For months, I worried I would never find a permanent home.

My name is Doris. I came to Canada from Cuba 20 years ago. When my daughter's family moved to the U.S., I chose to stay in this country I fell in love with.

When I lost my job from a US-based company I worked at closed here, finding an affordable apartment seemed impossible. Every place was soooo expensive. My English wasn't strong. I lived in a shelter, then transitional housing—always temporary, always stressful. Then I found EHM. And I knew I found home.

Because of EHM, I am not alone.

For almost seven years, EHM has been my home. The staff here helped me through two cancer diagnoses—filling out forms, making sure I knew what to do when I came home from the hospital.

One day I lost my keys and some other things. A staff helped me call the bank. That's when I realized: I am not alone. This is what I am most thankful for.

When you focus on others, it helps with your pain. 

Now I volunteer at EHM's Drop In Centre. I listen to people's stories. I share hope with them.

When you focus on others, it helps with your pain. My illness taught me that life is really about the small things. I tell people: maintain your hope that tomorrow will be better.

I cook Latin food for friends in my small apartment. We celebrate birthdays. And I'm Latin, so we dance! I have friends from so many cultures—Ethiopian, Muslim, people from everywhere. The differences between us don't make us enemies. I learn from them every day.

Because of my little clean, safe apartment at EHM, I am able to give back to my community.