Torrie Belanger is tired of facing discrimination when trying to find housing because she's on government assistance.

"It really hurts me that they are not willing to help me because they picture me like everyone else," Belanger said.

Over the last 10 months, she said she's been actively looking for housing, but keeps getting turned down because she's on ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program) support.

The 24-year-old suffers from depression and borderline personality disorder. She doesn't take meds though because her health card was stolen. She can't get a new one because she doesn't have an address.

Belanger is homeless and living in Beavermead Park.

Her adoptive parents are dead and she isn't welcome to live with her sibling. She has been paying a $283 weekly camping fee now for three weeks.

Although she could camp for free elsewhere, like others are doing, she doesn't want to be around the drugs and alcohol. Homeless campers are set up in Victoria Park, Riverside Park and St. John's Anglican Church.

"Tent cities" started popping up after the Warming Room closed July 1.

Belanger has been clean for 10 months. She gave up using hard drugs three years ago but has had a few slip ups since. She smokes weed to cope with her mental illnesses.

"I cannot put myself in that atmosphere (the parks) because I still have temptations but I'm not willing to go back to it."

The petite redhead had a traumatic upbringing and was taken by Children's Aid Society (CAS). She was eventually adopted at the age of seven and grew up outside Omemee.

"CAS - I will give them a compliment, they did save me."

Although her home life there was better, issues with foster kids led her to run away at 15.

When she was ready to return home, she wasn't welcome. She got pregnant at 19 and now has three kids. Her children live with family now, but she hopes to get them back one day.

Her dream is to finish college, have a life with her kids and own her own place where they can play in the backyard.

Belanger dropped out of school after Grade 10, but she's currently enrolled at PACE, the city's alternative high school, and has six credits to go. She's already registered in Fleming College's dual credit program and wants to become an esthetician.

But she has nowhere to live. She's been on the Peterborough Housing list for three years and is also on Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle's housing wait-list.

She also signed up for weekly housing emails from CCRC, but if a cheap one comes along, which isn't often, it's snatched up immediately. She checks Kijiji daily, too.

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Yet nearly all places are out of her price range. ODSP gives her $600 for basic needs and $476 for rent.

"What am I going to do?"

Belanger has stayed in the YES Youth Emergency Shelter for Families, but said it wasn't a healthy environment for a recovering addict and her wallet was stolen there.

She thinks the city needs to have more geared-to-income housing or that the government needs to increase the rent portion of ODSP.

Belanger also wants landlords to give people on ODSP a chance.

"I wish landlords would take time to talk to people, do interviews . instead of judging right away."

She also wishes community members would stop judging, too, but she's hopeful that'll change.

"I do believe everything can get better but it's going to take some work. The city needs to come together with the homeless people, instead of judging the homeless people."

A rally to show solidarity with the city's homeless is happening at Confederation Square on Friday from 11 a.m. to noon.

jessica.nyznik

@peterboroughdaily.com