What do you think when you hear or read the word homeless? You may have a similar stereotypical picture in your mind as I had until July 2021, when I became the spiritual and religious care co-ordinator and chaplain for The Salvation Army York Housing and Support Services in Ontario. I learned very quickly that the story of every person who is experiencing homelessness is different. During these past four years, I have been both surprised and saddened to see the number of older women becoming homeless for the first time.

Let’s look past the picture and see a person. Let me share Brenda’s story with you.

“What’s Happening to Me?”

On December 22, 2022, just before Christmas, Brenda found herself in an unimaginable situation at the age of 72.

“I never thought this would happen to me!” she says now. “I’m not going to focus on how or who caused me to become homeless. I made a bad decision from lies I was told, that my life would improve. Within a month, the worst-case scenario had happened, and I was told to leave. It was a surreal moment for me. I’m going to be homeless! This can’t be real! This is a nightmare! Oh, God, what’s happening to me? ”

Even as her whole world was falling apart, Brenda shares, “I felt peace; I didn’t feel fear. I reached out to the resources that the police gave me and received the response that I needed.”

Help for the Homeless

Arriving at Belinda’s Place in Newmarket, Ont., one of the ministries of The Salvation Army York Housing and Support Services, Brenda joined 36 other women experiencing homelessness

“I was shown my room. I had a bed, and it was clean. I felt grateful I had a warm room, and meals prepared three times a day. I could do my laundry. All those things brought comfort to me.”

One thing Brenda refused to do while she was there was lose who she was as a person. With thrift-store fashions, she tried to look her best every day, to help her feel good about herself.

“I refused to look at my situation in a helpless way. I realized being homeless was not my identity. It was a situation that I had to overcome. However, I did feel uncertainty not knowing when I would have my own place or feel safe and secure again.”

While writing this article, Brenda and I reminisced about how significant our meetings were as it gave her the opportunity to express her concerns about being homeless. We shared verses from the Bible and we prayed together.

“That spiritual connection was very important to me,” she says.

Inspired Idea

Brenda was sitting outside one morning having coffee and feeling desperate about her situation.

“I was praying, asking God: ‘Why am I here? What do You want me to learn from this experience? Help me to understand. What do You want from me?’ In my mind, I heard these words: ‘You can make a quilt.’ I had never made a quilt or done anything like that. I thought, If God is suggesting making a quilt, He must think I am capable. So, God has been part of this quilt idea from the very beginning.”

It was exciting to hear Brenda’s idea, and I suggested she share it at the next staff team meeting.

“I went to my room and prayed,” Brenda recalls. “The words for that presentation just flowed in my mind. God basically brought that plan together. All I had to do was write.”

Without revealing their identities, women would be given the opportunity to complete a square for the quilt that would give them a voice to express their personal journey of homelessness through art. The hope was that other women’s shelters throughout Canada would participate, concluding with a display of all the quilts on Canada Day in Ottawa, to visually show the impact homelessness has on women.

Brenda presented and received approval for her idea.

“Fears and Tears”

With the help of her niece, Araba, the planning, designing and gathering of necessary supplies began.

“The process was very healing for me and made my homelessness less scary,” Brenda explains. “It was cathartic and therapeutic. I was focusing on something that was God-driven and not just focusing on myself.”

The most beautiful moments for Brenda were when women would come and thank her for the opportunity to express their experience through art. “I felt proud that I was able to bring women together from all walks of life to participate in expressing their fears and tears into a quilt.”

A New Perspective

Brenda moved into her new home on June 17, 2023, and expressed her thanks for the support she received at Belinda’s Place. As the process of completing the quilt continued, Brenda was grateful for the help she received from a member of a quilters’ group, as well as the participation of women from Nunavut.

On May 9, 2025, during an annual barbecue for clients, staff and volunteers at Belinda’s Place, Brenda shared her story. At that time, the quilt, appropriately named “Voices of Homeless Women,” was presented.

Brenda explained that the colours chosen for the squares were significant: blue—the sky and water, yellow—the sun, and green—the trees and grass. Brown was used for the border and the back to represent “mother earth.”

At that time, everyone was given their choice of a small, coloured square of the extra quilt material with an opportunity to write or draw something to express their voice.

Brenda shares now that there are still times of struggle, including personal illness. During those times, she prays, “God, I can’t handle this.”

“I ask Him for help. The next morning, I have a different perspective on the situation, and I am able to resolve it.”

Significant Bible verses shared with Brenda were Psalm 121:1-2: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Writing this story with Brenda was like making a quilt. As each conversation concluded, every piece was stitched together with Scripture and prayer.

Major Joy Angel serves as the spiritual and religious care co-ordinator/chaplain at The Salvation Army York Housing and Support Services.

Photos: Kellan Rollings

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