Mark arrived at our breakfast program last fall and quickly became a regular. Our social worker, Patrick, kept up with his situation—Mark was unhoused but wanted to get back on his feet. 

Unasked, Mark would often tidy up and pick up litter around the property. We were impressed by how friendly and helpful he was.
 
Patrick helped Mark get a job in roofing. He started his new job positively and found housing through his employer.  However, when Mark came down with pneumonia, things took a turn for the worse. 

Mark lost his job, and then his housing. He ended up at a shelter in Halifax. And he was denied income assistance despite our many attempts to fix the matter.
 
Things really began to unravel when he was kicked out of the shelter for missing curfew. Soon, Mark was back on the street.

Many of the folks we serve at Brunswick Street Mission are here because they have fallen through the cracks. Shelters may be full or unwelcoming. Some cannot accommodate the specific needs of individuals. A lack of government-issued ID means denial of services. Social services are overwhelmed or unable to help. Housing simply is not always available—and is often unaffordable.

Mark's case is no different. Despite Patrick's efforts to advocate for Mark—getting identification, contacting social services, placing Mark on the housing list, calling shelters regularly—no long-term solutions could be found.

Unhoused and without resources, Mark suffered severe stress, loss of sleep, and the onset of psychosis, marked by hallucinations and chaotic behavior. He became someone very different than the mild-mannered person we first met. 

Witnessing Mark's journey has been deeply heartbreaking. It’s hard to share a story without a happy ending. But it highlights the complex challenges faced by individuals who are living on the streets.
 
A lack of permanent, safe housing can often create mental health challenges or make them worse. This makes it very difficult for someone to navigate a broken social service system alone.
 
Sometimes, it feels as though we are just placing bandages over wounds that won’t heal.
 
But a hot breakfast, groceries, and free laundry facilities are all critical services for someone like Mark. Breakfast helps them start their day in a warm, friendly space. Our Food Bank helps them stock up on crucial supplies. And clean clothes mean dignity.
 
Right now, we are helping more and more people who are navigating life through chaos. They are struggling to make ends meet and rely on our services to get through another day.
 
They know we are here to help. 
 
And we can't help without you. 

You provide groceries for single mothers. You serve a warm breakfast to someone who spent the night in a tent. You ensure a person living on the street has clean clothes. You can provide the basics that people need to get through another day.

And you can help the most vulnerable find long-term solutions to their needs. Without an advocate, they can't get on a housing list. Without identification, they can't apply for financial aid. Without emergency financial support, they could be evicted and end up on the street.
 
Thank you. Your caring gift means someone like Mark will have the basics they need to get through another day during the most difficult periods of their life.
 

Most sincerely,


Lisa Harrison
Executive Director
 
Donate by e-transfer to mission@brunswickstreetmission.org, or securely online using the form below . Thank you.