When Isaac arrived in Toronto from Uganda via Montreal, it was in the middle of a cold February night in 2023.

“I was homeless for three days and four nights. I slept on my clothes on a bench at 129 Peter St. [a Toronto intake centre]. I was given numbers of shelters to call but they were full,” he said.

At 3 a.m. on the fourth cold night, he called the city’s shelter intake centre again. When they learned that, at age 22, he was eligible for a youth shelter, they put him in touch with Eva’s.

“It was the beginning of a new life,” said Isaac.

A hot shower, clean clothes, and good food gave Isaac the strength to think about his future. He met with a case worker that evening and learned about the life skills and other programming he’d eagerly participate in throughout the coming months.

Isaac and his canvases became a familiar sight in Eva’s common areas, and he often gave away paintings to admirers. “When I was young, I used to do art as a passion. When I was at Eva’s, I started using it as a therapy. When I feel down or lonely, I’m inspired to create,” he said.

His work was so popular that several staff members encouraged him to submit some of his artwork for publication in Eva’s annual report. One of his paintings was chosen for the cover.

“It felt good to be asked permission to use my art. They valued my time and my talent and that made me happy,” he said.

Today, Isaac is living independently and is planning to continue the education that he stopped in Uganda. He’d like to pursue electrical engineering or plumbing.

And he’s still painting.

“When I look back on why I make those art pieces, it was during my hardest times. The fact that somebody saw value in it meant a lot to me.”