On Friday morning, the sun comes out of hiding and shines through the glass doors and into the comfy lobby of Under One Roof.
The scene is reminiscent of a family living room crossed with a small-town airport.
Folks are sipping steaming coffee from paper cups while glancing up at the morning news being broadcast from the TV suspended above the brightly-coloured accent chairs and sofa.
A woman with a suitcase scrolls through her phone.
One resident stops at the bouquet of roses on the reception desk and takes a long sniff.
Staff and residents stop to chat with each other about how they are feeling and what is new.
Residents come down the elevator, greet each other and zip their coats against the February chill as they head out.
Lisa Young, programs and services manager with Squamish Helping Hands, comes out into the lobby wearing a magenta scarf and army-green vest, her eyes crinkling in a smile above her mask.
Five minutes with Young, who moved to Squamish from Newfoundland in Grade 1, and you can see why over the years several of her clients have contacted the paper to say we should feature her.
She has a way of making you want to tell her your life story. She listens intently and considers her responses carefully.
The Squamish Chief sat down with Young for a chat in the ground-floor boardroom at Under One Roof as several residents gathered to soak up some sun on the sidewalk outside the window.
What follows is an edited version of that conversation combined with a follow-up email exchange.
Q: You have served marginalized or vulnerable locals for about 15 years, right?
A. Yes, I never intended to work in the helping profession. I have a business management background. I worked at newspapers for several years, actually.
Then I volunteered for the Strengthening Families program years ago. It was quickly apparent that working with marginalized folks came very naturally to me and it just felt right.
Q: What have you learned about people and what divides us as a community? What do you wish folks who have never struggled knew about those you work with?
A: I have learned that fear can make people very judgemental. The vast majority of clients that I work with are exceptional people who have lived and continue to live incredibly difficult lives and have a 'shit ton' of resilience. I have also learned that when you have a handful of people that are very vocal and with complex behaviours, it can sometimes paint a picture that everyone who is substance-affected or has mental health concerns presents this way. This is just not true. I would also like to acknowledge that there are also many agencies in Squamish in the helping profession that do incredible work and really help people to move forward. We need to highlight this work and not continually focus on the negative.
Q. What are some things that anyone can do that would really help those you have worked with?
A: Simply educate yourself so you can understand what it means to be a vulnerable individual. Help create a community where vulnerable people feel understood or have a sense of belonging. Become trauma-informed. Understand that the clients that we serve are members of our families. (There is a screening of The Wisdom of Trauma and conversation being held Feb. 17. Go to the Squamish Public Library site to register.)
Q: How have the changes in Squamish impacted you and your work?
A: The housing crisis has such an impact on people that are low-income and have roots in this community. They have been displaced. I am very passionate about this as I work with many people that have lived here all their whole lives and are not able to find or sustain a home. Then we have people that have just moved here with such strong opinions about how Squamish should move forward without considering where we came from and the people we are leaving behind.
Q: What are you proudest of, and what are some challenges you want to see tackled going forward?
A: I think I am proudest of the relationships I have built over the years. Personally and professionally. I certainly have not been perfect, but I have tried to always be respectful and kind.
I think the helping profession can really get worn down by the very real complex issues that we are facing in this world today. I certainly don’t have all the answers, but I know that we must come together to stop the overdose crisis. What we are doing is not working and people are dying. Safe supply and reducing stigma through awareness and education is just the beginning.
Q: You have such a calm and confident way about you. Where did that come from?
A: I don't know that I have confidence. I think that when I had brain surgery for an aneurysm in 2019, there was a point afterwards that my nervous system dysregulated — I mean, I've gone through difficult times in my life, but I've never experienced despair — I felt despair for the first time in my life.
Absolute despair.
After that, once I regulated, it was a real turning point.
I think that it was probably one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Though it was the hardest thing I've ever been through my entire life.
I am just me. I no longer feel anxious. I feel so kind of empowered in my life right now. Even though this work is really hard, it's still empowering to be in it as my whole self.
The community of Squamish — where I have lived almost my entire life — really supported me.
I had never felt so loved, so supported. I don't think I've ever really thanked everybody.
I am so grateful, you know, that at a really dark time in my life it became a really amazing supportive time in my life too. People did so many things for me. People were stopping by, dropping off meals — so many meals!
Q: What do you wish teenage Lisa knew?
A: So many things! First good for you, Lisa! You are already surrounding yourself with wonderful people, people who will continue to be your lifelong friends all these years later. Second, don’t be so afraid to have children, you will make a ton of mistakes, but OMG you did good! Third, thank goodness you were allowed to make all of your teenage big mistakes and they didn’t play out on social media. Finally, buy as much Squamish real estate as you can.
"About a local" is a regular column that features an interesting Squamish local. Have an idea for someone we should feature? Email [email protected].
