Deborah: Dental Surgery & A Home

Hi. My name is Ruth Lowther. I'm raising funds for Deborah Buxton, age 72. Deborah's story was recently aired on Global News TV.

Deborah needs help with funds for:-

(1.) 'a massive job and lab work to replace 3 missing front teeth';

(2.) 'ingredients and supplements for her diabetes health situation';

(3.) 'finding an affordable place to live'.

Requesting a minimum of $3,500.

Global News TV Report's article:-

'"My life is at stake": B.C. senior forced to choose between housing or medication:-

By Amy Judd & Alissa Thibault, Global News,

Posted March 27, 2024 9:26 pm

Video on their website:

'WATCH: A homeless senior says she's forced to choose to either pay for a place to live or buy her diabetes medication. Alissa Thibault reports.

'Deborah Buxton used to have a beautiful smile.

'But after breaking an old bridge crown, the North Vancouver resident has been unable to afford to get it fixed.

'Holding up a photo of what she used to look like only a few years ago, it shows a full, beautiful smile.

'“This is what it looked like just a couple of years ago before I became homeless,” Buxton said.

'In January 2022 she had to move out of the home in West Vancouver where she was working as an assistant to a family.

'The now 72-year-old ended up living in her car for a year and since last May she’s been living in the Travelodge in North Vancouver.

'The Travelodge has been leased by BC Housing since 2020 as a temporary response to support people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

'“I have to fight every day to keep my head above water,” Buxton said.

'But it was when she became diagnosed with diabetes that she started having to make some really tough choices.

'“Every single month it boils down to, ‘Can I get the supplements to stop my legs from going numb?'” Buxton said.

'“Which is basically — it’s the breaking down of the myelin sheath. Can I buy those ingredients or the supplements? Or do I pay my rent every month? It’s like that. And also, can I get a little bit of food that will help?”

'She said rent has fallen by the wayside due to the additional costs for her health.

“My life is at stake here. I feel like I’m not going to make it,” she added.

'Buxton said she has a small pension and Old Age Security but it’s not nearly enough.

'At the end of next month, Buxton is losing her home as the lease on the Travelodge is expiring.

'“BC Housing has explored a number of alternate locations to temporarily lease or purchase but has unfortunately experienced challenges in finding an alternate site on the North Shore,” BC Housing said in a statement.

'“BC Housing never wants to see anyone left without a safe and secure place to stay, which is why we are working with the Lu’ma Native Housing Society and the Aboriginal Housing Management Association to identify alternative shelter and housing options, as well as relocation supports, for the remaining guests at the Travelodge. Lu’ma has been engaging with residents and working with them on their individual relocation plans.”

'“Every day I say, ‘Maybe I should just kill myself; I’m not of use anymore. Why am I here?'” she said.

'“And I have to talk myself out of it. And everybody says, well, we’ll give you the crisis line and I say I don’t need the crisis line to talk me out of something. I need help, I need support.”'

[One 84-year-old woman in Richmond reached out to Deborah after this report was aired and gifted her car to Deborah. Global News then drove Deborah to this woman and filmed the incredibly kind gift.]

From Arthur C.:-

- 'Very sad, there must be some emergency fund.'

From Deborah:-

'Sadly , nope! I’ve tried for two years and I only received the odd bandaid. It’s not the system people assume it is; there are limited resources for too many suffering! But for the grace of God go I …….I fell through the cracks so swiftly I was shocked. Widowed twice (heavy grief) plus my dad died . All the people who believed in me gone. Serious health issues that I work at overcoming. Covid took away my extra income to stay afloat; then evicted after Covid; living in my car for a year trying to regain my footing; my car was destroyed so I lost my extra income; broke my front teeth the same day I landed in the low barrier Travelodge as temporary shelter with fentanyl users and dealers, and raging alcoholics and mental patients; bullied badly for 4 months and here I sit in a hole trying to address my nutritional deficiencies so I can stay alive in my financial hole.

'There are hundreds if not thousands of people, senior women, in my position or headed swiftly to my position .

'Toss in the stigma, the shame, the stress, the lack of resources, the lack of compassion and understanding of the situation. It’s all I can do some days to hold on !!!

'It was phenomenal that Global News picked up my story and as a result I was gifted an older car in good condition to give me a boost at getting back in the game.

❤️❤️

'The gifted car is a wonderful tool for getting back in the game. However, I am still in such a deep hole. In every respect I really do need the GFM, the help, I just need people possibly helping me get my 3 teeth fixed and finding affordable accommodation.'

From Christine M:-

'So sad, unfortunately it is a worry that more and more seniors are facing these days. After being briefly homeless myself back in 2007 I have spent the last 17 years living in a BC Housing building in the Downtown Eastside. I guess I should think myself lucky that I have a roof over my head but living in a building that's at least 90% hard core drug addicts is like being in an insane asylum and not how I expected to be spending my Golden Years. BC Housing in my opinion is useless; I have been on their transfer list for at least 7 years trying to get out of this hell hole, but because I have a place already I'm not a priority. It doesn't matter to them that I've been assaulted 3 times right outside of my building entrance or that my mental health is deteriorating to the point I barely leave my apartment. I don't have any answers or solutions to these problems but do agree we need to be more vocal to bring more awareness to the issues facing seniors today. Until reading this post I thought I was the only one facing these types of issues and was too embarrassed and ashamed to speak out. I have attended rallies put on by the Tin Cup Society and would definitely do so again, but they definitely need a much bigger attendance. Although I'm not able to help financially, any senior rallies, protests etc. count me in.

'Marianne Dumay so true. Last week I went to put in an application at a subsidized seniors building in Yaletown. They were accepting in person app's between 10-12, I arrived just before 10 & there were already 2 dozen people in line. After filling out the application I was basically told I wouldn't even be considered. Didn't matter how long I'd been waiting or how deplorable and dangerous my living conditions were.'

From Brenda E.:

'Ruth, I wonder if Deb has applied for the new Canadian Dental Care Plan? She would probably be eligible. ( over 70, and makes less than $90,000). She can apply at CanadaDOT SLASHdental.'

Deborah: 'I did ! However it's very limited coverage and huge obstacles. My teeth will be a massive job.... The lab work is the expensive part.'