Sudbury woman who lived in a collapsed tent now has a roof over her head

A 60-year-old Sudbury woman, formerly homeless and living in a collapsed tent, now has an indoor room. Alana Everson shares her update.

A 60-year-old Sudbury, Ont., woman who was homeless and living outdoors in a collapsed tent in Energy Court now has a place to live indoors and is grateful to the people who reached out to help her.

Christine Robert, who has mental health issues and osteoarthritis in her back and hip, is now living in a rooming house. CTV News shared her story earlier this month, when Robert said someone damaged her tent at Energy Court because she didn’t give them a cigarette.

But her situation improved after she was able to move into a rooming house.

“I don’t have to freeze to go to the bathroom,” Robert said Monday.

“I don’t have to freeze to go in to get somewhere warm.”

Robert had been homeless since April after she was evicted from her Sudbury Housing unit for not looking after her apartment, something she admits was her own fault.

After her story aired on CTV News, Robert said many people offered new tents and support.

“I really appreciate it, like, it came at a very, very helpful time and desperate time because I did not know where I was going to go or do,” said Robert.

Outreach workers also helped her connect with the landlord of the rooming house, who also saw the story.

“Very, very grateful — you don’t know how much. She is a lifesaver,” said Robert.

The Go Give Project confirmed it helped Robert with support and transportation from Energy Court to the rooming house, where she is paying rent.

Now that she has a place to stay, Robert said she has deep compassion and concern for everyone living outdoors as the weather gets colder and colder.

“I am hoping and wishing and praying that something comes up (for them) or even the city steps in and does something because (they) are freezing out there,” she said.

Robert says she is happy to have a bed, a bathroom and food all under one roof.

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