Finding a Home
by Shauna Checkley
Janessa woke up cold and was immediately assaulted by the putrid odor of feces outside her tent. She retched violently. Yet she paused long enough to feed and water her cat Lucky. Then she scrambled outdoors with her pink backpack slung over her shoulder. The pack held all her possessions, and she had to take it with her anytime she left the tent.
Things had been on the steady decline at the homeless encampment where she lived. She hated to even exit her tent, because she could return and find it taken over by a squatter. But she had to get out of there at least for the time being. Besides, there was coffee at a nearby center for the destitute. Crossroads House.
Janessa mused: “I’ll just have a quick coffee and talk to my counsellor then I’ll hurry back to Lucky. That’s the best I can do, all things taken into consideration.”
When Janessa entered the old, dingy brick building that read “Crossroads House” in bold black letters over the front entrance, she saw many from the encampment: Earl. Trudi. Scotty P. They were a motley, toothless, colourfully tattooed crew. She was wary of them but found them intriguing.
Mercifully enough, a change in government had brought some much-needed funding for the centre. It was a rather new arrival in a neighbourhood that pled for urban renewal: businesses, social services, anything that would alleviate the human misery abounding in the community.
She poured herself a cup and looked for Victoria, the staff counsellor.
Smiling and waving from her office, Victoria Salley was Janessa’s social worker and a friend of sorts as well. She was a tall, willowy blonde dressed in business casual with gray dress pants and a string of faux pearls. She exuded positivity towards both others and her job. “Hey, girlfriend, how’s it going?” Victoria asked in her musical voice
“Really gotta get outa there. Knee-deep in feces over there now. It’s just horrible. And I left Lucky in the tent.”
Victoria gave her a sad look. “You’re doing the best that you can, all things considered. I talked to your psychiatrist, and she’s going to declare Lucky as an emotional support animal for you. Now if we can just get some housing for you, then you should be set.”
Janessa felt her heart leap. “Really! Oh, thank you! I don’t know how to thank you! I can’t leave Lucky out on the streets. I’m panhandling to save up to get her fixed even.”
“Let’s just get her into the vet and I’ll cover it. That’s okay,” Victoria offered.
“Would’ja?” Janessa cried, dumbstruck
“It’s important, and I’m glad that you see that,” Victoria said.
Janessa hugged the woman and wiped back tears. Extracting forty dollars from her sports bra, Janessa said, “It’s not much, but this is what I’ve been able to panhandle so far. I’ll put it towards the spaying,”
“That’s okay, just keep it. I’ll make an appointment and let you know when I’m coming by with a cat carrier, okay?”
“Sure. Well, this day has been very fortuitous despite the feces and all,” Janessa said.
Victoria laughed and nodded. “Oh, hey, I’m about to put some product out. We had lots of donations come in recently. Here you go.” Victoria handed Janessa a box of tampons, something as sought after as toilet paper.
“Thanks!” Janessa said, wide-eyed.
Returning to the main area, Janessa continued to sip her coffee. She was so elated by all this good fortune that she even had a refill now that she knew she had time and didn’t need to panhandle as urgently.
Leisurely, she sipped her coffee though she noticed that the others were staring at her. Trudi leaned in towards Earl and Scotty P. and whispered something. They all laughed and then they frowned her way.
Finishing her coffee in one decided gulp, Janessa knew it was best to get away from their evil looks. Despite the others, she contemplated the turn of events and felt she was walking on air. “How can things so wrong suddenly become so right?” she thought.
* * *
It was turning into a hot June day in Saskatchewan. Though Janessa loathed returning to the foulness of the camp, she was worried about Lucky being trapped in the tent all alone. She could claw it up or someone could hurt her. One just never knew what was going to happen.
When she arrived there, the soiled patch of ground had been cleaned, and all was like new. Thank God, she thought. She dumped her backpack in the tent.
Lucky was desperate for company. When they cuddled together, Lucky was a pretty, purring ginger ball.
