NEWSLETTER - Canadian Harm Reduction Network

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Program `saved my life'Alcoholic battles demons with help of United WayIdol finalists at run to kick-start agency's campaignFRANK CALLEJA, Toronto StarSTAFF REPORTERThere's no mistaking the mischievous glint in Cheryl Latus' blue eyes, a flickering light that hints atmerriment and misery at the same time.And that's been pretty much the life of the 51-year-old Toronto alcoholic who, thanks to a United Wayfundedagency, is battling to return to a normal existence without a bottle of booze in her purse."I've got my own place now. It's got a little kitchen, a bathroom, a bedroom and a colour TV. I really likeit," says Latus, who because of a stroke needs a wheelchair to get around."I used to wander into a bar to watch Archie Bunker (star of the television sitcom All in the Family). NowI've got 60 stations. Isn't that a hoot?" Latus says with a throaty chuckle.She's been a client for years at St. Stephen's Community House on Bellevue Ave. in Toronto — the pastthree years in a program for high-risk people with alcohol or drug addictions.In Latus' case, the agency receives direct payment of her provincial disability pension and sets up a budgetfor her. Her rent is automatically paid and Latus gets weekly cash payments for groceries and personalnecessities, which she must buy herself.She receives counselling and help for her alcohol addiction and attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.Latus spent years on the street, addled by booze and panhandling, when she wasn't being scraped off thesidewalk and rushed by ambulance to a hospital. Drinking became all-consuming sometime around 1986,she says.She talks about her three marriages and serving jail time for drunkenness. She recalls her younger years,when she was one of the first female motorcycle racers on a Kawasaki racing team at Cayuga Speedway."I wrote four children's books, did a little modelling now and then," she says."My first husband died, my best girlfriend killed herself with a shotgun and I found what cheap Chinesecooking wine can do to your head when you want to forget," she said.These days, she's rekindled a passion for knitting and is starting a business knitting hats, sweaters, glovesand scarves "for whoever wants them.""I don't drink while I'm knitting. It would be a sacrilege to my wool," Latus jokes.Gael Gilbert, a program co-ordinator with St. Stephen's, says "Cheryl has travelled a long route from thestreet to her apartment. She's still got a way to go."For three years, Gilbert has run a United Way-funded program she founded known as the Harm ReductionProject, which is part of the St. Stephen's Corner Drop-In program, founded in 1986.The project, Latus says, "has saved my life. I believe it."St. Stephen's became a United Way agency in 1974 and this year will get $536,161 in agency funding, upfrom $467,578 last year. The Corner Drop-In program has a $50,876 budget this year.The agency, with more than 100 paid staff, works in partnership with the community on social, health,educational and recreational programs for all age groups, primarily in the Kensington Market community.Programs include an employment training centre, a drop-in for homeless and marginally housed adults,youth services, language training, supportive housing for men with mental disabilities, and newcomerservices.The majority of clients are from Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish and African communities. For informationon times and availability of programs, call 416-925-2103.“There are no more thorough prudes than those who have some littlesecret to hide.” [George Sands, 1804-76]Toronto Harm Reduction Task Forcewww.torontoharmreduction.org
On the Home Front…..It promises to be a very busy fall for affordable housing advocates and others working onhomelessness issues. With two very important elections coming up in the next two months, theToronto Disaster Relief Committee (TDRC) and our coalition partners are working hard at makingsure that the issues of housing and homelessness are on the agenda throughout these electioncampaigns.The Ontario Provincial Election has been called for Thursday October 2nd, and MunicipalElections will be held in the City of Toronto on Monday November 10th.TDRC has added a new elections page to our website, which can be accessed directly athttp://www.tdrc.net/elections/ or through the front page of our website at http://www.tdrc.net. Weare compiling a number of resources on this site which will be of use to housing & homelessnessactivists in Toronto and throughout the province throughout these election campaigns, including aseries of links to related websites.On this site, we have the Guide To Hassle Free Voting(http://www.tdrc.net/elections/electionkit2003.pdf), which is produced by TDRC and the Housingand Homelessness Network of Ontario (HHNO), as well as some brief Questions and Answers onHousing and Homelessness issues (http://www.tdrc.net/elections/provincialelectionqanda.doc)and a summary of where the provincial parties stand on these issues(http://www.tdrc.net/elections/ProvPartyHomelessPolicy.doc).As well, we have downloadable brochures and information from a new coalition in which TDRChas played an active role: HOME (Housing Ontario Means Everyone). HOME is a new Torontobasedcoalition of community groups, tenant organizations and organizations working withhomeless people and people with housing problems who are working to raise awareness ofhousing and homelessness issues throughout the election campaigns and in the months ahead.Information about the new HOME coalition can be found athttp://www.tdrc.net/elections/homecoalition.html -- including pamphlets/brochures which aretranslated in a number of languages including French, Portuguese, Russian, Albanian, Serbian,Somali, Spanish, Tamil and Vietnamese. We strongly encourage people to download and printout these translated brochures for distribution in various communities and neighbourhoods.Keep an eye on our website as we add more resources and materials throughout the electioncampaigns!Please join us…Anti-poverty, tenant and housing coalitions, groups, unions, and activists areorganizing a fun and creative rally to get out our messages during theprovincial election and we need YOU to come out and support us and ourdemands!!!Toronto Harm Reduction Task Forcewww.torontoharmreduction.org
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