Update: Despite Carol’s statement on Wednesday that there were 25 tickets for the Katonah Christmas party (she may have been discounting those given to program clients), last night she told me there are now 40, which is a good thing. But here is the problem. Only 18 of those tickets (with 5 alternate spots if someone doesn’t show) were given to non-program clients. Carol in her before dinner speech pointed out that the homeless had “no where to go” which is quite true. But I hadn’t realized that the 40 or so homeless people not in her program had somewhere to go, especially since they don’t even have the luxury of being inside most days.
At the door a Hope volunteer asked each client(without checking by the way) if they were part of the Oasis program, non-program homeless were told they were not edible. All the program homeless who wanted to go were given spots. Then everyone else was given a lottery ticket. The lottery delayed dinner for half an hour giving us ten minutes to eat, mostly because at least 12 numbers were called that no one had. The staff couldn’t figure out why this kept happening. I am not sure, but I think that instead of putting a number in the lottery for every ticket given, they started out with a full set and did not remove the unused tickets when they began to draw. I drew an alternate spot, so I don’t think that anyone can maintain I am being a sore looser, but a bunch of people including many homeless and several kids did not draw anything and will be having a cold Christmas this year. They should have given spots to the homeless first, but all of those who stay at Oasis.
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Since this is my belated thanksgiving article I have decided to thank everyone for the lovely things they are doing for (and to) the homeless. I am sure this article is going to be controversial, but right now I am too angry to care.
There was no heat at Oasis Friday through the night, and for the last two or three days it has been patchy at best. Clients have been shivering in their cots or chairs, and many of them still don’t get blankets. No idea when the problem will be fixed or what’s causing it. Rumors range from the heating system breaking down, to the bill not being paid, to Mr. Mosley trying to save money. Speaking of funding, I wonder where the cash the county allocates for repairs has gone, not to mention that 125,000 from the city. Thanks Oasis (and mayor Bramson for that new grant).
Regular readers of my blog may know that one of the bathrooms on the second floor has been broken for 6 months. Guess what? The other one has just joined it (for a few weeks at least). The toilet still works, but the shower does not. According to my friends, clients who asked Mr. Mosley were told that he “does not have the money to fix it.” and that he “still has to pay the plumber for the last repair” Interesting. Thank you Mr. Mosely.
The fact that politicians laud these programs sickens me frankly, can’t they see what they are doing? More disturbingly, do they even care?
From what I am hearing at first those clients on the second floor (general population) were not permitted to shower (third floor clients were) but after numerous complaints those on the third floor now share their single bathroom. However this means that 70 people all must somehow wash in that one bathroom. If you don’t get your turn by 11, oh well. There is still no way for anyone who can’t get up the stairs to shower, but it has been that way as long as the drop-in has run, and even before when it was a residential shelter. Thanks Oasis.
There was no dinner for non-program clients on Friday, a problem we have every year. Hope the organization that usually serves Friday dinners was closed with little notice as it always is the day after Thanksgiving. Most people I know didn’t eat that night. Thank you Hope.
Even Christmas parties are now political. Every year an organization in Katonah invites community service groups from Westchester to send their needy for a big delightful Christmas dinner.http://www.westchesterchristmas.org/home Hope Community Services is the point organization in New Rochelle, responsible for giving out tickets. In previous years it has done a surprisingly decent job securing 50-60 seats, though there is always disappointed people waiting at the curb (due to lack of space at the event.) It has traditionally been first come first serve basis with extra spots being given out the day of the event, (with occasional preference for families with little ones, which I have no objection to.) I never saw anyone turned away unless the space ran out, until now.
This year Mrs. Troum decided to add to the list of things she has made possible discrimination violations, and subtract from the list of things she does right by announcing that she only has 25 tickets (I considered the possibility that the event is cutting back this year, but they usually give the orgs. what they request within reason (in past years she has been able to request a few extra tickets do to demand) and based on the website this is highly unlikely. It does not seem that the overall number of seats (300) have changed, and since Hope is the only org. sending from New Rochelle that I know of 50/300 seats seems reasonable per city), and that they would only go to program clients unless there were leftovers (there probably won’t be).
