Meet David

Community Support

Even before the conversation gets underway, David* speaks with enthusiasm about his elaborate crochet projects, his colourful hair and the bizarre situations he encounters while working at his job downtown. He’s funny and animated and
he seems quite confident. However, soon into our interview, he lets me know that isn’t exactly the case.

“I tell everyone that I meet nowadays that I wish they could have met me back then when I first moved to [Calgary],” he says, “they would have seen a totally different person.”

David moved to Calgary from British Columbia in 2016, leaving behind a small town with no opportunity and a history of alcoholism.

“I was a chronic alcoholic, drinking… every day — it was crazy.”

His family hosted an intervention, and he kicked the habit quickly. His teeth served as a reminder of that period in his life, as they had been neglected while he was drinking. But after working and saving for about a year David was able to replace them.

“The confidence that came flooding back was damn near palpable,” says David, “it was amazing to be able to see myself with a set of straight, new teeth.”

He arrived in Calgary with his brand-new confidence and perfect teeth, he was set for a fresh start.

“With that kind of a more confident mentality, I was ambitious and driven”.

David pauses for a moment and continues sharing his story; “And then I met my boyfriend and things began to change, he wore all that confidence away bit by bit by bit until there was nothing left.”

The toll the abusive relationship took on David ended up costing him two jobs, and eventually, he found himself homeless.

“During the times I was homeless, I needed the food bank quite often. I had nothing. There were a few months there where I wasn’t on any kind of income assistance, so without the food bank I would definitely not be here today, to be honest.”

David is no longer in that abusive relationship, he has a steady job and he has an incredibly supportive best friend in his life. He has done well for himself in a lot of ways, but he still struggles to find stable housing. He is not alone in that struggle as Calgary has not been immune to inflation and rising rental costs. To make ends meet these days, David says he utilizes other support offered in Calgary like community pantries and free meals at churches and The Alex. He emphasizes the fact that in times of uncertainty, people need to know that it is important to be able to seek help and accept it.

“I can imagine it is a little demoralizing to ask for help, potentially dehumanizing to do it, to men especially a little emasculating
as well I would imagine. But if it needs to be done, it needs to be done. Just do it!”

*Client’s name has been changed and a stock image is used for privacy