- [Interviewer] Troy.
- Yeah.
- We're here in Edmonton.
You're homeless. Tell me about it.
- Well, I've landed in Edmonton to reunite
with my biological mother, Carol, after 40 years.
In my walk here
as someone who's
been habitually homeless
probably over the last 25 years on and off,
I would have to really
mostly attribute that
to my traumatic experiences as a child.
However, in the walk I've had
in being blessed by places like The Mustard Seed,
is a confirmation
of a spiritual love
from people who know Jesus Christ.
And it's only a temporary situation.
And I find that in all instances where
there's people that have a desire
to serve the Lord, that there is breakthrough
and there is moving forward
and coming away from the homeless situation.
- [Interviewer] So how are you surviving right now?
- By the blessing of other brethren in Christ.
A gentleman who found it in his heart to invite me
into his home, as opposed to staying at the shelter,
to keep the clean safe environment
and work on necessary steps to ground myself
and to be self-sustaining.
I find that it's only through the support of family,
being that of brothers and sisters in Christ,
am I able to overcome this, specifically due to the fact
that I'm unwanted even in my own biological home.
Which is a house and a roof
and all the facilities,
but there's no peace and there's no love
and there's no grace.
There's no anointing by the Holy Spirit
in that environment other than what I brought.
- [Interviewer] What would you want people
to know about homelessness?
- About homelessness.
That I believe homelessness is a symptom
that is a strong indicator
of a condition of lostness
that a large part of our community
is subject to as a result of mental illness, trauma.
Which is due to like ...
Which is, one of the contributing factors
to mental illness is trauma, I believe.
Largely that.
I believe it's as well a result of
still a lack of knowledge in the social services community
regarding the boundaries or the restrictions
there are for what they will and will not do.
If I had a penny for every time I heard,
"Well we don't do that here,"
I'm sure I would have plenty of finances
to have a mansion
because of what policy hinders us from overcoming
just by the mere fact that they won't do that
in the social services aspect.
- [Interviewer] Right.
If you had three wishes, what would they be?
- If I had three wishes,
that there be a solid social structure
that's serving the needs of those who are homeless.
To be a part of the solution,
continue to be a part of the solution,
and to encourage others with my testimony
and how I've overcome the mental illness
and drug addiction which I've suffered from
which is largely the reason
why I've had the homelessness.
Largely why I've experienced the homelessness
I have over the last 25 years.
And I think that ...
(horn blows)
- [Interviewer] Wish number three?
- Hmm. I'm thinking, sorry.
- [Interviewer] That's alright.
I think they want us to move or something.
- Oh no no, there's just somebody behind you
beeping for somebody else.
Wish number three,
that I could ground myself
and receive the support that's needed to reunite myself
with my son in Ontario.
- [Interviewer] Thank you very much for talking to me.
- You're welcome.