In a poignant video shared on social media, two Nigerians, Simi and Peter, have bravely revealed the harsh realities they face as immigrants in Canada, transitioning from hopeful aspirations to the brink of homelessness.
Simi, who relocated to Canada to pursue her studies, reminisced about the initial excitement that accompanied her arrival. “When I came to Canada, I was going to school in Hamilton, so it was pretty good. I was in boarding school, so it was pretty good,” she recalled. However, her promising journey took a drastic turn due to a failed business investment and skyrocketing housing costs in Toronto.
“It’s a long story, but it’s mostly because I invested in a business idea that failed. I was running colleges down the street, and I had a fashion business,” Simi explained, highlighting the financial setbacks that have plagued her. The mounting cost of housing further exacerbated her situation. “There is an issue with housing. It’s not so much detox, it’s not so much hospitals, it’s not so much the mental health, like the therapy. It’s more so housing that there’s issues with,” she added.
Simi also battles anxiety, making traditional employment particularly challenging. “I struggle with anxiety. And so working a 9-to-5 is quite difficult. I’m trying to figure out what to do and how to balance myself,” she stated. When asked about her current living situation, she hesitated, saying, “I’m working on it.”
Similarly, Peter, 25, shared his own struggles. Arriving in Canada as a student in December 2023, he initially had the support of his father as a financial sponsor. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when his father suffered a stroke, leaving him unable to continue supporting Peter. “I came in as a student. I was doing good, but all of a sudden my dad, who was my sponsor, fell sick. He got a stroke. So they were unable to support me again,” Peter explained, revealing the devastating impact of this loss.
Now facing homelessness, Peter expressed his urgent need for shelter, stating, “Shelter. They help me the most.”
This heartfelt account sheds light on the struggles many immigrants face as they navigate the complexities of life in a new country, a reminder that behind the dreams of a better future often lie unforeseen hardships.
NOTE: Original story sourced from The Punch newspaper.
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