She’s seven months pregnant and homeless, but thanks to the generosity of a virtual stranger, an Okanagan woman and her spouse have a temporary roof over their heads.
That roof is made of fabric, but it’s free. Chantelle Warner and her spouse Ryan Dubois are living in a tent in a Vernon area woman’s backyard. They say they have no other choice.
“Even with me working eight-hour shifts, a full-time salary, I’m struggling to try and pay rent,” said Dubois.
The average rental price in Vernon is $850 per month.
Early July Midge Smith stepped in. She met the pair through a friend and offered her own backyard as a place to sleep.
“We’re not heroes.We’re just a family that’s opened our doors,” said Smith.
Warner and Tubois have lived in Smith’s backyard since July 15 and are hoping to save up enough money to rent a place of their own before their baby girl is born.
They’ve now expanded to two tents: one to sleep in and another to hold all the donations they’ve received from area residents; housewarming gifts like dressers, baby supplies and more so they have something to call their own when they do have a place.
While some might be questioning why Smith decided to help the couple out, she asks, why not?
“These young people aren’t addicts or criminals, they come from homes. They’re people first,” said Smith. “If anything comes out of this, I want it to be that people trust again, share what they have.”
And while they know it’s only temporary, the couple say the Smith’s feel like family.
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