If Brandon ran the world, he would build a life-enrichment program for people living homeless and with substance use problems that literally started from the ground up – a five-storey building with five layers of care, starting with instant access and connection to a person who would be a guide, mentor and friend for the rest of the journey. The first floor would focus on just getting a person calmed down and safe. Second, more stabilizing. Third, hobbies and work support. By the time someone hit the fifth floor, they’d be ready to mentor the new people arriving. “It doesn’t need to be about abstinence, it’s about wellness, and knowing you’re attached to a person who really has your back and can open doors for you,” says Brandon, who has been living on Victoria streets for six years. “As it is right now, where’s the door? Where’s the detox? We can’t find our way in.”