Struggle on the streets: Brian's story of survival
On an empty lot in a retail section of west London, Ont. lives a man trying to escape homelessness. His name is Brian McManus.
He is 50 years old and has been living on the streets for four years.
“I just can’t believe this has happened to me,” he tells CTV News London.
For the past 14 months, McManus has lived in a makeshift shack, which he has lined with plastic in the hopes of keeping warm during the current deep freeze.
“Keeping it sealed is a difficult thing, but it is working," he says.
That includes the extreme cold of the past many nights.
His 74-year-old mother, Barb Jones, also of London, is desperate to help her "boy" find an apartment.
“Once a mother, always a mother,” she says.
Jones contacted CTV News London hoping the public would hear his story. Through tears, she explained why.
“It just breaks my heart he’s out here, and I can’t do anymore.”
She says agencies have either failed her son or failed to adapt to his mental health.
Barb Jones, the mother of Brian McManus, speaks in London, Ont. on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (Sean Irvine / CTV News)
For his part, McManus blames a deteriorating relationship and past troubles for his homelessness.
Both he and his mother say he beat a drug addiction years ago.
“I don’t do none of that. I don’t steal. I don’t do drugs,” he exclaims.
The extreme cold has taken a toll. He says he can no longer feel his fingertips and struggles to keep his hands and body warm.
Like most experiencing homelessness, McManus’s winter wear is often stolen, as his gloves were the night before he spoke with CTV News London.
“It’s like the 'Bank of Brian' I used to say, when you leave, you’ve got to expect you’re going to lose it.”
Thankfully, those working for businesses in the area are generous. One local shop owner just bought him a new winter coat. In return, McManus says he picks up all the garbage he sees in the area.
Like others who live on the streets, he could turn to shelters to stay warm.
But he says it is not an option that works for his independent personality and previous history.
Jones says she used to push him to go, but has since backed off. She worries her son could find himself back in the wrong crowd.
But the longer he stays on the streets, the harder it is to survive the cold and resist the temptation - McManus says - to take things to stay warm.
“It’s so expensive to be homeless and be legal, people don’t understand that.”
So with apartment rentals skyrocketing out of reach and geared-to-income locations hard to obtain, what options are left?
Jones, herself on a fixed income, is at a loss as she lives in a one-bedroom seniors' apartment. Meanwhile, her heartache grows.
“I’m at my limit and I can’t help him. He needs a roof over his head, a home, a basement apartment, a garage, anything. He needs help!”
And this “always a mom” is pointing fingers at London's leaders in an emotional plea.
“There is money in this city, millions of dollars, but they forget about the underdog people!”
And as McManus looks to find a way to stay warm, for yet another night, he says his mom's assessment is spot on.
“We get the last of the line, and others have an advantage over us. I find that difficult.”
And lonely.
He says he is searching for a way “off his island” to a simple paradise with a roof and a warm bed.
“I feel like that movie Castaway. I get caught talking to myself in despair. I just can’t believe it.”
If you’d like to offer help or words of kindness, click here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.