A van isn91裸聊视频檛 the best home, for either a person or an umbrella cockatoo with a fondness for 1950s rock music.
Langley91裸聊视频檚 Diane Miller has been living in a van for the past several months, one of many local seniors who have been forced to live in a vehicle or a trailer because they simply cannot find anywhere affordable and safe to live.
Living with Miller is Rocky, a 28-year-old umbrella cockatoo, and her constant companion for the last 13 years.
Rocky likes people 91裸聊视频� he will happily step onto the arm or shoulder of someone he91裸聊视频檚 just met 91裸聊视频� he speaks and says hello, will steal people91裸聊视频檚 hats right off their heads, and he likes dancing to Elvis, especially 91裸聊视频楯ailhouse Rock.91裸聊视频�
Start playing the King, and he91裸聊视频檒l bob his head, raise his feathered crest, and dart back and forth cheerfully.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not a good environment, but I don91裸聊视频檛 want to give my bird up,91裸聊视频� Miller said of living in a van with Rocky. When she talks about the cockatoo, it brings a smile to her face.
Miller said her troubles with housing and finances date back to 2017. She left an abusive relationship, and since then has lived in a variety of places, including women91裸聊视频檚 transitional housing, motel rooms, and rented rooms in homes with multiple tenants. In some of them, she suffered thefts or even physical attacks.
For many years, Miller was a stained glass artist, creating pieces that were installed around the Lower Mainland, and instructed at Kwantlen Polytechnic.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檇 still be doing it today if I could,91裸聊视频� Miller said.
She has also worked as a hairdresser and doing landscaping work.
But one of her favourite things to do was taking Rocky into schools and seniors homes. She visited many Langley residences, and said that Rocky could bring a smile to the faces of seniors, even those suffering from memory loss and Alzheimer91裸聊视频檚. She was featured in .
She also took him to major events like the Cloverdale Rodeo, or was available for birthday parties.
Over the last few years, her income has been seriously diminished. Miller said she is living primarily on Old Age Security at present, and has had problems with overdraft charges and identity theft.
At age 67, and living with chronic pain, she wants to work and find somewhere stable for her and Rocky to live.
91裸聊视频淚 want to work with my bird,91裸聊视频� she said, whether that means film and TV productions, or in-person appearances.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 not managing well with this homelessness, it91裸聊视频檚 expensive,91裸聊视频� Miller said.
Keeping the van going and just surviving costs her about $1,000 a month, she noted.
91裸聊视频淚 need housing,91裸聊视频� Miller said. But with the cost of rent and her financial issues, she hasn91裸聊视频檛 been able to find anywhere decent she and Rocky can live.
The number of seniors living in their cars around Langley, or even on the streets, is growing, according to Wendy Rachwalski, manager of community services at Langley Senior Resources Society (LSRS).
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e got people living under bypasses that are seniors,91裸聊视频� she said.
The LSRS is working to help people when it can, including through a donation-funded Seniors in Need program. But they simply don91裸聊视频檛 have the funding to help everyone, and neither do other Langley-based aid groups.
91裸聊视频淲e need immediate responses now to support them,91裸聊视频� Rachwalski said of seniors without homes or living in their cars. 91裸聊视频淲e need more subsidized rent geared to income.91裸聊视频�
Both short- and long-term solutions are required, said Rachwalski.
91裸聊视频淎nd it feels like nothing91裸聊视频檚 moving in either direction quick enough.91裸聊视频�
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