In New Britain, CCSU unit studies degrees of homelessness - www.Houseless.org

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In New Britain, CCSU unit studies degrees of homelessness

Monday, March 18, 2013 10:20 AM EDT

BY BRIAN M. JOHNSON
STAFF WRITER

NEW BRITAIN — Members of Community Central, a community-based program affiliated with Central Connecticut State University, and Briggitte Brown, community organizer for the city of New Britain, recently sat down with Michael Lexton Hawkins, a formerly homeless New Britain resident, to discuss the causes of homelessness and to work toward solutions.

Hannah Hurwitz, a member of Community Central, said, “We’re basically trying to collect information to put everything into perspective. We want to learn their stories, find out about the barriers they face, and find ways to help them overcome those barriers. We want to see them succeed, get a good job and get back on their feet.”

Hawkins had been a longtime homeless resident. He has also been living with AIDS since 1987. A recovering drug addict, Hawkins has been clean for three years. He is now living in an apartment in New Britain, is on disability and volunteers at organizations such as Safety Counts.

At the meeting, Hawkins shared what it was like to experience homelessness. 

“I know the feeling of hopelessness and the various things that cause it,” said Hawkins. “There are so many organizations that say they will help you. However, if you don’t have a foundation, if you don’t have warmth and security, where’s the hope? My biggest obstacle was myself and my way of thinking.”

John Carey, an intern from CCSU and an environmental geography major with a geographical information systems minor, explained the degrees of homelessness.

“Some have been homeless before and are no longer,” said Carey. “Others are staying with friends and have their basic needs provided. Some are living in shelters or churches, and then there’s the people actually living on the streets.”

Carey is currently compiling an online database that maps out places where the homeless of New Britain can go for food, health care, recreation, housing assistance and behavioral help as well resources such as the police and fire departments.

“My goal is to make this database as user-friendly as possible,” Carey said. “I also want to work with public libraries to get the homeless a library card they can use to read or use the Internet at the library even if they can’t check out books.”

There are many reasons people become homeless, according to Hawkins.

“Situations happen in life, I don’t blame anyone,” said Hawkins. “Some people drink, some people use drugs, with others it’s psychological. Some people become homeless through no fault of their own. I had a friend who was an executive before his wife left him and took his child. The bottom line is we’re human beings, and it could happen to any of us.”

Brown discussed the mayor’s plan to create a homeless commission where homeless people can give advice to policy makers directly. She also discussed the upcoming Brunch and Conversation event taking place at Community Central April 6 at 11 a.m.

“That’s beautiful, the first time I’ve seen something like this,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins has also written a book of poetry, “To Touch a Nerve,” based on his experience with homelessness, AIDS and prison. The book is slated for release at the end of the month through the AuthorHouse publishing company. It is the first of three books he plans to release. He plans to donate money that he receives from the sales to organizations that support the homeless.

In 2008, Hawkins served a six-month prison term for using and selling drugs.

“When I was in prison, they helped me treat my heroin and cocaine addiction,” Hawkins said. “I wasn’t taking any HIV medication and I wasn’t being treated for my bipolar disorder. The agencies told me that I was killing myself and that I needed to receive treatment. Prison was a curse, but it was also a blessing in disguise. It was a rude awakening to a spiritual awakening.”

“I believe I’m here for a reason, through the grace of God,” Hawkins said. “I’m glad to be part of the solution, not part of the problem today. It’s not going to happen overnight, I’m not looking for miracles, but if we can help one person or a few it’s worth it.”

For more information on Community Central, call Hurwitz at (203) 843-2121, or visit ccsu.edu/communitycentral

Brian M. Johnson can be reached at (860) 225-4601, ext. 216, or bjohnson@newbritainherald.com

Lest we not forget!

"Houseless", not homeless!

Pursuing the American Dream From a Brooklyn Homeless Shelter - "The Houseless"

"Houseless", not homeless!

