Jacob & Aaron's Story - Like Heaven

Brothers Jacob and Aaron say they had a pretty idyllic childhood, complete with the usual “teenage shenanigans.” That all changed when their father was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer when they were 17 and 16 years old. When their dad died, Jacob and Aaron lived briefly with their grandfather, but his own age and health made it impossible to care for the brothers and he had to sell the house. Jacob and Aaron entered the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development(MCFD).

When a you thin MCFD care turns 19, they “age out” and can suddenly find themselves on their own navigating a complex web of social services, and at immediate risk of homelessness. For the brothers, it also meant being separated for the first time in their lives.

40%of unhoused youth have their first experience of homelessness before the age of 16.  We can change that.

Through the combined care and support of CMHA Kelowna, MCFD and outreach workers, the brothers found a home at CMHA Kelowna’s Bright Mindz Youth Housing. Bright Mindz was a good, but temporary, fit and they both thrived. Their grandfather was living in a senior’s building just across the street, making important family visits possible. They gained employment, earned their driver’s licenses, purchased vehicles, built strong friendships, and brought a positive, uplifting energy to the building.

As they reached their program goals, CMHA’s team advocated for a move into the community through our Scattered Site housing program. Moving to a scattered site would mean they could finally have their own place, sharing a home instead of occupying separate micro-suites at Bright Mindz. Supported by a transition case manager and the youth team, they moved into a scattered site in September. CMHA Kelowna holds the lease, liaises with the landlord and ensures affordable rent. But Jacob and Aaron (now 20 and 21 years old) pay the bills, manage the responsibility, and enjoy the strong sense of ownership and pride as independent adults.

For Jacob and Aaron, being together is important. Jacob reflects, “That was an extra step that someone took to say, ‘Oh, these are these brothers have been together their whole lives. We should try and keep them together.’ It also meant they could be reunited with their two cats, who keep them busy with their distinct personalities and a return of “shenanigans” to the home 😊

With independent, stable living comes the freedom to pursue their own interests and dreams. “It's strange,” says Jacob. “I think when we first viewed the house, we didn't really believe it. You know, it was like kind of a sense of shock...[I]t's probably the fastest I've settled in any one of these places that I've been moved into…[We] were told to move to [Bright Mindz], we had the option to move here. So, it feels like it's really, you know, our place. We chose to be here. It's very independent; we're adults now. We can have a barbecue and garden and mow the lawn and just have a blast. It's like heaven, pretty much. That's all I've wanted for a long time was to just be a family and just do things together.”

When asked what they would want other young people facing similar challenges to know, Jacob and Aaron want people to know that help is there. “Some things that I wish I knew when I was really worrying was honestly just that they had options, right?” says Aaron. “[CMHA] had people you could talk to; they had actual ways that you could rent a place without being of age…Even if you're a grown person who has everything together, finding a house in this city is not the easiest thing to do.” About CMHA Kelowna, Jacob says he wishes it could be broadcast on a “bulletin board of the city…just, ‘If you need help, come here.”

“It feelsl ike things have come full circle,” he says. “Thank you, guys for all the support.”

Watch Jacob & Aaron's story here.

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