Amanda Luttman91裸聊视频檚 message is kindness.

Luttman knows too well what it91裸聊视频檚 like to live on the streets of Salmon Arm, to be part of a small network of people who support each other as best they can.

Luttman was born and raised in Salmon Arm. Her addiction to drugs started with smoking pot. In her early 20s, she starting dabbling in MDMA or ecstasy. Although she sometimes drank alcohol, she didn91裸聊视频檛 drink much, and now, never.

91裸聊视频淚 still won91裸聊视频檛 have a drink because I can91裸聊视频檛 risk it,91裸聊视频� she said.

She progressed to cocaine and other drugs. The first time she used methamphetamine was when she was 28 or 29.

91裸聊视频淲hen I used fentanyl, I was hooked instantly. It was mental (addiction) at first. I didn91裸聊视频檛 need it right away. But I liked it too much, it just turned everything off, it just blanked my mind. I didn91裸聊视频檛 care about anything. All the guilt and shame in my life was gone.91裸聊视频�

In reality, all it did was put a Band-Aid on her pain, she realized.

91裸聊视频淚 was playing Russian roulette with my life.91裸聊视频�

She said a lot of people have used much longer, but she wanted to be a mother to her son again. He91裸聊视频檚 now nine.

Luttman went through treatment in the Lower Mainland, is now living in housing with women who had similar experiences and is doing well.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 working again. I didn91裸聊视频檛 ever think I91裸聊视频檇 be on the streets. I used to have a home with my son. It just progressed91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

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She believes options for help are available, if people could be aware of their mental health.

91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 a really huge thing. A lot of people use because it91裸聊视频檚 self medicating, right?

91裸聊视频淚 have ADD and ADHD. I found that using meth, I was able to focus and do all the things I didn91裸聊视频檛 have the energy to do91裸聊视频� I felt I was like Wonder Woman when I was on it91裸聊视频� I could go to work and have all this energy, get my job done; I thought it helped with burnout.91裸聊视频�

As Luttman91裸聊视频檚 addictions began to pick up, she left her son with her mom.

91裸聊视频淚 felt guilty and I didn91裸聊视频檛 want to traumatize him, find his mom dead or something like that.91裸聊视频�

This was before the Salvation Army91裸聊视频檚 move to McGuire Lake during Covid, and she91裸聊视频檇 often stay in the Lighthouse Shelter in the winter. People would line up in the cold and when the doors would open, they91裸聊视频檇 be given a meal and could have a shower or do laundry. By 8 in the morning, they were back out in the cold.

91裸聊视频淲inters were brutal,91裸聊视频� she said.

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Sometimes she would have blankets hidden in the fairgrounds and might huddle up there. Once she almost died from having propane in her tent with no ventilation.

Most of the restaurants got tired of unhoused people coming in, although one was pretty good, she said.

Luttman said she was kicked out of the shelter a few times for using drugs, or her roommate using, or for being late.

91裸聊视频淭hey have a system 91裸聊视频� you get kicked out for a day, a week, a month, and then indefinitely.91裸聊视频�

She said she still has a bit of resentment when a woman who had been drinking put alcohol in the shelter washroom. Then all the women were kicked out indefinitely and the woman didn91裸聊视频檛 91裸聊视频榝ess up.91裸聊视频�

Luttman received kindness from strangers, such as a person who was doing janitorial duties and let her warm up several times in their supply room.

Vinny Larson, who died in 2020 when his makeshift home caught fire, was a good friend and would allow her to stay at his camp near Buckerfield91裸聊视频檚.

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Luttman squatted near the Canoe Beach dog park in the summer for a while but was on methadone, wasn91裸聊视频檛 eating, was breathing wildfire smoke and started getting very sick.

A business owner offered to pay her bus fare from Canoe so she could work for him. That tided her over for a while.

She ended up having to leave all her belongings in Canoe, and at other times, in other places.

Some support was available on the streets in Salmon Arm, she said. Outreach workers would check on them, they knew where all the camps were, and would give them snacks and toques in winter.

She said she feels badly about what she put her mother through, who would sometimes try to find her.

Luttman attempted to get clean more than once but relapsed and ended up back on the street. She said getting off drugs was impossible when she was living rough because life was too hard.

She urges kindness for fellow human beings who are struggling.

91裸聊视频淪ure you chose to pick up that first drug or first drink. But with addiction, it91裸聊视频檚 no longer a choice. You do it against your own will. It91裸聊视频檚 basically what addiction is.

91裸聊视频淚 feel if people understood that, they would be more compassionate. I wish that there was more shelter out there for people and more options for people to get out of the situation and not have to leave town.91裸聊视频�

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She doesn91裸聊视频檛 think anyone realizes just how bad the housing situation is in Salmon Arm.

91裸聊视频淏igger cities have more support for the homeless and more awareness. You don91裸聊视频檛 even have to be using drugs or alcohol. The landlord could be selling your place. Anybody could be out there. It91裸聊视频檚 hard. People look at you differently. They all know. It didn91裸聊视频檛 matter how nice I was dressed or did my hair, it felt like everyone knew.91裸聊视频�

She was lucky as she had her mom for support, she said. There are people who have no family except the people on the street.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 super hard to leave them. I feel alone out here. I91裸聊视频檓 not, I have girls in recovery.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 hard to think about them, who91裸聊视频檚 going to survive, who91裸聊视频檚 going to die, who91裸聊视频檚 going to make it out. I know people91裸聊视频檚 personal stories and not one of them deserve this. I just believe that being kind will make a difference in someone91裸聊视频檚 life.91裸聊视频�

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