Q: How old are you and how did you end up on the street? A: I am 48 and I have been homeless for two years and three months. I was a cook and stuff and ended up on the street because of mental health issues, addiction to alcohol. It just happened. Q: What can the city do to help? A: Affordable housing. That's what I need I need some place I can afford to live so I don't have to live like this anymore. That's all it takes. I quite drinking I've been sober for ten months and all I need is a place to live, I live outside because I can't live in places like this (shelter)because there is too many people crammed into such a small place, no privacy, you can't read a book without someone bugging you, stealing your stuff. Q: Are you capable of working? A: No, I have arthritis, a bad heart and the whole nine yards. Social housing I bet you would be able to get half the people off the streets. Some people will never leave the streets because that's what they choose.