LJ Folden isnB次元官网网址檛 accustomed to asking for help.
B次元官网网址淚 used to be 6B次元官网网址�4B次元官网网址� and 280 lbs B次元官网网址� a big strong independent guy, people asked me for help, I didnB次元官网网址檛 ask other people for help,B次元官网网址� said Folden. B次元官网网址淎nd then all of a sudden IB次元官网网址檝e got blood clots, and then I got bladder cancer and then enlarged prostate and then I lost my leg, and then the fire burned and I lost everything else.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a really rough couple of years.B次元官网网址�
Folden has been without a residence since the Bush Creek East wildfire destroyed his rental accommodation in Scotch Creek. Though housing has been lined up for him in Chase, it is still under construction and may not be completed for another four to six months. In the meantime, Folden has to be out of the Sorrento hotel where heB次元官网网址檚 staying as of April 30.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been helped out by the grace of God and by others and that has brought me to where I am today which is, I have to move out of where IB次元官网网址檓 at at the end of this month and I have nowhere to go,B次元官网网址� said Folden.
Folden is one of three people in the same situation, who Salmon Arm resident Monica Gail Kriese has been working with, first through the Emergency Operations/Resiliency Centre and now on her own.
The other two are seniors who also lost their rental accommodations in the 2023 wildfire. Kriese says their support also comes to an end on April 30.
B次元官网网址淭he uncertainty has been so hard on them and it feels like these last few have been forgotten because the public doesnB次元官网网址檛 know the situation that theyB次元官网网址檙e in,B次元官网网址� said Gail Kriese. B次元官网网址淭hese two other folks, they are seniors that donB次元官网网址檛 have any family at all in the area and they each have a cat. And that becomes a bit of a barrier and yet they shouldnB次元官网网址檛 have to lose their beloved. TheyB次元官网网址檝e lost so much.B次元官网网址�
Gail Kriese said the two seniors are also waiting for the Chase facility. Until then, the three face the prospect of being temporarily homeless B次元官网网址� compounding the existing trauma associated with their wildfire experiences.
B次元官网网址淢y place was on fire 10 minutes after I left,B次元官网网址� said Folden of his evacuation. B次元官网网址淚t was very, very scary. I was driving through walls of flame that were across the highway and I had no idea what was on either side.
B次元官网网址淚 couldnB次元官网网址檛 see, it was just a wall of flame. So I just hit the gas and headed about 60 kilometres an hour and went through it.B次元官网网址�
About two months before the wildfire, FoldenB次元官网网址檚 leg was amputated in response to blood clots that led to peripheral vascular disease. When he evacuated, he took what belongings he could fit in his minivan, including his wheelchair. One of his challenges now is finding temporary accommodation that is wheelchair accessible.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 OK with staying in the area, but IB次元官网网址檓 also OK with living somewhere else until I can move into the building in Chase,B次元官网网址� said Folden.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not being difficult or super picky or anything like that. The big barrier for me is my wheelchair. IB次元官网网址檓 trying to find a place that is wheelchair friendly and thatB次元官网网址檚 nearly impossible because thereB次元官网网址檚 always steps or the door is too narrow or itB次元官网网址檚 in the basement orB次元官网网址� something that is not wheelchair friendly.
B次元官网网址淚 try to contact people on Facebook marketplace looking for some place to live, looking for a room to rent, a small studio apartment or something that I can live in for a few months until I move into Chase. And nobody responds to my messages.B次元官网网址�
Gail Kriese is looking for any suitable accommodation for the three. She said it has been suggested they look to a shelter, but stressed that is not a reasonable option.
Having exhausted his resources, Folden considers a shelter a possibility, provided itB次元官网网址檚 accessible. He just needs something to get him through until the new place in Chase is ready to take him in.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e called BC Housing and they say yes, your file is active and you are at the top of the list,B次元官网网址� said Folden. B次元官网网址淲hich means that as soon as something comes available anywhere in B.C., theyB次元官网网址檒l call me and say you can move hereB次元官网网址ince IB次元官网网址檝e gotten confirmation that IB次元官网网址檒l be living in that building when itB次元官网网址檚 completed in Chase, anywhere I go now will just be a temporary housing situation to get me by.B次元官网网址�
Anyone who may be able to offer assistance may contact Gail Kriese at 250-833-6100.
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