My name is Kevin from Beausoleil First Nation, which rests on the southern tip of Georgian Bay on Christian, Beckwith and Hope Islands located in Simcoe County. I am a Chippewa/Ojibway and a ’60s Scoop survivor.

When I came to Toronto, I did not have a place to stay and was homeless, couch-surfing and dealing with anger issues. I heard about Na-Me-Res and how it serves the Indigenous community, so I decided to reach out.

The support that staff helped me with the most was being referred to a therapist and dealing with my anger management. I am still connected to the therapist; this support has been great and has helped me see the bigger picture. The greatest opportunity from Na-Me-Res was getting me housed and having my own place to call home. Having a permanent place to live has given me a sense of stability and security, which reduced my stress and anxiety. It provided me with a predictable environment where I can establish routines and make plans for the future.

My accomplishments while staying at Na-Me-Res were learning to stay out of trouble, better time management skills, social connections, and finding out more about my culture. I participated in most of the life-skills programming, which helped me to work with others and be part of a community.

There needs to be more organizations like Na-Me-Res in the community. The support has been a beacon of hope, and I wanted to express my gratitude for the support, generosity and kindness that has made an impact on me, which I truly appreciate!