For many seniors, retirement should bring comfort and stability.
For 76-year-old David Turner, however, it has meant months of living out of his car after being evicted from his Charlottetown home in Prince Edward Island.
Faced with mounting debts and rising rent, Turner’s life took a heartbreaking turn, leaving him to navigate daily survival from the confines of his KIA SUV.
The Lonely Reality of Homelessness
Turner’s car serves as his bedroom, kitchen, and personal storage.
Inside, bags of clothes, utensils, and personal belongings are neatly arranged, yet the confinement cannot mask the isolation.
“That hurts,” he told CTV News. “Being alone all of the time.”
Through harsh winters and fleeting stays in emergency shelters, Turner has faced not just the elements, but the crushing emotional weight of solitude.
He described the experience as “very depressing,” a stark reminder of how homelessness can erode more than physical well-being.
A Touch of Family Amid the Hardship
Amid the struggle, Turner found a glimmer of warmth from his family in Halifax.
Hoping to lift his spirits, his grandchildren sent a surprise Christmas package that he almost missed while moving between shelters.
“There was a Tim’s card and pictures of my grandkids and that brought tears to my eyes,” he said, his voice cracking.
“It was supposed to be Christmas, but I got it and I called it my birthday present.”
Rising Costs Leave Seniors Struggling
Turner places much of the blame for his predicament on the soaring cost of living in Canada.
“The cost of everything is just crazy,” he said. “Seniors are struggling because of the cost of living, the cost of rent, and the lack of affordable housing.”
Authorities in Prince Edward Island have acknowledged that the region is grappling with an aging population and insufficient senior housing.
A government report last year noted that housing supply has “no longer kept up” with population growth, creating challenges across all Canadian provinces and territories.
Shelter Life Offers Temporary Relief
Turner has navigated the patchwork of local shelters in search of safety.
Last year, he took refuge at Bedford MacDonald House, a 10-bed men’s shelter run by the Salvation Army, which allows 21-day stays.
Two days before Christmas, his stay ended, and he moved to the Park Street Emergency Shelter, which he described as “unnerving,” especially due to reports of theft within the facility.
Despite these challenges, Turner also praised the support he received.
From a dedicated outreach worker to the Salvation Army’s breakfast program, he has found pockets of relief and human connection.
Hope on the Horizon Despite Debt and Expenses
Turner is now planning to find a more permanent home, though financial obligations remain a barrier.
“I’m working as quickly and best I can to get rid of my debt. I have my other bills, my medications, my car expenses,” he said.
Although he receives a pension, Turner’s income isn’t sufficient to cover rent, and some senior housing options are unavailable to him due to income cutoffs.
He calls the situation a housing “crisis” and warns of the desperate apartment shortage that has left many Canadians in limbo.
Looking Forward
Even as Turner faces uncertainty, his determination to regain stability is clear.
With family support and his own resilience, he is navigating a housing market that has left too many seniors without a roof over their heads.
His story is a stark reminder of the struggles faced by older adults amid Canada’s affordability crisis.