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Home > Support LOFT > What Does Your Money Do? > College View – Harry’s Story

Small tdot headerHarry’s Story

The first time we knocked on Harry’s door, he was trembling with anxiety and almost started to cry when we told him we wanted to help him.

The people we were visiting often had little contact with services, perhaps because they hadn’t needed them, or perhaps because they had avoided them in the interest of maintaining their independence. We cold called at apartments and more than once had the doors slammed in our faces when we introduced ourselves.

Harry, however, had an entirely different reaction the day we came to his apartment.  He couldn’t wait to get started on fixing the many problems that confronted him. They were huge. He had virtually no identification papers, his arrears were sky-high and he was on the verge of losing his housing entirely.  Although he was 67 years old, he had no pension; in fact he had no income to speak of.

The first thing we had to figure out was how to navigate his identification retrieval.  It has become increasingly complex to have documents replaced when they’ve gone missing.  Fortunately, Harry still retained the passport that indicated the date he had landed in Canada, and he had the photocopy of his citizenship card.  He also remembered his SIN number.

Through a series of unfortunate coincidences, his name had been spelled in more than one way by the government and this meant that his original application for pension had been denied. They questioned whether he was who he said he was.

Fortunately, we were able to help Henry navigate the way back to having his identity restored.  We also helped him get a temporary health card. We filled out his pension applications and within a couple of months, he had received a lump sum payment for what hadn’t been sent the year before and by the end of the summer OAS and CPP had begun to arrive regularly.  Harry made a couple of substantial payments against his arrears and for the first time in years, began to look forward to a life uncompromised by debt and depression.

Harry is an artist, and his creativity is on display everywhere at the apartment where he lives.  As he began to recover his life, it re-emerged in artistic exuberance.  He designed and tiled a mosaic sunflower motif on a garden table.  He replaced a mural in the community room, and he is at work on beautiful ornamental balls using sequins in dazzling and gorgeous designs which he sells (and also gives away).

His transition from desperation and penury hasn’t been entirely without bumps along the way, but Harry is a different man from the trembling and anxious one who first met with staff.

Make Your Donation Now and Help Others Like Harry!

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LOFT Community Services
15 Toronto Street, 9th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5C 2E3
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Toronto, Ontario M5C 2E3
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Charitable Registration Number: 13058-6605-RR0001

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    • Beverley Lodge – Tawfic’s Story
    • Connie’s* Story
    • Behavioural Support Services-Mobile Support Teams – Jack and Mary
    • Pauline Has HOPE
    • College View – Harry’s Story
    • Crosslinks Housing and Support Services – Chris’s Story
    • Crosslinks Seniors Housing and Support Services – Charles’s Story
    • Dunn Avenue – George’s Story
    • Ingles House – Emily’s Story
    • Ingles House – Ginny’s Story
    • Ingles House – Paige’s Story
    • John Gibson House – Danny’s Story
    • John Gibson House – Mary’s Story
    • McEwan Housing and Support Services – Marshall’s Story
    • McEwan Housing and Support Services – Richard’s Story
    • Mental Health and Justice Initiative – Kevin’s Story
    • Mental Health and Justice Initiative – Shawn’s Story
    • Mount Dennis Supported Housing – Nikone’s Story
    • St. Anne’s Place – Faye’s Story
    • St. Anne’s Place – Jim’s Story
    • St. Anne’s Place – Client Stories
    • St. George House – Floyd’s Story
    • Transitional Age Youth Program – A.J.’s Story
    • Transitional Age Youth Program – Beth’s Story
    • Transitional Age Youth Program – Devon’s Story
    • Transitional Age Youth Program – Mardi’s Story
    • Transitional Age Youth – Michael’s Story
    • Wilkinson Housing and Support Services – Danny’s Story
    • Wilkinson Housing and Support Services – David’s Story

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“If you don’t have a roof over your head, how can you take care of your body and soul?”
“It helped me to see that not everything in life has to be a struggle or a hurt.”
“Thanks for the courage you instilled in me to never give up.”

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Resources

  • For information on programs
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  • Read AJ’s story

 

Legal Name: LOFT Community Services

15 TORONTO STREET
9TH FLOOR
TORONTO, ON M5C 2E3
P: 416-979-1994 • F: 416-979-3028
Charitable Registration Number: 13058 6605 RR0001

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  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Our History
    • Board List
    • Strategic Plan
    • Annual Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Speakers’ Bureau
    • Resources
    • Policy Manual
    • Transparency and Accountability
    • Vendor Opportunities
  • Support LOFT
    • Everyday Hero Monthly Giving Club
    • Donate Now
    • Ways to Give
    • Our Commitment to Donors
    • What Does Your Money Do?
    • Events
    • Get Involved
  • Programs
    • Supports for Youth
    • Supports for Adults
    • Supports for Seniors
  • Need Services?
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