I was unemployed for a while in late 2010, early 2011 and was constantly on the job search. I was a line cook previously and was looking for similar work. I finally got in at a sports bar, but they only had an opening for a host at the time, so I took it. When I went in on my third day, I found that the place had fucking burned down.
I was unemployed for another few months before finding a new job. That was a rough year or so lol.
I'm guessing that EI is what you call unemployment benefits where you are? In which case, unfortunately no. Previous employer made up bullshit to fire me over so I wasn't eligible, and I was told I didn't work long enough at the place that burned down to qualify. My savings got almost entirely wiped out just paying rent and buying groceries.
It was a dark time full of struggles, but I got through it and I'm doing pretty well now. The silver lining is that, when I'm having a rough week, I can think back to how that chunk of life was going and know that I've gotten through worse. I was homeless for about two months a bit later, but by then I found a job and knew that I'd find stability soon. Things didn't actually start getting good until I quit the kitchen career. And I'm one of the lucky few who never even got sucked into the hard drug aspect of that life. Never even smoked a cigarette lol.