Joe Roberts is a recovered addict and former homeless man who's now giving back to the country he loves that he says gave him such a great second chance. He walked into Portage la Prairie today with a shopping cart.

"We've been on the road since the first of May. We left St. John's, Newfoundland, walking across Canada pushing a shopping cart, a symbol of chronic homelessness, talking about what we need to do to protect and invest in youth homeless prevention. We've been on the road for 358 days I believe. So, almost a year, and we've covered over 6,500 km to make it here to Portage la Prairie."

(L-R) Joe Roberts & Scott KolodyHe says the response has been great, noting it was fantastic to have the RCMP assistant commissioner with him. He says communities have been coming together agreeing that the best way to invest in homelessness is by preventing it. He says getting youth involved with services that help them with mental health, early childhood trauma, addictions, and family conflict goes a long way in helping them stay off the streets of places like Winnipeg. He says the smaller communities have a notion it doesn't exist in them, but ensures it certainly does. Every community has homeless people. Roberts adds he's received a far greater response than what he expected when he first started.

Roberts He adds we have to begin with educating people as to what the problem actually is, and to talk about possibilities. He says he was glad to see Portage's sign reading "The City of Possibilities." Roberts says we all have the possibility to be anything we want, but life's problems can curb us off track. He notes we can push for change without necessarily pushing a shopping cart, but just through making people aware of the problem and what can be done to prevent it.

RCMP assistant commissioner and "D" division commanding officer Scott Kolody says this is just one leg of the overall journey with Joe and his team. He notes the RCMP felt it was quite important to be with him seeing as it's all about what Joe does -- bringing awareness about homelessness.

Roberts' destination is Vancouver sometime in September.