remained elusive—one doctor suggested prayer, another implied she avoided work. Approval for disability benefits came eventually, providing some relief.
Persistent Fears and Path to Diagnosis
Four years later, Wiebe remains in Crystal City with supportive landlords, free from immediate housing threats. Yet, daily anxiety about sudden eviction persists. She grapples with mental health challenges, including worthlessness, self-loathing, and vivid flashbacks, living in hypervigilance as if teetering on a cliff’s edge.
A long-awaited mental health evaluation confirmed complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Wiebe notes that society often assumes housed individuals recover swiftly and rejoin the workforce, overlooking the deep trauma that demands resolution for true healing and societal contribution.
Hopes for Empathy and Resilience
Wiebe finds solace in her son’s stuffed rabbit and a handmade blanket. Recovery from homelessness proves arduous, far from a smooth path. If she prevails, she aims to inspire others facing similar despair, fostering greater empathy for those feeling invisible and hopeless.
