Video – Exclusive – Homeless and Addiction – One Person’s Story
A homeless man who has been living in a tent spoke to Today’s Northumberland on Monday, August 26, 2024 about his journey, and how it began.
Forty-two-year-old Jason Coombs has been living in a tent, just south of Lake Street in Port Hope along the shoreline of Lake Ontario since March.
Some authorities have been aware of it for weeks, even though under the Municipality of Port Hope, there is a bylaw against it.
Today’s Northumberland became aware of the encampment on August 23, 2024. Attending the area, there was garbage scattered around two tents along the shoreline.
On Monday, Coombs agreed to be interviewed after the video garnered over 7,000 views.
Coombs said when he came back to his tent, “someone had tossed my tent and destroyed the area.”
Since the story appeared, Coombs said he’s been trying to clean it up to the best of his ability.
On Monday, the area was visibly cleaner with a number of garbage bags filled.
Coombs said he suffers from anxiety and depression which is one of the reasons for his addiction.
“So when they tossed the tent, I fell into a really bad depression. I didn’t clean it properly.”
“I’m sorry about that to anybody that lives in this area. I generally do keep myself clean and keep this area clean.”
“From now on, I will.”
Coombs has been homeless since November 2023, but has been living along the shoreline since March.
For the most part, Coombs said no one has bothered him and another person who lives in a tent just metres away.
There were a number of needles clearly visible after Coombs property was tossed, but he said they are usually kept in his tent.
“I do have a drug problem and I’m trying to get clean, but being homeless is really hard.”
Coombs said other than Jordan Stevenson from IHARC (Intergrated Homelessness & Addictions Response Centre) and Fourcast (which is a community based addiction treatment provider) he hasn’t received a lot of support.
Forecast will pay half of his rent, but he needs to find a apartment.
Finding himself in the position he’s in is not somewhere he wanted to be in life.
“I would like to have a relationship and get on my feet and have an apartment and not be homeless.”
Before becoming homeless Coombs said he was on ODSP, living at Greenwood Towers on Peter Street until he was evicted in November 2023.
“There is nothing around here for people like me – it’s really hard.”
He has been to Cobourg, but added that it’s a lot worse that Port Hope with illegal drugs.
Coombs said he was unaware of the opening of 310 Division Street, but added, “if it’s an apartment, I’d definitely jump on it.”
Speaking openly, Coombs said his drug of choice is Fentanyl (which is a powerful opioid drug used in the treatment of severe pain).
He also uses crystal meth.
Coombs said he was in a car accident years ago.
One of the side-effects of getting off the addiction is the sickness that goes with it.
“When you’re on Fentanyl, it’s so strong, you can’t really have anything else. Even Methadone (a powerful synthetic analgesic drug which is similar to morphine) doesn’t really effect you – it’s just that strong of a drug.”
He starting using Fentanyl approximately five years ago.
After using it for a few months he said he was “completely addicted.”
“Because I went through withdrawal and said “I can’t do that ever again.”
“(Withdrawal) Makes you very sick, you don’t move. You body just chills, it shakes – it’s gross.”
Coombs said he uses about three times a day and said, “everyone worries about overdosing.”
One in the morning, once in the afternoon and once at night.
“So I feel good all day.”
Without it, he said he’ll be sick, and moody.
When speaking with Coombs he already had taken a hit and was out cleaning the area. Without it, he said he wouldn’t have the energy to do it.
He’s overdosed two times in consecutive days on Fentanyl approximately five years ago.
For people that want to help addicts like Coombs, he admits, “it’s something I have to do.”
“(But) it’s very hard because I’m homeless.”
“Being out here, one day is a good and one day is a complete bad day. And that bad day I want something. And everyday seems to be a bad day because I’m not getting anywhere. I want to have an apartment, I want to have a relationship. I want to be back on my feet and it doesn’t seem I’m getting that way.”
“It’s terrible.”
Previously Coombs encampment was along Gages Creek south of County Road 2.
On June 7, 2024 he found a 44-year-old man in a neighbouring tent who had passed away apparently from an overdose.
Even after finding him, Coombs said the addiction is so strong he can’t kick it.
