Joel and Zoey’s Story

Joel never expected losing his dentures would affect so much of his daily life.

Like many people experiencing homelessness in Victoria, Joel moves between shelters when a bed is available and sleeps outside when it isn’t. Life can change quickly when you’re living on the streets. A lost backpack, a stolen phone, or a missed appointment can create challenges that take weeks, or even months to overcome.

For Joel, that challenge came after a night spent sleeping outside.

Unable to find shelter, he lost several of his belongings. Among them were his dentures.

Without them, everyday tasks became difficult. Eating was limited to soft foods. Speaking felt uncomfortable. Joel often covered his mouth when talking and sometimes avoided conversations altogether.

As the weeks passed, he wasn’t sure what to do. Replacing dentures is expensive, and navigating the health-care system can be difficult even for people with stable housing. For someone focused on finding food, shelter, and safety each day, it can feel nearly impossible.

Around that time, Zoe Stewart, an outreach worker with Our Place Society, noticed something was different. Zoe had known Joel for some time. She was used to his friendly nature and easy smile. One morning, however, he seemed withdrawn and unusually quiet.

When she asked how he was doing, Joel finally shared what had happened.Together, they walked to the Our Place Community Centre and began looking for a solution.

At first, the news wasn’t encouraging. Joel’s dentures had originally been covered through the Canadian Dental Care Plan, but replacements for lost dentures would not normally be approved for several years. For many people experiencing homelessness, that might have been the end of the road. Instead, Zoe got to work.

She researched the appeals process, gathered documentation, wrote supporting statements, and worked with a denture clinic to advocate on Joel’s behalf. When a small portion of the replacement cost remained uncovered, she secured emergency funding to help cover the difference.

A few weeks later, Joel was back at the clinic being fitted for a new set of dentures.

Today, his smile is back. More importantly, he has regained confidence in himself.

Joel’s circumstances have not changed overnight. He is still navigating the challenges of homelessness. But he now has someone in his corner. Someone who can help him overcome barriers that might otherwise seem impossible.

That is the power of outreach.

Every day, outreach workers at Our Place help people access health care, replace identification, secure income supports, connect with housing resources, and navigate systems that can often feel overwhelming. For people like Joel, that support can make all the difference.

Sometimes, it starts with something as simple as helping someone smile again.