People of OEV – Nikki Venair of Indwell It’s not often that I feel I can really call someone a hero, but the success story of one such as Nikki Venair is not only a story that speaks to the hearts of Old East Villagers, but also to those who work, survive and depend on her industry. She is a girl who by her lived experience, has been able to fight the battles seen by so many, prove her self-worth, and work the front lines of our current state of the housing crisis, all from the perspective of Old East. As a young girl, Nikki knew she would need to make a move away from her living situation. The unfortunate circumstance of substance abuse in her home was her reality and getting out meant she would need to find a place to live. With the help of a friend’s mom, she was able to secure her own place to live here in Old East. At this time, she was only 14 years old. She had supportive adults who consistently reminded her of the value of a good education. Though she knew this in her heart, you can imagine the difficulty of getting to school when you’re on your own at that age. When other kids are thinking about what role in the school show they got, or which position on their sports team they would play, Nikki was taking care of herself in a position where ‘life skills’ are a daily reality. It may come as no surprise that she wasn’t able to graduate with her cohort. It was the influence of some friends later on, whom she worked with at a local fast-food restaurant, that inspired her to go back to school. She learned of the option to both finish her high school education and receive a diploma at the same time. This opened the door for her to volunteer in the social work industry. With her lived experience, she became an asset to the community. She continued her education, working towards a degree at Brescia College. Things seemed to be pointing in a great direction, but an unsupportive partner now made her choices to work in her field difficult. Nikki decided to leave her situation once again, this time with a child to care for. When you hear the word homeless, it often evokes the image of folks who are living rough on the street, but what’s forgotten is the number of folks who live without a home and rely on other options to stay indoors. These cases may be a friendly stint on someone’s couch, but when those become less and less friendly, it can become very dangerous. Coupled with the need to keep
her finances going, Nikki struggled to find appropriate work hours that would coincide with financial assistance for childcare. It was through the recommendation of folks that Nikki had worked and volunteered with that she applied for a position as casual housing staff at Indwell to help supplement her income. With her lived experience and obvious work ethic, she was offered a larger role. It was also here that she was able to find herself in a position that was sustainable. Nikki continues to work in the industry of helping folks find their way through a system that is often very complicated. As you can imagine, she is the perfect person to be a leader in this work. Though many would say she is an example of ‘pulling up one’s bootstraps’, the first thing she will tell you is how it was the folks in a position of privilege who were able to point her in a good direction. Her gratitude is contagious, and if meeting her is such a pleasure, I can only imagine what it’s like to work alongside of her. Learn more about Indwell at indwell.ca.
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Old East Villager March-April 2025 • Page 7
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