MOOSE JAW — As Square One Community Inc.’s third annual “Walk for Warmth” concluded at Zion United Church, the walk served as a reminder of the struggles faced by the unhoused, especially during the harsh winter months.
This year’s walk not only shed light on the challenges faced by the unhoused, but it also celebrated stories of resilience and recovery. Among them, Mariah Graham’s journey stood out as Max Eckstein, co-ordinator of Square One, welcomed her to the team.
“I want to introduce Mariah Graham. She’s got a tremendous story to tell you, and it’s actually quite exciting because, as our program has grown, we’ve hired some new staff to help see these things through. And Mariah, I’m proud to say, is going to be one of our staff.”
Graham, who personally experienced homelessness and addiction, addressed the crowd with an emotional speech.
“Hi guys, I’m Mariah. Today I walked because I was on the streets… and… I was in active addiction,” she said. “You know, it means a lot to me when I showed up to Square One (prior to ‘Walk for Warmth’) and I saw everybody standing outside. As someone who has been there… it was overwhelming walking up and seeing the amount of people that showed up… I was almost in tears.”
Graham spoke openly about the harsh realities of living on the streets, including the physical toll of extreme weather conditions and the barriers to securing stable housing.
“In the winter you’re trying to face the wind, and in the summer you’re trying to get away from the heat,” she explained. “When I grew up, my mom didn’t say, ‘My daughter’s going to be an addict, or… my daughter is going to live on the streets and eat out of a garbage can’… those weren’t taught… it just (ended up happening) to me.”
Graham also faced addiction, which she described as “one of the most difficult barriers I had to face,” and said this led to challenging financial obstacles.
“I screwed over a lot of landlords in my addiction, not paying rent or just taking off in the middle of the night and not coming back… when I had money to pay for a place, there was no landlord who was going to let me move in…,” she said.
Despite these challenges, Graham remained steadfast and now celebrates 18 months of sobriety.
“In my recovery, I have support workers who didn’t look at me like a criminal or a junkie; (I have) support workers who work with me, met me where I was, and helped me get the resources that I needed in order to be where I am today,” she said.
“When I (first) walked up to Square One, everybody asked me if I was going to be warm enough. It was a beautiful feeling.”
Graham’s story underscores the importance of community support. As she steps into her new role at Square One, she hopes to help others navigate the same challenges she once faced.
“I feel like… that’s what we’re all here for — to meet people where they’re at and to help them, right?”
The announcement was met with applause and encouragement from the packed social room at Zion Church. Her journey from homelessness to advocacy is a powerful reminder that, with the right support, people can rebuild their lives.
“Today I’m employable,” she said with emotion. “I wouldn’t be where I’m at today without the help from all the support workers who never gave up on me.”
To learn more about Square One, visit SquareOneHousingMooseJaw.com, follow ‘Square One Community Inc. Moose Jaw’ on Facebook, or email [email protected].
