It wasn’t long ago that Helen Horseman was living on the streets of north Waterloo.
Horseman suffered from a 20-year addiction to alcohol and crystal meth. She even lived in trap houses.
For six years she had no place to live.
“I've had a really long, hard journey, but I consider myself a good warrior,” she said in a phone interview with SooToday.
“I fought tooth and nail to survive and I lost a lot of friends along the way.”
Now she’s 63 and in her second year in the business accounting program at Sault College.
Horseman is grateful for the $1,200 Robert Wilding bursary that she’s receiving through the United Way of Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma District.
Her dream of helping people combat their addictions is a good fit with Wilding’s commitment to volunteerism.
So is the time Horseman has spent volunteering at the Community Food Pantry.
“I'm going to purchase property outside of town. I've been investigating that since I've taken on this decision to educate myself," she said, adding that she plans to build a garden and tiny homes.
“I'm going to have a safe sanctuary for people to get well and find their own spirituality. I know there's a lot of steps in doing that but that is my dream,” Horseman said.
She’s thankful for the help she’s received from her teachers and other students.
Horseman listed off some professors who have been especially helpful – such as Barb Bringleson, Ahmad Alkosani, and Ben Oliver – and friends who helped too – Santa Singh, Asfa, Sara, Jaden, and many others.
With no formal education, Horseman passed an entry exam to get into college.
She had never used a computer before and didn’t know what a browser was or how to create anything with PowerPoint.
“I had to learn how to communicate properly, not street talk or factory talk,” she said.
Going back to school was a real challenge for her, but she felt it would be worth it.
“My son Tyler Rosicki never gave up on me. He and my grandchildren, Ryder Evan and Rayne Faith, are why I pulled and fought to survive.
“I would not be going into my second year with a 3.8 average without everyone’s help.”
Horseman said she hasn’t had an easy life.
She grew up in Kirkland Lake in a family that had nine children – seven girls and two boys.
“My mom died in 2002 and in 2008 my dad died.
“I had a brother who took his life and a sister that ended up in the hospital with a cold and never came out.
“I slowly fell apart. Immediately I became addicted to alcohol and crack cocaine. You would not recognize the human being I was.
"I managed to work though.”
She spent eight summers helping build an organic garden, which she said was “hard work.”
Horseman also worked at injection moulding companies until around 2011.
At that point, things got a lot worse. She lived in trap houses until ending up on the streets.
Horseman was homeless from 2013 to 2019. She said she had no choice but to jump into garbage bins to find food to survive.
She moved to the Sault with her son and his partner in 2022, “in search of a better life.”
“We all needed a fresh start,” she said.
Last year Horseman started at Sault College. It’s been a struggle, but she said she’s enjoying it.
“At 63 there’s no options. I really want to fulfill my dream of helping people,” she said.