MOOSE JAW — To conclude the third annual Empty Bowls fundraiser held at Zion United Church and hosted by Square One Community Inc., Square One’s special projects co-ordinator, Maxton Eckstein, delivered a few closing remarks honouring a former client on Nov. 15.
“Today I’m going to share a little story about somebody I worked very closely with as his case manager, (a man named) Rudy,” Eckstein announced during his presentation.
Eckstein opened by drawing attention an unsettling statistic: both Indigenous individuals and veterans are “heavily over-represented in our houseless population.”
With Remembrance Day recently concluded, he asked a thoughtful question. “(We) pay close attention to our veterans on that day. But what comes after Remembrance Day?”
“Do we remember what they’re going through still? …Another group that is heavily over-represented in our houseless population is those who served so that we have the freedoms we have today.
“Now, Rudy fits into both of these categories,” Eckstein continued. “He was a proud Indigenous man and he was a veteran that served his country (for 15 years).”
Eckstein then referenced the recently conducted Point in Time count which stated that 74 distinct individuals are currently unhoused in Moose Jaw with another 44 “observed or unwilling or unable to participate,” for a total of “over 100 people” who don’t have a safe place to call home.
Rudy’s early life was marked by challenges. As an Indigenous child during the Sixties Scoop, he had been forcibly separated from his family. Fortunately, he was adopted by a loving family who helped him stay connected to his roots and taught him gratitude.
Motivated to give back, Rudy married, started a family, and enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces — sacrificing his Indigenous status to serve his country.
Rudy’s military career included deployments to the Balkans in the ‘90s where he witnessed the atrocities of war. Returning home, he faced a profound sense of loss: “The trials and the time away had caused his family to leave him struggling with the PTSD he encountered while serving….”
Overwhelmed, Rudy turned to addiction and eventually became homeless.
Rudy died two years ago, but Eckstein said his story will be remembered as “one of recovery.”
“Rudy passed away in his own home, recovering from addictions, pursuing hobbies, and reconnecting with family. Rudy’s life was a success story,” Eckstein said.
Rudy’s life took a positive turn when he connected with a supportive housing program. With guidance and care, he rebuilt his life, restored his Indigenous status, and reconnected with his birth family and siblings.
On his journey of recovery, Rudy remained gracious about his past and felt a deep sense of gratitude for life’s blessings, Eckstein said. “He always reminded me to be thankful.”
For Eckstein, it was a privilege to walk alongside Rudy as he found hope and healing.
“It makes me wonder, when we pass by our friends on the street — who all we can maybe see is an unhoused person — were they one of the people that stood up strong and defended our country and fought for our freedoms?
“Were they a loving mother or father, sibling, family member, friend, or somebody that really made a difference in someone else’s life?
“Sometimes all we can see is the outside, but on the insider are some wonderful people that just need someone to come alongside them, support them, and walk on their journey of recovery with them.”
He described Square One’s supportive housing project as a way “to give change(s in life) to some of these wonderful individuals” and announced that phase one of the project is set to begin at William Milne Place in December.
To learn more visit SquareOneHousingMooseJaw.com, follow ‘Square One Community Inc. Moose Jaw’ on Facebook, or email the organization at [email protected].
In case you missed the premiere of Square One’s newest film, “A Home to Call My Own,” it can be watched on YouTube at YouTube.com/watch?v=YjkH3TphZEU.
