Single mother ready to move after rough patch

Isabelle has had to learn some tough lessons over the last few years. “I was always a generous person, ready to help everyone,” the 39-year-old recalled. “But when I needed help, it felt like everyone disappeared.” She said she’s now more selective about who she surrounds herself with, hoping to provide her three children — all under the age of three — with a safe and healthy environment in which to grow up. Working toward that goal, she and her kids will finally be moving from the shelter they’ve been living in for the last year and a half to an apartment of their own in January. “I’m excited to have my own things, to be alone with my kids,” said Isabelle. “I’ll be a lot more relaxed.” But preparing for the move is a challenge. Isabelle is in school full time, working to complete her high school education before moving on to study social sciences in CEGEP. Her studies leave her with little time to prepare for the transition. She also explained that when she left the father of her children, she lost all of her possessions. She’ll need to use her limited income to repurchase everything

I was always a generous person, ready to help everyone. But when I needed help, it felt like everyone disappeared.

for their future home. And as the list becomes longer, Isabelle said, she has been feeling more overwhelmed. With no family in Montreal, Isabelle has been struggling on her own. One day, she said, she hopes to bring her children back to her hometown in the Gaspésie, where her family still lives. But with so little money, she’s unsure of when that might happen. “Every cent that I have is carefully counted to make sure that my kids have a place to sleep, that I can get what I need for my apartment.” This year, Isabelle said, the $125 cheque she’ll receive from the Montreal Gazette Christmas Fund will go straight toward furnishing her new home. Every year, the fund helps thousands of Montrealers in need through the holiday season. “(The cheque) will give me a hand,” she said. “It’s coming at just the right time.”