In 2023, Patrick was 46 and working in construction. He shared his life with his partner of 22 years, Valérie. Together, they led a normal life—until it all went awry.
First, Valérie developed a tumour in her brain. Patrick started spending all his non-working hours looking after the woman he loved. He was so absorbed in caring for her that he ignored an abscess on his own jaw. He would deal with that later. But the abscess became infected and the poison spread through his body. After emergency surgery, Patrick was put into an induced coma. In all, he had 7 operations, 1 cardiac resuscitation and 14 bypasses.
When he woke up, he had to relearn everything: how to talk, how to walk, how to swallow. And there was another shock waiting for him: Valérie had died. Having missed his payments while in the coma, Patrick had also lost his car and his home. A bailiff had seized everything, down to his treasured photographs. Patrick had cheated death but now he was disabled, couldn’t work and had nothing. He ended up on the street.
“I would never have believed I could find myself homeless,” he says. “The hardest part is the way people look at you. On the street, you’re completely on your own. It’s not long before thoughts of suicide enter your mind.”
Guardian angels
Patrick did attempt suicide. But then he met Ruben, the puppy who would be his lifeline during this dark period.
“Ruben is my angel,” says Patrick. “Thanks to him, I felt less alone in my tent. My suicidal thoughts started to fade from the day I adopted him.”
In addition to Ruben, Patrick met street workers who literally saved his life. A mobile unit from Ricochet reached out to him and invited him aboard. Against all expectations, he found a helping hand when he needed it most.
Ricochet is a community agency on the West Island, close to the Rivière-des-Prairies, that operates a shelter and works daily to ensure the well-being of people experiencing residential instability and homelessness. It offers 70 beds and psychosocial support, which can make all the difference.
“They took Ruben and me in,” says Patrick. “They gave me clothes, a shower, a warm bed, three meals a day. They accept you just as you are. There are counsellors who push you and help you achieve your goals. They help you, and help you, and help you, and never give up on you.”
Being able to stay at Ricochet with his dog was a key factor in Patrick’s healing process. Shelters that accept animals are vitally important. For many people experiencing homelessness, a dog is much more than a pet; their dog provides crucial emotional support, a shield against isolation and suffering. With Ruben by his side, Patrick was able to face the day.
Over the following days and weeks, Patrick received invaluable support and got his life back on track. Today, the man who thought he had lost everything is preparing to move into his new home and get on with his life.
“Where do I see myself in six months? In an apartment. And coming here to volunteer. They’ve helped me a lot and I want to give back. If I could lift someone’s spirits, it would bring me joy. You can’t imagine how much.”
The shock of dismantling: losing your home a second time
One of Patrick’s most distressing experiences while living on the streets was the dismantling of his encampment. A police officer ordered him to gather his belongings right away because in a few minutes his tent would be thrown in the garbage. Patrick still gets emotional when he talks about it: “It’s like losing your home a second time. Everything you own is dumped in the garbage. It’s the worst feeling. It hurts. You can’t understand it if you haven’t experienced it.”
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