NOT EVERYONE ON THE STREETS ARE DRUG ADDICTS

To the Editor:

The making of a streetperson...how does it happen?

Well in my case, a traumatic marriage breakup was the start of it all.

I would get off work at night at my B.C. Tel janitor job and instead of
driving home; I would just crawl in the back of my truck and go to sleep.

I felt better sleeping outdoors, however after several years I couldn't
work anymore and living indoors just was not for me except winters.

My health deteriorated however and I did spend winters on the street simply
because I couldn't read the newspaper rent section.

That's how far my mind had gone.

I wound up getting picked up by mental health in January of 96 when the
temperature fell to -30 C.

I could've died out there had it not happened.

Today I am still far from being mentally healthy, but I do live indoors in
a cabin on my parent's property. No running water, but it's heated and has
a TV set.

So that's my story...be compassionate we are not all drug addicts.

Ray Lange Kelowna