Car homeless move on, but they aren’t going away

By Wes Smiderle

The gated dead end on Hemlock Rd. offers a safe option to park for the night. Since Claude’s story became widely reported in the media, posts have been planted along the south side of the road, possibly as a deterrent for other vehicles. Photo: Doug Banks
The gated dead end on Hemlock Rd. offers a safe option to park for the night. Since Claude’s story became widely reported in the media, posts have been planted along the south side of the road, possibly as a deterrent for other vehicles. Photo: Doug Banks

Leigh Adamson has a lot to say about the man who was living in his broken-down car at the east end of Hemlock Rd., but probably her main point is that his story isn’t over—and the issue of people who are car homeless will become a more common one.

The Manor Park resident and social worker first met Claude Lurette while walking her dogs. Over the summer, she and her partner would have daily conversations with him and learned about his situation.

Retired and with plenty of experience in the addition and mental health field, he now lives on a fixed income from Ontario Works. Evicted from his apartment months earlier, he was living in his car in the quiet (i.e., safe) temporary cul-de-sac where Hemlock meets the Aviation Pkwy. He was up early in the morning for medical treatments and, in October, facing threats that his vehicle would be towed.

“It was worrisome,” says Leigh.

As was widely reported, she started a GoFundMe campaign that ultimately raised over $8,000. Claude used the money to fix his car and move on, while pledging to donate the “surplus”.

Leigh notes she was “apprehensive” about starting the campaign, as was Claude. He was leery of the attention and she was keenly aware how the situation of those who are car homeless was much bigger than just one person.
Inflation and soaring housing costs are just two of the many financial pressures that can drive people into homeless situations.

She notes that Claude wasn’t the only one parking there.

“We seem to think that’s something that happens down at Shepherd’s [of Good Hope, downtown],” she says. “When you take walks in your neighbourhood and you start seeing that. Holy . . . ”

‘It’s getting bigger’

The number of car homeless isn’t decreasing. From her vantage point in social work, Leigh feels the government systems that are supposed to support people in need, at all levels, just aren’t working the same for everyone. “In this work, we’ve always seen homeless people. But it’s getting bigger.”

She’s watched city hotels become de facto homeless shelters, and staff there suddenly becoming shelter staff. Families already under pressure have an even harder time within the confines of a hotel room.

Injustice and racism remain potent forces. She sees a system that “benefits whiteness.”

“In these communities that are oppressed, black and brown people have it harder.”

For her, the root of the problem is deep.

“We need to get to a place where we’re basing our laws and governance on unconditional and equity love for all,” she says. “We need to quit dividing each other and causing pain.”

‘Confident I will be housed soon’

Leigh continues to touch base with Claude, whom she describes as an “advocator”. She says he’s found a safe place to park, a church parking lot, and is doing okay, though needs a letter from the parish to show police he’s allowed to stay there. She adds that Claude wasn’t the only one parking there. Other car homeless have used the area.

In an update on Leigh’s GoFundMe page, Claude notes that his situation makes him a “prority” for social housing, but that his housing worker will apply for a federal rent subsidy that will allow him to rent a home in the private sector. He states that is his preference while noting he has lived and worked in social housing for years. “I am confident I will be housed soon.”

Although happy to see Claude in better circumstances, Leigh can’t help but also see the larger issue. An underfunded system already under strain and now facing greater pressures such as inflation, high housing costs and global instability. Changing the support system will inevitably require a change in perspective of how society sees the homeless, and those with mental illness or addiction problems.

“We all deserve love. We all deserve support.”