This homeless couple never thought they'd be on the streets

This past April, Louis LaButte was laid off from his job. It was also about that time, LaButte explained, that his landlord wanted to hike the rent. 

And so he and his partner, Lisa Anderson, ended up on the street with their dog, Pebbles.

"We don't have a lot. I never thought I'd be homeless at my age," said 52-year-old Anderson through tears. Anderson was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis and collects disability benefits.

Staying at a shelter with a dog has proved difficult, so for the last few weeks the couple has been sleeping in an alcove in front of a business on Dundas Street, and every morning they clean up their pillows and sleeping bags, put them in a shopping cart, and walk around the city.

"I push the grocery cart all over to city trying to find an apartment or some money so we can survive and then we come back here at night time and unload the grocery cart and redo it all again tomorrow," said LaButte.

The couple hasn't had much luck finding a place to live. Anderson figures they could afford $1,000 per month for rent and utilities.

"Trying to find a place is hard because most landlords want first and last month's rent, they want credit checks, they want employment checks, they want landlord history, they want background checks and they want all this banking information," LaButte explained.

And if there is an affordable apartment out there, it's snapped up immediately, said Anderson. "It's just unbelievable how fast it goes and it's always people that have the stuff that get it."

Plus, Anderson said, showing up to view an apartment with a shopping cart is tough. "Everyone judges you, 'Oh you've got a shopping cart. You're homeless with a dog. We don't want to rent to you.' It's hard. It's very discouraging."

LaButte said they recently came across one affordable apartment. "It was a two bedroom, it was all inclusive. It was $899, it was a great location, but as soon as they did a credit check, they pretty much said, 'Sorry, we can't rent to you, you have bad credit.'  

So, for now the couple is just trying to survive. They head to London's east end each day to eat breakfast and lunch, and then usually eat dinner at a downtown church. By 11 p.m., they're back in their alcove on Dundas.

Don't feel safe

Both LaButte and Anderson carry knives. They say life on the street is dangerous, particularly in the east end.

"You've got your druggies, you've got your prostitutes, you've got people who just want to act tough, and if you look at them the wrong way, they'll beat you up, or even stab you or kill you," said LaButte.

Anderson fought back tears as she talked about her safety. "He's protecting me. I've got someone to take care of me. I wouldn't survive on the streets alone. It's too hard."

The couple has relied on a number of social agencies since they ended up on the street: the Ark Aid Street Mission, the St. Joseph's Hospitality Centre and The Salvation Army.

For now, LaButte said he is just focused on keeping his partner and dog safe.

"Waking up and surviving for the next day, able to make sure that Lisa and the dog get fed, are well taken care of and they're safe. Being able to see the future and hoping we can find an apartment and get off the streets, and able to help other people."

And a message for people walking by their make-shift home? Anderson said, "Don't judge. You don't know the situation. If you sit and get to know us, not all of us are bad people, we're just in a bind."