Nothing about Robin’s last five years of living homeless with zero government support should have happened. As a former child in care, the 24-year-old Metis woman should have had help from her support worker in the time leading up to her 19th birthday to get into housing. She should have been supported to find work, schooling, or at least income assistance, ideally the more generous type of support that former kids in care can get up to age 27. But she’s had none of that. Up until yesterday and the intervention of me with a working phone and an outreach worker with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction able to do Robin’s intake for income assistance by phone, she has been out there with nothing. “They helped my sister when she turned 19, but not me,” Robin says of the child welfare system. “I had a worker, but she didn’t really come talk to me.” Fortunately, Robin has found community and safety among others living on Pandora, and a “street dad” whose intentions are honourable. “Stay away from anyone who wants you to call him Daddy,” advises a male friend standing nearby as we talk.