Community comes together for two homeless sisters living in motel room

Offers of help have poured in after the publication of a story about sisters who lost rented trailer after eviction

After the story about Linda and Louise Nason’s plight appeared in The Coast Clarion, two people have offered laptop computers, another two people have started a GoFundMe-campaign, and they say the owners of the motel have told them they will not raise the rates for them. BC Housing will pay the storage fees for their belongings.

Louise, 62, and Linda, 67, lost their home at the end of October after the two-bedroom trailer they rented was sold. The landlord has to appear in Sechelt provincial court on May 24 and May 25 on charges of “willfully obstructing, interrupting or interfering with the lawful use enjoyment or operation of the property” by the tenant, plus causing a disturbance; his cousin has been charged with uttering death threats.

The sisters have lived in a small motel room in Gibsons since October 30. Louise, 62, is on disability and Linda, 67, has only 50 per cent of her heart function. With their joint income of $2,756.22 they have not been able to find a place to rent in Gibsons. They want to stay in Gibsons because their friends, their church and their doctor are here, and they do not have a car. When they need to see a medical specialist in Vancouver, the ferry is close.

Louise walked to the Copyshop every day to use the computer to look for rentals, which cost $80 a month.  A Gibsons woman on disability has now bought the sisters a refurbished laptop, with which they are “very, very happy.”

Another woman had offered them a laptop as well; she was waiting for a new cord.

Sunshine Coast residents Nadine Olsen and Kristopher Hewitt have started a GoFundMe-campaign on January 14 which raised $430 within a day. The goal is $5,000. They want to help Louise and Linda with their expenses and to buy healthy food while they are living without a proper rental. Linda and Louise find it difficult to cook healthy meals in the motel room.

Donations for them can also be dropped off at Sunshine Coast Hearing at the Gibson’s IGA Mall.

Linda and Louise are very happy with all the help and hope they will find a place to rent.