The tent was their home of sorts. Even though it was abandoned, they had been taking shelter in it for the last few months. Everyone had their territory staked out at the homeless encampment, and there were physical and personal boundaries that one was not supposed to cross. Janessa was very prudent about such matters.
Janessa was disabled with mental health issues and a coordination disability. It rendered her ability to work rather diminished. Though she had held down some menial positions, her conditions did affect her job performance. So, she ended up homeless and panhandling for the most part.
She couldn’t turn to family. Her mother was in a care home and the rest of the family was dead, scattered or indifferent. Janessa was on her own in the world. It had been that way for a number of years. However, she didn’t hail from the crowd that considered it cool to be homeless. Rather, she was horrified at the prospects of a Saskatchewan winter coming and not being able to provide for herself and her beloved pet. So gotta find us somewhere to stay, she thought.
At night, while others partied in their tents, she would pray to the heavens above for help for both of them. Can’t leave Lucky out in the sub-arctic here in Saskatchewan. They’ll have to scrape Lucky and me off the streets, if need be.
Later that day, Janessa ate lentil stew at a Catholic mission. Then she went to the public library to wash herself. She stripped to the waist in the women’s washroom and applied soap and warm water liberally. It was a revelation and an epiphany all in one. Then she rinsed her t-shirt and wrung it out and slipped it back on. She went out into the sun-drenched sky in hopes that the cloth would dry quickly.
Janessa wore whatever clothes that she had on hand. It was a luxury to be clean, but she tried to wash her clothes regularly, even jean shorts.
Returning to the camp, she was approached by Trudi, a woman with the wild blue hair and a nose ring. “Got a tampon? I need one and I missed getting a box today,”
“Sure,” Janessa said and handed her one.
Trudi took it without a word of thanks and returned to her tent where a raucous party with Earl and Scotty P. was underway. Yet Janessa understood that that was how their particular mental health issues manifested themselves.
* * *
The next day at Crossroads House, Victoria approached Janessa beaming. “I got Lucky an appointment today at noon. I’ll just slip over during my lunch hour and get her and drop her off. Then I can pick her up after work and return her to you. How does that sound?”
“Awesome!” Janessa cried.
Meanwhile, the trio — Trudi. Earl, and Scotty P. — scrutinized them from their own tent. When Victoria had left, Trudi came charging over. “So, what’s up with that?”
“She’s taking Lucky in to get her fixed. Then she’s bringing her back,”
Trudi made a face. “Why are you so special anyhow?” She turned on her heel and stomped back to her tent.
That night, after Lucky had been returned, the trio pelted Janessa’s tent with beer cans.
For the very first time, Janessa felt genuinely frightened. It was especially dangerous to be female and homeless when faced with the possibility of assault. She prayed once again for a home somewhere else for both herself and Lucky.
Considering bolting from the camp, her mind flew in all directions. But she knew that it was not a feasible solution given that she had Lucky after all. So, she just stayed put and absorbed the curses and cat-calls throughout the night. Somehow, she drifted off to sleep.
Upon awakening, she immediately fled to Crossroads House, and Victoria motioned her to come into her office. “How are you?” Victoria asked
“Not good. I think Trudi and her cohorts were mad that you helped me, and they threw beer cans at me all night. “
Victoria frowned and shook her head. “Well, I’ve got good news regardless. The city has agreed to get you into a public housing complex, and they will allow Lucky as your support animal,”
Janessa burst into tears of joy and wrung her hands.
“You’ve got a home now. You just need to sign these papers, and I’ll fax them. You pick up the keys and you can move in on Monday. I’ll start working on getting you some sort of furniture allowance,” Victoria added.
“Thank you so... so very much!” Janessa exclaimed
Exhaling deeply, Janessa felt the weight of the world leave her. Both she and Lucky would be safe from the terrible trio, the Saskatchewan winters, everything. It was like a Hallmark movie almost. It was a prayer answered, a dream come true.
After an extra quick cup of coffee, she returned to the camp to check on Lucky. “Hey, girl, we’re moving,” she told her. But Lucky was happy to see Janessa, no matter what.
Copyright © 2025 by Shauna Checkley
