The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Thursday, M arch 19, 2015 - The IFP - H alton H ills - w w w .theifp.ca Page 29 For the "Ultimate Cleaning Experience" call us today at Mention this ad and receive a 15% discount www.classicmaids.ca Email: classicmaids@bellnet.ca 905•873•0777 I 416•449•9518 If time is a problem, we're the solution. • One cleaning specialist for your home • Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or occasionally • Trained and supervised • Bonded and insured • Hire a reliable maid service that guarantees the highest quality of traditional cleaning • Gift certificates available "We take the stress out of finding a good reliable maid" • Safe • Affordable • Gentle • Certified technicians • Comfortable home environment Bare Image electrolysIs & laser Inc. Since 1999 Serving Halton Hills Since 1999 with Laser Hair Removal Permanent Results!! 97 King St., Georgetown • 905-873-6388 • www.bareimage.ca 6868%68SAVE UP TO FRI. MAR. 20 HOT DEALS ON ELECTRONICS! FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES! *We'd love to include advertised product but we can't.t. oduct but we can'e'd love to include advertised pr*W t. oduct but we can'e'd love to include advertised pr*W NOOO HST ON APPLIANCES!* GET EXCLUSIVE MANUFACTURER REBATES! t. oduct but we can'e'd love to include advertised pr*W t. oduct but we can'e'd love to include advertised pr*W t. oduct but we can'e'd love to include advertised pr*W t. oduct but we can'e'd love to include advertised pr*W t. oduct but we can'e'd love to include advertised pr*W t. oduct but we can'e'd love to include advertised pr*W t. oduct but we can'e'd love to include advertised pr*W t. oduct but we can'e'd love to include advertised pr*W t. oduct but we can'e'd love to include advertised pr*W t. oduct but we can'e'd love to include advertised pr*W t. oduct but we can'e'd love to include advertised pr*W t. oduct but we can'e'd love to include advertised pr*W t. oduct but we can'e'd love to include advertised pr*W t. oduct but we can'e'd love to include advertised pr*W t. oduct but we can'e'd love to include advertised pr*W t. oduct but we can'e'd love to include advertised pr*W FRI. MAR. 20 DOORS OPEN AT 8AM APPLIANCES!NOOO HST ON IIIIIIIV VESA FRI. MAR. 20 TTRESSES!MAFURNITURE AND TTRESSES!MAFURNITURE AND TTRESSES!MAFURNITURE AND IIIIIIII VESA TTRESSES!MAFURNITURE AND TTRESSES!MAFURNITURE AND PVESAPPVESAPVESASales EventVVVVTOMORROW ONLY!VV SEE OUR FLYER IN TODAY'S PAPER! VISIT US ONLINE AT BADBOY.CA Book your FREE estimate NOW: bauerpainting.com Professional interior Painting Call 905-703-1221 JOIN AND GET A TWO WAYS TO PARTICIPATE THEN JOIN AND GET A $0 ENROLLMENT FEE* ENROLLMENT FEE* 2 WEEKSONLY!$0 BRING IN A $30 CHECK TO YOUR LOCAL CURVES CENTER BRING IN A GROCERY BAG FILLED WITH NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS 905-702-0418 41 Main St South, Georgetown CURVES.COM 1.800.CURVES30 * Monthly fees via EFT required. Offer based on first visit enrollment for a 12 month recurring billing membership. Offer expires 3/27/15. Valid at participating locations only. No cash value. 100% of $30 donation is being given to the charity of the center's choice. Ask your center for more details. Monthly fees vary by location. © 2015 CURVES INTERNATIONAL, INC. (1503) COMMENT Homelessness stigma stings-- even 17 years later I'm overwhelmed by the response I've re- ceived since my stories on homelessness were published last month. The calls, e-mails, social media com- mentary and face-to-face feedback far surpassed anything I've ever experienced since becoming a journalist. I'm thrilled so many people took the time to read my words and are now talking to others about this important and very real issue. While I've long had a passion for spreading the word on humanitarian is- sues, there's an extra reason why these sto- ries were so important for me to write. Once upon a time, I was homeless too. I was 17 years old, and life was going pretty well. I had a family who loved me, close circle of friends, nice house and good grades in school. But my parents had been struggling financially for years after the re- cession of the early 1990s, and on one cold winter day our world came crashing down. We were evicted. Kicked out of the only home I'd ever known. We were given 30 minutes to gather our necessities and get out. It's a surreal moment I will never for- get; one that still makes my stomach churn when I think about it. With no family in the area and nowhere to go, we moved into a motel. I can't re- member how long we lived there because it felt like time had stopped, but the four of us called that small room home until my mother was able to secure us a basement apartment. In the meantime, we were tasked with emptying out our beloved house before it was sold. We were given a total of six hours to pack up our entire lives. Even with help, it was an almost impossible task, and some precious belongings got left behind. My emotions during this time were all over the map, with fear, anger, shame and sadness topping the list. I imagine others who've been or are homeless feel the same way. I didn't want to tell anybody what had happened. I was ashamed and well aware of the negative stigma that comes along with the word "homeless." Seventeen years later, and I fear the stig- ma is still quite alive and well. The fact the people I interviewed wanted their names changed to protect their identities in the stories speaks volumes. I'm sure they wor- ried about what people would think of them or their families, and I completely understand. I did a lot of soul searching before writing this column for fear of what others might think. While society is working hard to erase stigmas that go along with issues such as mental health, somehow we're overlook- ing the fact that homelessness also isn't a choice. Nobody would ever choose to be home- less, and it can happen to anyone. All it takes is one job loss, one rent increase, one abusive situation. Yet that big societal finger pointing blame at the homeless per- son comes out and shames them at a time when they need more support than ever. Imagine what the world would be like if we rallied around homeless people like we do for others who are struggling with things they didn't choose, like bullying or depression. There are certainly some or- ganizations and people trying to do so, but sadly they're the minority. I'll leave you with the simple yet wise words from civil rights activist Jesse Jack- son: "Never look down on anybody unless you're helping them up." By Melanie Hennessey mel_hennessey@hotmail.com The View From Here