Actually she said people at Oasis but when I asked if she meant only those in her program she said yes, and asked if I thought that was a problem. I told her that everyone at Oasis should have a shot, even if everyone else will most likely be outside this year. She replied that non-program clients can approach her, and she will decide on an individual private conversation basis if they can come. I feel occasionally like a little of the twilight zone has a love affair with some parts of New Rochelle. Like I said it is possible due the economy that she was only given 25 tickets, but how could that be the case when the seats are the same. And it it is, I don’t have an objection to serving the people at oasis first, but why only program clients? Isn’t everyone else there homeless too?
To me (and others) it seems like a ploy to get more people to attend her program. It also seems like blatant discrimination. Further it seems like a good way to keep those she would rather had their mouths shut away (me as well a surprising number of others) from the reporters who flock to the event. Unfortunately it also means a bunch of people (at least 25-30) will have no where to go in Christmas for the first time in years. A large number for the non-homeless poor look forward to the event as well, children usually go (and I think it is where they get their Christmas presents from the give out there) as well as seniors. Guess they’re not coming either. Thanks. I am sure the kids will understand.
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As for Thanksgiving itself news 12 which in my opinion doesn’t always correctly cover stories involving the poor and non-profits, did get something right (though it shouldn’t worry, I have an issue with a different story it is covering which I will discuss in the future): I wasn’t able to attend but from what I hear Bethesda’s thanksgiving dinner was amazing.
http://westchester.news12.com/news/volunteers-at-the-bethesda-baptist-church-in-new-rochelle-provide-free-thanksgiving-meals-1.9658721
I want to address the press release that Hope and Family Christian Center had posted to talk of the sound. (I assume Mr. Cox used the info he was given so I want any comments I make to be directed at hope and Family Christian Center, not him.
http://www.newrochelletalk.com/content/family-christian-center-new-rochelle-forms-one-city-one-church-initiative-will-serve-thanksg
I do want to thank both organizations for providing us meals, but there are problems with the claims made in the release.
The Hope dinner was good but they have it every year (as long as anyone can remember), and the only coordination (allegedly from the One Church One City Initiative) I saw was one volunteer from Family Christian Center. As for Family Christian Center while we are grateful for the once yearly dinner that besides a twice yearly clothing drive is their contribution to the homeless of New Rochelle. I am again not sure what the coordination changed much since they have been doing this since at least 2010. http://www.newrochelletalk.com/content/families-invited-thanksgiving-dinner-family-christian-center.
I don’t know anyone who went this year. Usually there was a notice on the door and announcements at Oasis but this was lacking. Also the time was changed, so anyone I know who tried to go found a closed door. I am sure someone attended but I haven’t met that Someone yet. This was because FCC traditionally serves from 2-5, while Bethesda serves from 12-2. This year Bishop Mott moved his dinner to 11:30-130 meaning people had to choose and were inside less hours. In addition no one knew about the time change, and many of the poor don’t get to use the internet enough to have read the press release, especially those stuck at Oasis. It seemed like there was a lack of coordination not an adding to it.
There are also many other churches and organizations non affiliated as far as I know that served us in the two weeks before thanksgiving with turkeys and meals, without overlap days for the most part. I think I am missing two or three, and I apologize to any organization not mentioned (and I am not even mentioning groups that served their normal dinners with a thanksgiving flair.)This may be because besides the (merited) exception of Bethesda they neither sought nor received much media recognition, they did it from the hearts.
As I think was briefly mentioned in the Bethesda news story, The Hugh Doyle Senior center had a free dinner for anyone (homeless and housed) over 62. Union Baptist Church (at the Trinity building) had both a thanksgiving turkey drive on Tuesday, and a dinner the Thursday before Thanksgiving. (they are open for dinner every Thursday in fact). New York Covenant church (where we eat dinner weekly as well) had an excellent meal at 5 Saturday, they served us the food, and I believe it was all homemade. All these places help either us, or other marginalized segments of the population on a regular basis, and I want to thank them for it, this time sincerely. Thanks guys.
Like I said I do thank Hope and FCC for what they do regarding the homeless. But I thank everyone else who contributes as well, and maybe for different reasons.
I emailed Bishop Mott to ask what other organizations constitute the “many churches’ in his coalition besides, FCC, Hope, and Salvation Army and did not receive a response.
Recognition for good works is nice, but it should be bestowed rather than courted, and everyone should get there due.