Higher Power Betty

One chilly November morning, without thinking much of it, Jody bought a cup of coffee for a homeless man named Leroy. Little did she know, this one cup of coffee would catapult them on a life-changing journey of inner growth and healing that spanned two years.

Leroy, practically blind, had spent the last fifteen years living on the streets of Winnipeg. Plagued with inner demons and paranoia, he trusted no one. As Jody began bringing him daily tea and sandwiches, a friendship slowly began to form.

Little by little, Jody learned about her friend, discovering he was not a stereotypical homeless man. Born in Guyana and raised in Barbados, Leroy came from a world that many would aspire to. A thriving community member who worked in the hospitality industry and volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club of Winnipeg, Leroy had much to be proud of. He was highly intelligent and a talented checkers player. Ranked as one of the best in Canada, he was third best in Barbados and twelfth in the entire world!

Over the next few months, the two formed a friendship built on trust and mutual respect, which empowered them to set out on a mission to get Leroy off the streets. Throughout this journey from homelessness to independence, they both battled their demons - Leroy’s mental illness and refusal to trust mental health workers, and Jody’s trauma stemming from being severely bullied as a child and losing her father to Dementia.

But their greatest battle was still ahead of them, when Leroy was diagnosed with a terminal illness. With paranoia preventing Leroy from accepting any type of medical help, Jody became his primary caregiver, providing love and support as he faced his final days, not as a homeless person but as a respected man who had inspired not just Jody but an entire community.