MOOSE JAW — The Moose Jaw Public Library hosted the premiere of “A Home to Call My Own,” a local film exploring homelessness from a new perspective on Nov. 17.
Trevor Nekrasoff played a key role in the film and shared a few words about his journey to recovery after the viewing.
“When I was first asked to do the film I didn’t even hesitate,” he said. “I’m not a very outgoing person… but… I said ‘Yes,’ because if I can give back in any way or make a difference for anybody… (and maybe) put them on the same path to getting off the street, that’s more than enough for me.”
“A Home to Call My Own” was produced by Square One Community Inc. and the John Howard Society with the goal of addressing myths surrounding unhoused individuals in Moose Jaw. Square One’s co-ordinator Maxton Eckstein said he hopes viewers take away the message that “the solution isn’t barriers, it’s connection.”
Nekrasoff’s story defies expectations — once a middle-class teenager and devoted hockey player, his otherwise normal life would soon take an unforeseen turn.
“I had an injury (while playing) hockey and this kind of ended that part of my life as I knew it,” he said. “Hockey was my life.”
At age 15, Nekrasoff battled depression that led to a cycle of addiction, sobriety, and relapse, fuelled by drinking and occasional drug use.
“Then things really got bad, really quick,” he said. “My family was really the only reason I wasn’t homeless sooner. They were always there to help until it became too much for them to see me doing that to myself and they had to ask me to leave their home.”
Nekrasoff’s cycle of depression and addiction spiralled out of control to the point where he had given up entirely. “I wound up on the streets at about 33 years old, and it’s hard to even explain how terrible an existence it is — just trying to survive every minute, not knowing where you’ll get your next meal, if you’ll have anywhere to sleep, or if you’ll freeze to death.”
All said, Nekrasoff experienced five years of homelessness before recovering two years ago.
Nekrasoff’s recovery began when emergency shelter workers reached out at a time when all hope seemed to be lost.
“Nobody else in society wanted anything to do with me, and they saw something in me that I definitely didn’t see in myself at the time,” he said. “(These workers) took a liking to me and actually went out of their way to help me out.
“That opened up opportunities (and I got) to a point where I didn’t want to be on the street anymore. I knew there was a better way to live.”
Knowing that meaningful change was now possible, his outlook started to change. “Well, just providing a future for my daughters is a huge (source of inspiration),” he said. “That’s what keeps me going every day.”
Nekrasoff attended the St. Joseph’s Treatment Centre in Estevan where he continues to live today. There, he has found support, reconnected with family, secured a stable job, and regained a long-overdue sense of purpose.
“No one out there ever has a goal to end up homeless. And no one, if given the opportunity, would not take that opportunity to have a place to sleep and something to eat,” he said, noting that homelessness can happen to anyone. “It’s an overwhelming feeling to now have a place of my own that feels like home.”
With his life back on track, Nekrasoff’s next big goal is to fully own his first house.
“A Home to Call My Own” can now be viewed at YouTube.com/watch?v=YjkH3TphZEU.
