If you’re living paycheque to paycheque, a significant life event could push you closer to homelessness according to the YMCA’s outreach programs director.
Lisa Ryan says of the roughly 120 homeless people she has counted in Greater Moncton, a work injury or a mental health breakdown can be the last straw.
“If you don’t have additional resources within your immediate community such as family, close friends or even a savings account, you can find yourself in a very dire situation.”
While shelters are already operating at maximum capacity in Moncton, Ryan says many who are homeless don’t feel they are safe and would rather sleep in tents.
Ryan says drug use is on the rise among the homeless often as a way to self-medicate.
When you have no place to call home, she adds you can’t access any social services including prescription medication.
