Sharlene has the kind of smile that makes you feel like you've known her for years. When I met her at a café, her blue summer dress and easy laugh were impossible to miss. Within minutes, it was clear that the warmth she radiates isn't incidental – it's who she is.

She came to Vancouver from Windsor in 1992, looking for a different life. More than three decades later, it's fair to say she found one, though the path was anything but straightforward. Sharlene is the kind of person who shows up for others. She spent 30 years working in the restaurant industry, navigating early mornings, busy lunch rushes, and the relationships that turn regular customers into extended family. . From 2001 to 2013, she brought that same dedication to Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, working on the front lines in one of the city’s most challenging environments.

But after years of caring for others, Sharlene found herself needing support.

The demands of frontline work took a toll. Burnout led to significant health challenges, forcing her to slow down and focus on her own well-being. Then came the pandemic. Amid the uncertainty of COVID-19, she lost her housing and found herself facing an increasingly precarious future.

In January 2022, Sharlene moved into Bridge Housing for Women on East Cordova Street – a turning point that gave her something she hadn't had in a long time: stability.

Streetohome Foundation provided $160,000 in funding to Atira Women's Resource Society to support renovations to Bridge Housing for Women, improving the quality of the facility for the women it serves. For Sharlene, having a safe and secure place to live meant she could finally focus on her health and recovery.

The staff at Bridge Housing helped her navigate home support and occupational therapy and suggested she look into getting a hospital bed – something Sharlene hadn’t even known she needed, let alone that she could get. It was one of many ways the staff team showed up for her.

Today, Sharlene is giving back once again. Drawing on her own lived experience, she works in peer support, walking alongside others as they navigate difficult chapters in their lives. She is a passionate supporter of Indigenous causes and continues to show up for her community in meaningful ways.

In her free time, you'll often find her listening to podcasts, wandering through Stanley Park, or strolling along False Creek. The water, the trees, and the energy of the city bring her a sense of peace and connection.

Four years ago, Sharlene was facing housing instability and serious health challenges. Today, she has a home, a purpose, and the independence she treasures.

Sitting across from her in that café, it was hard not to appreciate the power of a second chance. Bridge Housing didn't just provide Sharlene with a place to live – it provided the foundation she needed to rebuild her life. And she is making the most of every day of it.