WESTLOCK – A 50-year-old man, living homeless in Westlock for several years, opened up about the emotional toll of life on the streets and his longing for the comforts of home, family, and friendship.
James, who goes by two last names—West and Chodyk—spends his days collecting bottles and searching for a sense of belonging in a town where he feels increasingly isolated.
“I got no family and no friends anymore,” he said. “That’s what usually makes your life good, right?”
James revealed that his family and friends no longer keep in touch with him.
“They don’t like talking to me no more,” he explained. “I miss my friends. I had good friends, and they all turned a blind eye to me too.”
Wearing layers of thin clothing, James navigates the streets of Westlock, pushing a grocery cart filled with his few belongings. He’s been in the area for four to five years, he said, though he noted that the local police often drive him to Edmonton.
His daily routine consists of collecting bottles, which he exchanges for a small amount of money to buy food. On a warm Nov. 7 afternoon, when the ground was still free of snow, James had a cream soda Slurpee tucked in a corner of his cart, a rare moment of comfort in his otherwise challenging life.
James has struggled to access adequate financial support. Despite applying for assistance, he says he only received a $100 cheque.
"They promised me $530, and I got a cheque for like $100," he said.
Applying for the Alberta Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program is out of the question for him and he would prefer to work but said he can’t find a job.
“I don’t really have anything wrong with me. I’m independent.”
He would like to see all levels of government do more to help the homeless.
“They don’t treat the homeless like ‘let’s help the homeless get off the streets and into something. They treat it like ‘let’s keep them on the streets.’”
Despite his circumstances, James remains unexpectedly upbeat and polite. He noted that a local woman tried to help him, but he admitted that he can be a problematic person to help.
“She can’t help me because I’m too difficult,” he said with a cheerful tone.
Talking to James it’s clear he has some unique thoughts and beliefs that some likely find difficult.
James’s story is one of loss, but also resilience. Originally from Crowsnest Pass, he previously lived in Lacombe where he operated his own landscaping and firewood business. He later moved to the Westlock area to work on pipeline projects, but his life took a downturn, leading to his current situation.
As winter approaches, with temperatures expected to dip well below freezing, James said he isn’t overly concerned.
"I’m not worried. I make a small fire to keep warm."
His life on the streets is far from easy and he doesn’t see any way out of his situation.
“I pray every day that I die.”