Outpouring of support leads to new Edmonton home for displaced Indigenous family: 'Such a blessing'

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Carol Powder and her family have the keys to her new Edmonton home — they just have to plan a moving day.

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The grandmother of 10, who shared her story with Postmedia earlier this month, has received an outpouring of support in helping her find a home for her family.

“It’s amazing all the support we’ve got since I shared my story. I pray every day for good things, and the things I pray for are starting to come true. I feel so blessed,” said Powder.

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“To say now that we have a home — I can’t stop staring at it. I love that feeling of having my own home again.”

Powder had several agencies reach out to help her. Jordan’s Principle, an organization that provides funding to ensure First Nations children across Canada have access to services and support, immediately put Powder and her family up in a hotel and then helped them search for a home.

When Powder found a house that fit her family’s needs, Jordan’s Principle offered to pay the damage deposit and four months’ worth of rent — $12,000 in total to help Powder and her family get back on their feet.

“They told us to mention to landlords that we could pay the damage deposit and the first month’s rent. As soon as we did that, we got accepted right away, and we were able to sign a lease,” said Powder.

‘Release all that stress’

Powder, who is the legal guardian for her grandchildren, had her world turned upside down when she got displaced from her rental home on Sept. 15.

Every home she looked at, she got turned down, almost immediately. Some landlords blatantly told her: “Sorry, I don’t rent out to Indigenous people.”

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For many nights over the last couple of months, Powder and some of her grandchildren were forced to sleep in their vehicles while they stayed on a friend’s property. That’s no longer the case.

“I don’t have to think about the things we went through. My (grand)children are so happy. They’re so excited to move in,” said Powder.

“When we move in, I know we’re going to go straight there and walk inside and just lay on the floor and just soak it all in. It’s such a great feeling. We can finally release all that stress that was building up… breathe, and feel safe that the kids will have a home. It’s such a relief.” 

Powder also lost all of her furniture and clothing in the housing displacement, and Jordan’s Principle also offered to furnish the house and supply clothing for her grandkids.

“This is such a blessing. So many people reached out to give us information and offer help,” said Powder.

Book proceeds donated

The outpouring of support continues for Powder and her family.

Audreys Books — which recently launched The Heartbeat Drum, a book Powder is featured in — held a fundraiser for Powder and her family on Friday afternoon.

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“My family is just so grateful for all the support we’ve got. For Audreys Books to put on this fundraiser for us, it truly meant the world,” said Powder.

Kelly Dyer, manager of Audreys Books, said they offered the space for the fundraiser and felt the need to help Powder after getting to know her during the book launch in September.

“We were all pretty heartbroken when we heard the news. They’re such a lovely family… and she gives so much back to her community. We wanted to help,” said Dyer.

“Nobody should ever be in that type of position… Things are tough all around, but we wanted to offer up our space to hold this event. Her publisher stepped up and gave her some of her books to sell, and all the copies of her book that we sell, the proceeds all go back to her.”

Throughout this whole struggle, Powder had to endure hardships, but her whole focus was to be there for her grandkids.

“I do my best as a grandparent to make sure they are taken care of, and all I cared about was keeping my family safe and (making) sure they have a home,” said Powder.

“I want to keep them together so they’re raised together. I would never have it any other way.”

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jhills@postmedia.com

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