After hearing about footage of shelter conditions (once before it was released, and once after) someone from DSS visited Hope to talk to the homeless of New Rochelle (as a group) for the first time. This was a major if somewhat late-coming step in the right direction. But there were also major issues. Non-program clients aren’t allowed to be there during the day so anyone not in the day program wasn’t present. There are about 70 people at the shelter, only about 10-15 use the day program (despite Carol signing more up to be on her list) So the commissioner only spoke to about 14% of the homeless in New Rochelle. (Someone picked their date and time carefully, and someone went with it.)
Apparently they still complained about the conditions, which was brave of them since she got to be in the room. He promised to look into the issues at Oasis. After footage of conditions and after current clients confirming them the grants should be reassigned, at least the one DSS control’s (Oasis’s). Kevin Mcguire, the head of DSS owes it to them especially after his statements at Family Christian Center’s Conference on Homelessness last Tuesday, stating that people are in Oasis only because they haven’t asked for help. Stating that if they had wanted to they could have already been out of their situations. (please listen)
Despite how disturbing that comment was, this is a start.
But he needs to come back. An open forum needs to be held for the HOMELESS of New Rochelle (all of them) Pick a time, make sure the people who run the programs aren’t there; anyone who is homeless (in this city) should be able to come. I don’t have to be there, though I AM homeless in New Rochelle and would like to be. But just listening to current clients of Oasis talk unfettered about what is going on should be enough. If he went to the shelter at night, asked Mr. Mosely to step out of the room, (something would have to be done about those cameras) and talked to the 70 clients that would be huge.
The fact that Carol was there would make it hard for people to talk about the issues at Hope which does get county money (though not for their day program) and would make it easy for the shelter director to know confidential information. The first rule of an investigation, I believe, is to protect your sources.
At the conference on homelessness I showed footage of the shelter. Mrs. Troum of Hope Soup Kitchen sent me (and Family Christian Center among others) a letter attached to this article complaining that I was allowed to show video, that a homeless person was able to attend a conference on homelessness, and in which among other things she claims that the volunteer I showed taking bags was a women delivering food to people they house. (on foot, with one bag)
Three problems.
A. I have footage of ten or so people taking bags out of the kitchen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_-xfMWBZiM
B. The few people they house eat at her kitchen.
C. The picture I showed at the conference was a man. There is a volunteer who did threaten me and takes bags who is a woman, but the picture was not.
Please take her up on her offer politicians, visit. But don’t let her know you are coming. And come when everyone is there Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday from 2-5 or at night at the shelter after 9 (I won’t be there at night, but all the current clients will be, talk to them that is much more important.)
Reverend Holder whose name she signed to the letter, who is no longer on the board of Hope (for a few years) has given me permission to say that he had nothing to do with it and is not sure why his name was used.
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Family Christian Center did issue an apology for the fact that I was allowed to attend and was allowed to show footage of the conditions. I have attached the letter to this article. I respect Bishop Mott and am glad people were brought together on this issue, but I had told him that I was going to be controversial, and I had been very impressed that he let me speak, and did not condemn my words after.
The fact that the letter calls footage of conditions negative and vitriolic and the fact that it says that current programs should not be criticized at all is deeply disappointing.
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As for the conference itself, I saw both good and bad. The idea itself was good, though I was concerned that Bishop Mott has no prior experience dealing with the homeless except for a once yearly dinner and two short clothing drives. But I thought the idea was well-intentioned, and we need this community to come together and discuss these issues usually considered taboo. I was impressed with the eagerness of church leaders to help, and how many politicians chose to come. A highlight was when a formerly homeless man talked about his experience in the 80’s as a way to make people understand that the homeless are not the monsters many view them to be. Were just people. Like you are.
I was less impressed with some if the ideas put into the discussion. I was hoping that we could discuss the conditions serious issues ( even beyond conditions, we get 3 meals only 3 days a week, the shelter isn’t handicap accessible past the first floor, we need a steady source of clothing, no food on Holidays except Thanksgiving etc.)
I felt like some attendees of the conference took advantage of the situation as a way to ask the politicians for more funding without presenting solutions. More funding, a homeless “outreach team”, and getting rid of “duplicated” services (especially soup kitchens) were the only solutions discussed, so far. Money isn’t the problem. Non-program homeless only get three meals a day (not counting the burnt snacks at Oasis.) The only soup kitchen that serves at the same time as another is Westcop’s on the last two Mondays and every Thursday of the month. Most people go to Hope or Trinity on those days instead. They weren’t referring to Wesctop though.
Also, without choices homeless people would be forced to attend Carol’s program or go hungry (which I believe may be the impetus for this) It is not a good idea as our ancestors have discovered to allow monopolies to exist, whether they be in steel or social services. If someone wants to open a soup kitchen that’s served at 12 (since we usually have no meals from 10:30-5) it would be a boon not a bane.
I have put together some things both good ideas and bad on audio. I also included as much of the full audio as I could get (unfortunately I didn’t get Mr. Mosley’s strange presentation ((he talked about client’s tastes in music)). The conference was taped by Family Christian Center, and media were allowed to take pictures, so I feel justified in doing so.
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I was happy that McGuire attended, this is an issue that needs his attention. But the head of DSS claimed that the reason people are in drop-ins is because they don’t want services, or they would be in permanent shelters (on tape) The drop-ins are supposed to be processing shelters, but he made it sound like everyone there, just doesn’t want to get housing (I am not saying hat some people are not trepidationous, but many more can’t get access to services) He did explain that funding was cut for the shelters full service function because they only were serving 20 people (though there were many homeless in New Rochelle), when politicians asked him about it (though he also cited the recession.)
But as a peer advocate I have gone with people to DSS and seen the majority turned away from help (under 21, not born in Westchester, a case upstate, for one woman her son had an apartment she was told to live with him though he had sec 8.) He also spoke on how he feels people from other states should be given bus tickets back there. Most have no back there to go to.
Mr. Mosley the head of the shelter spoke about how he sits down with each individual client and that he also counsels clients not to listen to certain types of music etc., which didn’t make sense in the second case, isn’t true in the first one. He also stated how he had to get rid of employees due to budget cuts (instead for firing them for stealing, beating up, and having relations with clients (only after pressure.)(He has said this before too.)