Unhoused P.E.I. man saving money to become a farmer

By Gomathi Sridevi Radhakrishnan

September 21, 2023.

Stacy Codlin, 36, unhoused P.E.I. man is saving money to start his own farm. Gomathi Sridevi Radhakrishnan photo.

Stacy Codlin, 36, felt his life turning upside down when the pandemic hit.

Everything that belonged to him was lost, leaving him jobless and without a place to live.

“I’ve been living on the streets for two years and carrying my tent with me wherever I go.”

Codlin moved from Ontario to P.E.I. after the pandemic. The only thing that he has with him is his tent. When he roams the streets, he hides his tent safely inside a downtown building and gets it back at night.

“I walk around the streets, since I have nowhere to go.”

Despite the homeless crisis in P.E.I., Codlin has been saving some money for his dreams.

“I want to become a farmer. I have farming work experience and I know how to do all this. I love farming.”

Codlin does not hold a steady job that would provide him with a regular income. He relies on the cash he makes from standing in the streets each day.

“I make 60 to 70 dollars a day doing this. I buy some food, and items that I need. Sometimes I buy clothes from Walmart and stuff. And go to freecycle (a ‘free’ market that offers clothing, useable items and food) whenever they put up in the parks.”

Codlin occasionally misses out on eating three meals a day like other people because he doesn't have a consistent source of money.

“I eat like two meals a day with whatever money I make. I have gone without eating for three days straight. But I saved some from not eating.”

He doesn't have a set location in mind where he can pitch his tent. Last summer, he stayed with some people who were kind enough to provide him a shelter.

“In summer, I’ve met a couple of people, and they live in the countryside. They told me I could stay with them. So, there I stayed by doing the farming work and helping them. But after a few months, they dropped me back in the town here.”

Not everyone he encountered helped him. There were times when Codlin had gotten hurt.

“Some people are really nice to me and some are just rude. You know, they stop by and tell me off for no reason.”

However, he never gives up, working hard despite the difficulties he faces every day.

“I want to change my life. I want to find some work and get my own spot. I just don’t want to live on the street anymore. I’m just sick of doing this.”

Not only Codlin, but people like him who are homeless want to change something in their lives.

Shaun MacDonald, 45, has been living in the homeless shelters with his brother for some time.

“After I graduated from high school, my brother and I moved here from New Brunswick. I couldn’t afford to go to college and had to look after my brother, so I tried a lot of jobs to do.”

Though MacDonald tried different things, not many people offered or accepted him because of lack of resources and qualifications. He doesn’t get much from standing in the streets.

“It varies from day-to-day. Sometimes it can be 50 to 60 dollars a day and other days it’s five to 10 dollars.”

Nevertheless, MacDonald receives a monthly allowance and some assistance from the government.

“Government gives me little bit at the end of every month, but it doesn’t seem to last for a long time and social services get my medication covered.”

A few years ago, MacDonald became addicted to alcohol and spent a year in a rehabilitation center to overcome his addiction.

“My life situation made me an alcoholic. But I realized my brother depends on me. So, I took charge of my life and decided to do something good for both of us.”

MacDonald started saving money after some time, to make his dream come true.

“I have always wanted to own my own business in programming and repairing computers. I must work on a few things and if I could do that, I can stand on my own.

At the end of the day, it’s all about the survival.”

Elysha Whitlock, the program co-ordinator of the Homeless Helper Program, spoke about how they assist those in need of food and shelter.

“Right now, we have 58 clients, and we provide them with tents, sleeping bags, tarps, blankets and clothing. We serve hot meals two days a week. Snacks and drinks for seven days a week.”

They also assist them with transportation to and from medical appointments.

“We help them with job searches and building resumes and assist people facing evictions with their IRAC hearings.”

Through this program, they have helped several people with food and a place to stay. But she also noted they provide some comfort to these people, they couldn’t reach out to every homeless person in P.E.I.

Codlin was among those unaware of this program.

“I know how starving is and all I want is to become a farmer and feed those people who are struggling to have one decent meal in their lives.

All I can do is take day by day and hoping my day gets better. All I can do is just hope.”