Yesterday, in passing, I saw a man with two children sitting outside the exit of Valpark Shopping Mall. I caught a glimpse of the cardboard sign he was holding, but honestly, it was seeing those children sitting there on the floor that made me stop. I came out of my vehicle and asked him, “What happened? Why are you out here?” He began telling me his story. He said he once worked in the Customs field, had a stable job and was able to provide for his family. But following a situation with his landlord, he said his life changed dramatically. He told me he became extremely ill and believes that he has been the victim of spiritual wickedness. He said he sought help from various spiritual practitioners, but instead of getting better, he believes things became worse. Today, he says he struggles to stand for extended periods. He told me that he has gone to doctors and undergone tests, but according to him, nothing has been identified medically that explains what he is experiencing. From time to time, he said he comes out to seek assistance. He also tries to sell water to make whatever little income he can so that he could provide for his children. What struck me most wasn’t just what he told me about himself. It was what his children are experiencing alongside him. He is a father who says he wants to work again. He wants to get better. He wants to provide for his children. He told me that if he could get an intervention for what he believes is happening to him, he believes he could regain his strength and return to work. He also told me he has tried to access social assistance but encountered difficulties because of documentation, including obtaining a utility bill. He said he intends to try again. Mr. Dale Hamil really brought awareness to something I think many of us overlook. There are people all around us who aren’t looking for a handout because they don’t want to work. Some people are simply trying to survive. And while we may not understand everything someone is going through, sometimes the first step is simply stopping long enough to listen. I don’t know everything about Mr. Hamil’s situation, and I won’t pretend to have the answers. But I do know this: Those children deserve a chance. They deserve food. They deserve stability. They deserve safety. They deserve an opportunity to live a life beyond sitting on a pavement trying to survive. Yesterday, I went about my day. But meeting this man and seeing those children reminded me that sometimes, real investigations don’t begin with a camera. They begin with compassion. There is a lot happening in our country. And sometimes, people aren’t asking us to solve their entire life. They’re simply asking someone to stop, listen and care. Real situations. Real life. One case at a time. — Dale The Voice - @ttstraighttothepoint