Joseph Kotowick

This is Joseph Kotowick, originally from Hamilton, outside of Casey House in Toronto’s Downtown East area. Joseph suffers from hepatitis C and congestive heart failure. His leg is infected which he says started when he took contaminated methamphetamine that was likely laced with pig dewormer. Apparently meth is sometimes cut with pig dewormer (or other substances) as a way for dealers to extract more profit. Joseph says that he had surgery on his leg and was supposed to stay at Casey House while he awaits another surgery. He says that he did not get that bed and instead crawled around on his hands and knees for four days until he found a wheelchair. In the meantime his sutures all ripped out and so his leg has not been healing properly. He has been outside like this for two weeks and homeless for years. He says he has been trying to get housing through Inner City Health. He spoke about his acquital for sexual assault a few years ago and his lifetime of trauma stemming from the murder of his sister Felicia who was only three years old at the time. Joseph talked about never giving up yet he says he looks forward to dying, but cannot commit suicide because he will not get to go to heaven if he does so.