Coombs freely admits Fentanyl wasn’t his first illegal drug.
“I’ve done everything. Then somebody said try this and that was it.”
When he was 19, he tried cocaine, and then heroin.
“Anything I could get high on.”
Coombs said he was clean for two years, but after doing a friend a favour, he gave him a pill, “and it started everything over again. And this time I can’t break it. I’ve tried everything to get away from these drugs and I just can’t do it.”
He said the drug, “makes you feel great. There is no pain or nothing – it just makes you feel good.”
Coombs said years ago he was hit by a car, and has aches and pains, but when he takes Fentanyl, “I have no aches and pains for eight hours.”
“But once you go to sleep and wake up, I’m back to “I need it.”
“As soon as I wake up, I need that next hit – it sucks.”
As for finding the drugs, Coombs said it’s easier to find illegal drugs in Port Hope than it is Oshawa.
“If you know where to go you can get anything.”
“A lot of people don’t know how bad it is here – it’s a terrible town.”
“I came from Oshawa to here and I can find more drugs here than I did in Oshawa.
Coombs said there is nothing really for young people in Port Hope and that’s why there are young people turning to drugs.
“I’ve met a 14-year-old that’s addicted to Fentanyl.”
“Addicted to crystal meth and Fentanyl. I asked him “why” and he said because there is nothing to do.
I’m bored.”
In his opinion the solution is for better services to help people.
“The laws won’t do anything. You got to jail, you come back out and do exactly the same thing over again.”
“When you go to jail and come back out, more than likely you’re going to be homeless.”
“When you don’t have anything – you don’t have anything to come back too.”
“I’m on the streets.”
“So you go back to what makes you feel good – and that’s what makes you feel good.”
“It sucks but it’s true.”
“Drugs make me feel good. It’s not an all day thing, but for those couple of hours I’m not thinking about where I’m living, I’m not thinking about the next food I’m getting, I’m thinking, I feel good for now. I’m going to lay down and relax.”
Suffering from mental health, anxiety and depression also complicates Coombs life.
Previously he had thought about suicide, but said he’s “getting better.”
Coombs said he appreciates the services of IHARC and Stevenson just listening to him.
“People don’t understand mental health the way they should.”
“It’s so hard to talk to people about it, because they don’t understand.”
Even his friends keeping telling him, “you’re fine, you’re fine,” but he states, “no I’m not.”
“One day I can wake up and talk to Jordan and have a great day. Tomorrow I can wake up and not want to do nothing other than get high, come home and stay away from everybody because of my mental health.”
It’s not uncommon for people who are suffering from mental health to be homeless.
“People are more understanding, but still not.”
“People will walk by and know I’m homeless and shake their head about it. But you don’t know the story, or you don’t know what’s going through my head.”
“I just want people to understand, I’m not doing this because I want to do this. I’m not living here because I want too – it’s because right now its what I have to do.”
Taking Fentanyl several times a day, Coombs said he’s clearly aware he could die at any time.
“I’ve lost 25 friends in the last couple of years on Fentanyl.”
“We all know this could be the last hit we ever do. This could be the last time we ever say “hi” to our friends – we all know it.”
“The addiction is stronger than anything else.”
Stevenson said he’s Coombs story is consistent with others who are homeless.
Access to the illegal, deadly drugs, “is so easy.”
“It’s way more common than anyone would think.”
Stevenson said it’s not like in the movies where a drug deal is going down in a back alley.
“It’s everywhere.”
Stevenson adds, the enforcement is there at times.
“One drug dealer gets taken down and two others pop-up. It’s supply and demand unfortunately.”
“But we’re not going to be able to solve this until we get actual rehabilitation services.”
“It’s so disheartening to see that so many folks want the help. They don’t want to live this life. It’s not something they enjoy.”
But adds the services for people like Coombs aren’t available.
“We have so many people on a waiting list trying to access services and that list increases daily. They are sick and tired of being controlled by the substance, but there is no help available.”
At this point Stevenson says with no help, “all we can do is just provide support in a holding type
pattern type manner and keep asking for more assistance from levels of government.”
Video – Garbage Litters Encampment Along Shoreline in Port Hope
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love