Although success stories of those perusing "The American Dream" has been on the decline, it does still happen. Below is an article about Pamela Flood, a woman who stays the course seeking what she wants, even with being "Houseless".

Keep in mind though, the number of unhappy, unsuccessful and/or sad stories far out-weigh the success stories.

We can and must do better unto our fellow human beings.

Michael Love, IIO

From

Letitia James
New York City Council Member

Pursuing the American Dream From a Brooklyn Homeless Shelter 

Posted: 12/20/2012 3:12 pm

If you've been watching the news, you know that low-wage workers have been standing up to their employers and fighting back for their rights. These men and women, who work hard for low pay in airports, supermarkets, car washes, and fast food restaurants are taking to the streets and to the airwaves about the need for better wages, benefits, and respect.

One such worker is a young woman named Pamela Flood, who works at a Brooklyn Burger King, making $7.25 an hour. Ms. Flood also works at a Brooklyn CVS, where she makes $7.60 an hour. In addition to holding down two jobs, she's also maintaining a 4.0 average while studying to be a medical assistant. Ms. Flood sounds like an American success story in the making. She's working hard while going to school to better sharpen her skills and build a better future for herself and her three children. Day after day, she works, studies and cares for her family; and at night she tucks her three children, ages 5, 3, and, 1 into bed at a Fort Greene homeless shelter. 

It doesn't make much sense, does it? The American dream -- which President Obama perfectly articulated in his post-election press conference when he stated, "I've got a mandate... to help middle-class families and families that are working hard to try to get into the middle class" -- is that you work hard and your efforts are rewarded with a fair, honest wage. Why, then, is it that workers like Ms. Flood are forced to rely on public assistance? It's simple -- the corporations that own Burger King, Wendy's, KFC, Taco Bell and others would rather pay their CEOs millions of dollars a year while hard-working store employees are underpaid. This type of "trickle down" economics didn't work in the 1980s, and it has proven equally unsuccessful is 2012 as we see major companies actually cut-back employee hours in an effort to avoid providing health care.

Two weeks ago, I joined some of my colleagues in escorting fast food workers back to their jobs one day after they bravely stood up, and walked out to protest their low wages and working conditions. Together with local clergy, and community groups like UnitedNY, Make the Road NY, and New York Communities for Change, we stood to support workers because we knew that a strong show of support would be necessary to prevent retaliation against workers by store management. (Still, at least one Wendy's employee was fired for her participation, and later rehired after pressure from her council member).

We live in a political climate in which a narrative is being spread concerning low-income people, and those who depend on public assistance. It is important that we put a face on the 8.7 percent of New Yorkers who are unemployed, and the great number who are under-employed -- individuals who want to earn a sufficient income to provide for themselves and their families, but are offered only 

contingent or part-time work that doesn't offer any benefits, much less a livable wage. These multi-billion dollar fast food restaurants, many of which are located in low-to-middle-income communities throughout New York City, need to be held accountable for the way they treat their workers. For too long they have gotten away with paying their workers only slightly above minimum wage, offering no more than part-time work, and easily firing any employee who challenged the status quo. With new federal standards regarding mandated health care, this will only get worse.

The brave workers who walked off of the job did so because they know they cannot afford for the current working conditions and wages to remain the way they are. They know change is necessary, but it is up to us to help force that change. 

Let's face it -- we know that in situations like these, the eyes of the nation are on us. There is no other city quite like New York. This type of notoriety places us under a microscope when issues of economic inequality are raised. This is, after all, the city that has consistently rejected Walmart. But it is especially here that we see the gap between the rich and the lower and middle-class get increasingly wider. It is imperative that we set the national example and make it clear that companies seeking to do business in New York City cannot be allowed to treat their workers like second-class citizens. Workers like Ms. Flood should not have to take on two jobs, only to have to rely on public assistance to make up the difference for paychecks that always fall short. We as a city are better than this, and we must step up and raise our voices to help raise up low-wage workers.

Lest we not forget!

"Houseless", not homeless!