Montreal woman overcomes homelessness, gives back with free BBQ

On weekends, Anne Las fills her backpack and shopping bags with homemade sandwiches and cookies and granola bars and juice.

She then walks to Place milie-Gamelin and distributes themto people who are homeless and hungry. She's gone often enough that peoplewait for her arrival.

"It's to give back to the community,"Las told CBC'sHomerun.

"Being homeless is terrible,"she said. "I mean people ignore you, because they [think] 'oh you're just homeless, you're lazy, you're dumb.'"

It's a story Las knowsall too well.

From the Philippines to theFairview Mall

Like manybefore her, Las came to Montreal in 2014 through a sponsor who wanted to employ her as a full-time live in caretaker.

When she arrived, the agency responsible for her placement told her that they had received a letter from the employer stating they were no longer able to hire her.

"I was expecting to move here to have a better life. But I had nothing," said Las with tears in her eyes.

She was eventually able to find work as a caregiver, Monday to Friday. She was given room and board during the week, but come the weekend Las had nowhere to go.

So she would spend her time at bus and metro stations,and Fairview Pointe-Claire Mallwhich she described as her weekend sanctuary.

I was expecting to move here to have a better life. But I had nothing,- Anne Las

When she ran out of moneyand was hungry, she would bus downtown to look for change and food.

She had heard through her friends, who were in a similar position, that groups would sometimesdistribute free food at Place milie-Gamelin.

Getting back on her feet

Las now lives as a full-time caregiver for an elderly couple that took her in, sponsored her and helped her with her immigration papers.

She is accumulating hours so that she can become a permanent resident in Canada, hopefully by December 2017.

"I am blessed and lucky to be here and to be able to be back on my feet. I had no family or friends when I arrived here," she said."I met wonderful people who helped me and let me stay in their place until I was able to give back to the community."

Haircuts, diapers and a big BBQ

Las tries to go to Place milie-Gamelin every weekend with her bags of cookies and sandwiches.

But she wanted to do something a bit special, so she decided to help host a Free BBQ for the Homeless at Place milie-Gamelin,Saturday.

This is the second annual BBQ and the biggest event thus far.

It was organized by Donner Pour Aider in collaboration with its umbrella organization the Montreal Homeless Support Groupa network Las created.

Doulien Wetshonga, president of Donner Pour Aider, said over 400 people showed up to the event, and more than 500 people were there including volunteers.

Volunteers gathered at the public space Saturdayto make hamburgers, distributeclothing, toiletries and diapers for people in need.

Wetshonga praised Las for hervolunteer work.

"When we organize events like this we work as a team. She excels," he said.

Laswas hesitant to talk about herself, but she says that spreading awareness about the situation of homeless people in Montreal is one of her goals.

"It's not an easy story to share," she said."But it's important."

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