Amanda’s Story

When Amanda first arrived in Victoria, it felt like an escape. She carried with her a quiet certainty about who she was—“I heard it in my voice and knew myself,” she says—but the place she had come from had never made room for that truth. In a smaller town in Ontario, both her community and her stepfather had made it painfully clear that they did not accept her. Victoria represented possibility: a chance to live openly, to be seen and affirmed as the woman she had always known herself to be.

She made the move with her boyfriend at the time, who was from Victoria, hopeful that this new chapter would bring stability and belonging. Instead, after a difficult breakup, Amanda found herself more isolated than ever. Without a support network, she ended up in a shelter where she didn’t feel safe. As her situation worsened, a friend introduced her to dangerous drugs as a way to cope with the fear and instability surrounding her. What began as an escape quickly deepened into a crisis.

The environment around her became increasingly unsafe. Without supports that recognized her dignity and ensured her safety as a trans woman experiencing homelessness, staying in the shelter became impossible. Faced with an impossible choice, Amanda chose the street. For her, it felt like the only way to protect herself.

It was the most challenging time in her life. Every day became about survival—finding food, staying warm, and navigating constant uncertainty. Many of the people she had come to know during that period did not survive. The toxic drug supply took friends she had shared happy and hard times with, leaving her with a deep sense of grief alongside her own struggle.

At one of her lowest points, someone suggested she visit Our Place. At first, it was simply a place to meet immediate needs: meals, hot showers, and access to medical care. But over time, it became much more. She began to build trust with the Outreach Workers there—trust that had been difficult to imagine before. Slowly, that sense of safety returned, and with it, the possibility of something different.

On one of her darkest days, while still experiencing homelessness and in active addiction, Amanda overdosed near the Our Place Community Centre. Staff responded quickly and compassionately, using their training to save her life. That moment became a turning point.

Soon after, Amanda entered detox. As she neared completion of the program, she received life-changing news: a bed had become available for her at My Place, Our Place’s transitional shelter designed specifically for people coming directly off the streets. This

kind of transitional housing offers more than just a roof and a place to rest your head—it provides the stability, care, and community needed to begin rebuilding a life.

From the moment she arrived, Amanda felt safe. At My Place, staff are available around the clock, offering support and consistency. Residents come together through shared meals and activities, fostering a sense of connection that had been missing for so long. Small but meaningful details—like gender-neutral bathrooms—helped her feel respected and affirmed in her identity. When she decided she wanted to explore nail art, the staff didn’t hesitate to support her, helping her navigate options and simply enjoy the experience of self-expression.

Amanda has now been at My Place for nearly a year. In that time, she has celebrated over a year of sobriety—a milestone she carries with quiet pride. Though she can be soft-spoken, her strength and determination are unmistakable. She is currently on a waiting list for permanent housing nearby and is planning to return to culinary school to complete her Red Seal certification, a goal that reflects both her talent and her ambition.

She has also become actively involved with the Victoria Pride Society, an experience she holds close to her heart. On any given day, Amanda can be found advocating for the trans community, sharing her story, and helping others navigate the supports available in the city. This month, she will take another exciting step forward as she prepares to perform in her first drag show. She recently put up a poster on the My Place community board, and many staff and residents are planning to attend in support.

And after a difficult healing period, Amanda has found love again—this time in a healthy, supportive long-term relationship. She speaks with hope and excitement about the future they are building together, a future grounded in trust, respect, and shared dreams.

Amanda has found a pathway of support through Our Place that honours who she is and ensures her safety. Today, she no longer has to choose between being true to herself and being safe.

Because of compassion and care, she is thriving. Thank you for helping make that possible.