THE WEIGHT –
Jan. 11, 2024 – Davy Short is afraid he’s going to die, either from the alcohol or the elements, or some combination of both.
The St. John’s man, homeless since September, says alcoholism is ruining his life. But while drinking has made it difficult to maintain housing, his lack of housing has made it difficult to get treatment for his drinking. Short is on a wait-list to go to an in-patient rehabilitation program in nearby Harbour Grace but has been told he can’t get in without a permanent address to be released to when it’s over.
The conundrum has left Short feeling like he’s stuck in a gap somewhere between health care and housing, slipping through the cracks of two parallel systems under tremendous pressure amid a housing crisis.
“I’m trying to better my life and that’s all I want to do,” Short said. “When you’re outside and hopping from couch to couch, it’s depressing. It’s getting to me right now. I’m about to break down here right now, because it’s not right.”
