After a slow period of a month spent on the street, Sébastien Crête managed to regain control over his life with the help of the Lauberivière organization.
Until a few years ago, Mr. Crête lived a normal life while he was in a relationship and had a job.
“I kind of lost control of my life, the depression swallowed me up and from then on it was just a whirlwind,” he says.
“The trigger is really a separation and a loss of job,” he continues. I moved and settled into a small 1 and a half. I was already depressed, but I just didn’t know it. I just let myself go until I lost my apartment and after that I was evicted and found myself on the street.”
In the fall of 2022, Sébastien Crête spent more than a month, day and night, outside.
“I had my whole life in two backpacks. I made myself into a camp, he says. I ate thanks to a community fridge where I would eat maybe once a day. Then I let time pass and tried to find something to do, but it didn’t work.”
VAT NEWS
“I was empty inside,” adds Mr. Crête. I no longer had a horizon, no more objectives, no more goals, no more dreams. I drank to knock myself out and think of something else. I was lucky, however, not to fall into drugs.”
After about a month of living this way, he decided to turn to the Lauberivière organization, located in Quebec, for help.
“I remember, my throat was tight and I just wanted to cry,” he shares. I felt completely exhausted. I had trouble speaking. I just said I needed help.”
“From the start, it was human,” he adds. I wasn’t just another person. Just the fact that there were people listening to me, I said to myself that maybe there was something to do here. I resolved problems that I had been carrying around since I was 10 years old.”
Today, he lives in a three and a half apartment within the organization itself.
VAT NEWS
“I’m not just better than when I was on the streets, I’m better than how I was before,” he admits. I have a roof over my head, I do my grocery shopping. I regained my autonomy. It gives me stability. We have a maximum of 5 years [pour rester ici]but I am already taking steps to be able to stand on my own two feet even more.”
He is now participating in a program that will prepare him to return to the job market.
“I understood that it is by loving myself, taking care of myself and being the best version of myself that I will be able to help others the most,” he maintains. I want to rebuild my confidence and return to a place where I will be as useful as possible to society.”
He would even like to work in the social services sector to help other people whose lives are turned upside down.
See the full report in the video above