From hope to hardship: Nigerians in Canada share homelessness struggles
Two Nigerians, identified as Simi and Peter, have opened up about the challenges they face as immigrants in Canada.
In a video circulating on social media on Monday, they both explained that they moved to the country with hopes of a brighter future, but unforeseen circumstances have pushed them to the brink of homelessness.
Narrating her story, Simi, who moved to Canada alone to pursue her studies, recalled the initial excitement of arriving in the country.
“When I came to Canada, I was going to school in Hamilton, so it was pretty good. I was in boarding school, so it was pretty good,” she said.
Despite the promising start, Simi said that her journey took a turn when a failed business investment and rising housing costs in Toronto derailed her plans.
“It’s a long story, but it’s mostly because I invested in a business idea that failed. I was running colleges down the street, and I had a fashion business,” she explained.
The soaring cost of housing compounded her struggles.
“There is an issue with housing. It’s not so much detox, it’s not so much hospitals, it’s not so much the mental health, like the therapy. It’s more so housing that there’s issues with,” she said.
Simi also added that she battles anxiety, which makes traditional employment challenging.
“I struggle with anxiety. And so working on a 9-to-5 is quite difficult. I’m trying to figure out what to do and how to balance myself,” she added.
When asked if she is currently homeless, Simi said, “I’m working on it.”
Meanwhile, 25-year-old Peter noted that he arrived in Canada as a student in December 2023, with his father as his financial sponsor.
However, tragedy struck when his father suffered a stroke, leaving him unable to continue supporting Peter.
“I came in as a student. I was doing good, but all of a sudden my dad, who was my sponsor, fell sick. He got a stroke. So they were unable to support me again,” Peter explained.
Now homeless, Peter expressed his immediate need for shelter.
When asked what he needed the most, he replied, “Shelter. They help me the most.”
