Harley’s hard life started before he was even born, with the man he calls Hank (“I’m never calling that guy my father”) beating his mother during all 13 of her pregnancies, and even more once each child was born. “I never remember a time when Hank wasn’t beating us,” says Harley. “I sure did hate the guy.” Harley was 7 when Hank gave Harley’s 16-year-old sister $100 and a new winter coat and boots in exchange for taking Harley with her as she left home. The two siblings hitchhiked around Canada for two years, until Harley got caught stealing and was put into a government facility. It would be the first of many government facilities, most of them prisons. “I was a very nefarious individual in the past,” he acknowledges. But there were some good stretches – 2005-18, when Harley was off drugs and got his trades certification, and was building houses in Toronto. He’s 61 now and life’s tough again, with a brain injury now added to the challenges. But he’s found some good friends in the street community and knows how to “keep a small footprint” living homeless, so at least bylaw leaves him alone.2w