This morning, I spent time with someone who has been living without stable housing for over three years—I’ll call this individual A. While others may pass by seeing only a circumstance, I saw a person: resilient, grounded in quiet strength, and still hopeful.

A has waited more than two years for placement through BC Housing, a wait filled with uncertainty and survival. Today, however, brought a glimmer of progress. A social worker recently began helping A apply for modular or supportive housing—interim options that offer more than just shelter. They offer dignity.

During our conversation, the topic shifted to others experiencing homelessness, particularly those struggling with substance use. A shared a firm belief that addiction is a choice and can be resisted with willpower, implying that those who use drugs are responsible for their own suffering.

I gently shared my perspective. Each person faces challenges shaped by circumstances we may never fully know. Many individuals who use substances carry trauma, grief, or mental health burdens that can’t be reduced to mere lack of willpower. And beyond individual struggles, there’s the weight of stigma—both from society and, strikingly, from within this vulnerable community itself.

It was sobering to hear such judgment from someone who also bears the pain of being misunderstood and marginalized. It reminded me how deeply stigma runs, and how even those harmed by it can internalize and perpetuate it.

This morning reaffirmed something I believe: real change starts not only with housing, but with compassion. A roof is crucial—but so is a shift in perspective, where empathy replaces assumptions and healing begins with dignity.