Dead silence screamed danger. The frenzied squeaks of prison-issued blue deck shoes on sealed cement confirmed it. That was, of course, followed by wet smacks, fast pops, loud cracks and finally a dull thud. Whoever that guy was who lay crumpled and unresponsive on the range floor, he wasn’t conscious. His legs were seized straight, quivering uncontrollably and he had pissed and shit himself. Later, after the routine cell search and customary lock down, I heard that he had died en route to hospital. Apparently he stole a bag of chips from another inmate’s canteen, but who knew? Furthermore, who cared? This was prison justice: the thief got what he deserved according to us and society—at least that’s what I told myself to cope with the tragedy of this senseless act. All I knew was that I didn’t know anything and I didn’t see anything. I had only heard it. But I wouldn’t even tell the guards that much. I had to survive, and you did that by keeping your mouth shut and turning your head. But why was this my last and best option? Why would I put myself in this horrible violence and filth? The answer was simple: I did it to save my leg and my life.
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The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness is the largest national research institute devoted to homelessness in Canada. The COH is the curator of the Homeless Hub.
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- Foreword
- Introduction
- Stories
- 3. Contrast
- 4. All The Way Home
- 5. She must have been crazy
- 6. My Life Story, My Youth
- 7. Maison de Maternity
- 8. Hail Mary Pass
- 9. Into a storage locker
- 10. Officer Down
- 11. Rooming at the Haunted House
- 12. My Journey from Nova Scotia to Ottawa
- 13. Anatomy of Hero
- 14. Battered Schmattered
- 15. My Journey
- 16. Aloha Big Kahuna
- 17. How Being a Veggie Burger with Bacon Saved My Life
- 18. I brave enough to leave
- 19. Hope Eternal
- Policy
- 20. A Pragmatic, Humanistic and Effective Approach to Additions: The Importance of Harm Reduction
- 21. A Comprehensive, Community Process on Ending Homelessness: The System of Care Approach
- 22. What Comes Next? Supporting Individuals After Institutional Discharge
- 23. Healing the Pain and Hurt: Dealing with the Trauma of Homelessness
- 24. Ending Homelessness: Building not only homes but relationships of respect
- Conclusion
- Introduction
- Homelessness is Only One Piece of My Puzzle: Implications for Policy and Practice
- Stories
- 8. Hail Mary Pass