What to know
- World Homeless Day (Oct. 10) and Thanksgiving highlight the isolation many unhoused elder men experience in Toronto.
- Haven Toronto is Canada’s only day centre for men over 50 experiencing homelessness, offering meals, support, and community.
- Social isolation is a major health risk—WHO attributes 871,000 global deaths per year to loneliness and social exclusion.
- Howie’s story shows how quickly life can change, and how vital belonging and connection are for recovery and dignity.
As the city focuses on gratitude and gathering for Thanksgiving, World Homeless Day reminds us that not everyone has a table to sit at.
October 10 marks World Homeless Day. Haven Toronto, Canada’s only day centre of its kind, raises awareness about elder homelessness and social isolation, which affects roughly four in 10 Canadians aged 50 and older.
But Haven Toronto’s director of drop-in services, Natasha Wakaruk, says that beyond facing homelessness, houseless individuals often face social isolation.
“Every unhoused person is someone’s son, brother, father, friend, and so we hope that it helps put some humanity behind people who are often seen as just a number,” Wakaruk told Now Toronto.
‘I couldn’t drive anymore’: How a medical issue led to Howie experiencing homelessness
One previously unhoused elder, Howie, shares his story with Now Toronto.
Howie was once a long-haul truck driver living near Barrie with his family. However, he lost contact with his daughters after a painful divorce.
Still, he drove about 4,800 kilometres a week, and in 2017, substance abuse and medical problems ended his career.
“It started with a blood clot in my leg, and then it led to a heart attack. They went up through my groin, they put a stent in my heart, and then I started having blackouts — so I couldn’t drive anymore,” Howie told Now Toronto. “In 2017, I was 54, and I didn’t really have anywhere to go. So that’s how I ended up in the shelter system.”
That’s when he found Haven, became a member, volunteered, and found a sense of belonging.
For the last two and a half years, Howie has overcome addiction and secured an apartment. Still, he finds daily refuge and community at Haven Toronto, where he eats, socializes, and plays pool and cards among fellow men, some who are still experiencing homelessness.
After overcoming homelessness, Howie decided to give back to the community and become Haven’s fall campaign ambassador.
This year’s awareness campaign is titled “Son,” capturing Howie’s story through the voice of his 85-year-old mother and emphasizing social inclusion.
The effects of loneliness and social isolation — and why finding community is crucial
According to WHO, loneliness and social isolation contribute to 871,000 deaths globally per year.
With Haven offering support from breakfast and showers to fresh clothes and an on-site nurse, Howie is grateful to see others getting the same support he once had to seek out.
Throughout his journey from seeking support to volunteering for the cause, Howie says he’s appreciated staff calling him by his name, and the respect he’s received overall.
“They treat me good here,” Howie said.
Howie says this isn’t universal, as many outsiders don’t understand elder homelessness or how one can enter homelessness from one day to the next.
“One day, you could be doing good, making all kinds of money. Overnight, you could lose everything. You never know what’ll happen out there,” Howie said. “I had a good job, and then I got sick. I applied for a disability, and after working 38 years and paying into the system, they denied me.”
So Wakaruk emphasized Howie’s point and encouraged supporting those in need.
“Everyone thinks you’re so far removed from homelessness, but in this environment these days, we’re really not, and you know no one’s exempt from it. It can happen to anybody,” Wakaruk said.
Especially during Thanksgiving, elderly men facing homelessness deserve to feel a sense of belonging.
“I find it a rough time of the year because growing up, we always were with family,” Howie said. “I don’t do that no more because I don’t really have much family left. I have a mother and brother in a different province, and yeah, so it gets lonely, boring.”
Wakaruk and the Haven Toronto team are focused on hosting a special Thanksgiving for elders without community, emphasizing that 50 per cent of their organization runs on donations.
