She’s got a smile that lights up the room better than the hundreds of lights on the nine-foot Christmas tree.
And her personality is just as radiant.
With the sunlight beaming into the living room at Naomi Centre shelter for young women on Patrick Street in St. John’s, Sophie — not her real name — laughs with staff as she sits on the leather couch and prepares for an interview with The Telegram.
She has plenty to be happy about these days. She’ll be spending most of her Christmas with those at the shelter, but things are looking up.
“It’s been really good,” she said when asked how she’s doing since coming to the centre.
Not long ago, the 25-year-old felt unwanted and desperate for help.
One of five sisters in her family, Sophie had a heated argument with her mother a few years ago.
“She decided I’m not part of the family anymore,” said Sophie, who hasn’t seen her mother since then. “It was pretty bad.”
With little to no money, she was bouncing from place to place until earlier this year, when her friend invited her to stay with him at his Mount Pearl apartment.
However, without warning, he told her to leave, saying he wanted more space.
“I was pretty mad because he only told me (to leave) the day before he wanted me out,” she said.
Sophie had nowhere to go. She packed up a few belongings and walked from Mount Pearl to her sister’s friend’s place in St. John’s, where she stayed for the night.
The next day, she came to Naomi Centre.
“I didn’t even know there was anything like it,” said Sophie, whose younger sister arranged to have her go there after making several calls.
“Oftentimes they can’t make ends meet. But there are lots of reasons why young people come here.”
Jill Peckford, program manager, Naomi Centre
While staying at the shelter, she landed one of the centre’s two apartments downstairs.
“I feel very lucky. It’s great to have my own (space).”
She said she’s determined to find a job and eventually move out of the shelter. “They’re really nice to talk to here. They helped me find a place to live and told me about all the programs I can get involved in.”
There have been times when former residents have shown up with pillows and blankets, looking for company over the holidays.
The centre’s program manager, Jill Peckford, said the high cost of housing is one of the challenges facing young women who come to the centre, who are ages 16 to 30.
“Oftentimes they can’t make ends meet,” she said. “But there are lots of reasons why young people come here.”
On Christmas Eve, Sophie plans to be with her family, including her mother, for the first time in two years, before returning to the shelter.
“Christmas can be a hard time for people, so many try to make those reconnections with family,” Peckford said. “That’s one of the things we try to help with, even if they are staying here.”
But if it doesn’t work out, they can always return to the centre, despite the fact that — with eight beds and two apartments — it’s usually at capacity. There have been times when former residents have shown up with pillows and blankets, looking for company over the holidays.
“(They) are always welcome back here,” Peckford said. “Even if they want to come Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and spend the night, our doors are certainly open for them. ... We wouldn’t want to see anybody alone.”
Peckford said the women at the centre receive stockings, with gifts and treats.
“Christmas is actually a nice time here,” said Peckford, who is touched by the generosity of the community. “On Christmas Eve, we make it very homey — we’ll bake cookies and sit in our pyjamas and watch movies. And on Christmas Day, we cook a big turkey dinner. It’s always nice.”
Stella’s Circle
Gail Thornhill, director of housing services at Stella’s Circle, said the holidays are tough time for many people who avail of their services.
“Christmas doesn’t look or feel the same for many people we work with like it does for ourselves,” said Thornhill, who said many face issues such as addiction, trauma, abuse, family disconnect and mental health.
She said the demand at shelters is strong throughout the year, especially during Christmas. However, the goal is to shorten residents’ stay and help find them safe, affordable housing.
Stella’s Circle owns 79 housing units, which fill up quickly. The group also works closely with private landlords.
“Shelters are not the solution to ending homelessness,” Thornhill said.
However, as they work to find long-term solutions, in the short term much effort it put into making it the best experience possible.
“Christmas just brings something else out of them and they’re searching for something that reminds them of better times,” said Thornhill, who said Stella’s Circle also has special events, with giveaways from community donations.
“They look for that connection to community. We do everything we can to bring that feeling to them. … We try to do as much as we can to make Christmas an enjoyable experience and less lonely for them.”
Wiseman Centre
Capt. Steven Barrett, executive director of the Salvation Army Wiseman Centre, said the 16 shelter beds for men and four for women, along with the 10 supportive housing units, are also regularly at capacity, especially this time of year.
“Christmas is happy for some people, but for others, it’s a very difficult time,” he said. “They can’t share around a table. They’re struggling with so much.”
During the holidays, he said, residents and former residents are treated to a turkey dinner, with gifts that have been donated by people and businesses. Residents are also provided with basic needs, such as footwear and coats, also donated by people in the community.
“Each one of them with have multiple things under the tree …,” said Barrett, who said residents are dealing with complex issues, including mental health and addictions, and many have been couch surfing. “We have five or six Christmas trees throughout the building. We want to make it feel like home.”
There’s even a wings-and-nachos night during Christmas, he said.
While they’re glad to help, Barrett said the goal is to provide residents support so that they can get back on their feet and back into the community.
Choices for Youth
It’s been a busy year at Choices for Youth, a shelter for young people ages 16 to 29.
Shelter co-ordinator Jolene Cooze said the centre is generally at capacity throughout the year, with all nine beds occupied.
“If we have a bed available, it’s usually not for very long,” she said. “We still turn people away every day.”
The need for beds during Christmas doesn’t change, she said, but residents’ feelings of sadness and loneliness are magnified.
“We try to be a bit more sensitive because Christmas is not happy for everybody,” said Cooze, who said the young people they help are often struggling with family breakdowns, addictions and mental illness.
“People who struggle tend to struggle a little more amplified at Christmas. We just try to be a little more in tune to that and a little more sensitive to their needs.”
To help boost their spirits, residents and other young people who frequent the centre are treated to a turkey dinner and are given tote bags containing gifts and treats, thanks to charitable donations.
“They may be in a shelter, but we still want Christmas to be fun for them …,” she said. “What’s heartwarming is the way the community comes together to help out. It really makes a big difference.”
Twitter: TelyRosie
