Full podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261009-sudbury-ward-rajotte-on-youth Imagine sitting inside a Tim Hortons, wearing three heavy coats, not because you're comfortable, but because you're trying to get warm before spending another freezing night outside. In this episode of Love the North, Greater Sudbury Ward 7 candidate David Rajotte shares an encounter with a young homeless woman and her partner that left him questioning how people can fall so far through the cracks of our social support systems. Rajotte noticed the woman sitting inside Tim Hortons, dressed in multiple layers despite the relatively mild afternoon. Concerned, he approached the couple and asked whether they had somewhere safe to sleep that night. They told him they were homeless and staying in an uninsulated metal shed, with temperatures expected to fall below freezing. According to the couple, they had fallen behind on rent, been evicted, and subsequently struggled to secure another apartment. They also described losing custody of their children and encountering barriers to obtaining housing assistance. What began as a simple conversation over coffee revealed how quickly financial hardship can become a cycle that's incredibly difficult to escape. Without stable housing, finding employment, reconnecting with family, and rebuilding a life can become even more challenging. Rajotte argues that homelessness, mental health, addiction, and affordable housing cannot be addressed as separate issues. They are interconnected problems requiring coordinated solutions. He also questions whether vacant, publicly funded buildings could be repurposed to provide treatment, rehabilitation, and support services. How many people are just one missed paycheque, one eviction, or one unexpected hardship away from homelessness? #LoveTheNorth #DavidRajotte #Ward7 #GreaterSudbury #Homelessness #HousingCrisis #AffordableHousing #MentalHealth #CommunitySupport #NorthernOntario