What is the connection between the broken glass, graffiti and the homeless person? You are obviously insinuating the homeless person is responsible for the broken glass and graffiti.

Yes, homelss outreach is available. I will contact the city's Homeless Outreach Team, and see if we can remove the graffiti. Thank you for reporting.

No,Tommy I am not insinuating that. I am sorry if it came across that way. I am more concerned that the graffiti and broken glass is a sign of gang or potentially dangerous behavior that needas looking into. I am also concerned that a gentleman sleeps on a bench to be safe in a potentially unsafe location and was hoping someone with better access to resources could reach out to him. There are also people camping in the park between Boulevard/ Chapel/Yale/Edgewood.

Let me explain. That man who sleeps on that bench and every other homeless person in New Haven knows exactly where the homeless shelters are located. He is not staying in one of those shelters because he has either been banned from the shelters or he doesn't like being treated like a third class citizen. The process used to gain admittance to the shelters is demoralizing and the rules are enforced like in military bootcamp.

The man on the bench has chosen that bench because for him, that is the best spot. Each homeless person who sleeps outside has at least 3 favorite places. The two main factors involved in choosing those favorite places are comfort and safety. That's why he sleeps on that bench. That bench provides more comfort and safety than his 2 other favorite spots.

Your post on this website is certainly admirable. It shows you care and that is very nice, but if he is asked to leave that bench, then he will simply have move to another place that is neither as comfortable nor safe as that bench.

This information applies to every homeless person in New Haven. Please be kind... I don't want to lose my spot.

Tommy
The bottom line is the vast majority of us who pay taxes do not want people to sleep on benches we paid for with our tax dollars just because someone does not want to follow the rules of a shelter.

There is glass from the broken shelter on the bench,,,not currently suitable for sitting or sleeping. Please fix!

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This online belittling is not solving anything. Let's work together to help end homelessness. Think about it. There are about 130,000 residents in New Haven. Only a handful of us actually engage in these online discussions. We are the ones who care enough to speak about it. Let's also be the ones who care enough to make a difference and do something.

You previously posted,"The process used to gain admittance to the shelters is demoralizing and the rules are enforced like in military boot camp".Could you please post what rules are demoralizing and how they are they enforced?

XYZ, I would love to answer your question, but not online. The best way for you to get the answer to your question is to go to the shelter where most homeless men sleep and experience it for yourself (I'm assuming your gender is male). TRY IT JUST ONCE. It is located at 645 Grand Avenue. You need to arrive and wait in line from 4:00pm. Don't dress too nicely. Try to look like a homeless person and bring a backpack with one set of clothing to change into and several personal items of value; cell phone, cell phone charger, sunglasses, etc. Don't bring any toiletries. They will be provided.

If this is not possible, I will gladly meet you anywhere you wish to answer your questions.

It not easy when you have to hold onto to a job. You have to do the following
1. Show up on time every day.
2. Deal with people who don't like you.
3. Deal with people who you don't like.
4. Deal with a boss who doesn't like you
5. Deal with a boss who you don't like.
6. Do work which you do not like.
7.See part of your check going to pay taxes and health insurance.
I am sure a shelter is not the best place to be but it is free and it provides food and shelter.

Tommy how about spending less time on seeclickfix and more time looking for a job? Being a self-appointed homeless right-advocate is not an occupation. How are you getting on the internet anyway? You can't have it that bad if you're on here 24/7/365.

Tommy
Are you looking for work?

XYZ and New Haven Professional, I'm not looking for work because I don't need to look for work. I worked in the military and for the military for more than 20 years overseas. Rejoining my workforce takes no more effort than a few mouse clicks.

After I returned to the U.S., I realized I had to relearn American culture; all aspects of it. This place has changed a lot since the 70's and 80's. I became homeless to see what it really feels like to be homeless. After 5 months, it has been very eye opening. It wasn't what I expected.

New Haven provides fantastic programs to lift homeless people out of homelessness. Homeless people just need help finding the motivation to call 211 and get the ball rolling to get a job and a home. I think I can make a bit of a difference trying to help these folks. One way I'm trying to help is by being an online presence. Of course, nobody expects homeless people to monitor websites like this one. It is evident by the things some people say.

I'll be homeless for a few more months and I'll be on to other things.

Maybe the problem is New Haven makes it too easy for the homeless and that is why they are not motivated.

You are right XYZ.

I previously opened this issue with good intentions to have the glass replaced, the graffiti removed and an offer of housing or other needed services to the gentleman who was sleeping at this location. I do respect the many different opinions of the comments but would really like the meanness to stop. Please replace the glass at the very least...Thanks!

Guest
Please give examples of the posts you feel were mean?

I’ve been following this thread, partly because I live near that bus shelter and pass it often, partly to hear the give-and-take. I’ve never been in a homeless shelter but I’ve befriended people who have. There’s no simple reason why they wind up there, and no simple solution to the problem. As noted, this thread began with pleas to [a] repair a bus shelter and [b] reach out to an unfortunate individual. Have either of these issues been addressed?

I too have noticed that some of the posts may not be “mean” but have lacked compassion. There are people in this country who attribute their individual success and accomplishments to their own hard work, good character and self-discipline. As someone described it, “He was born on third base and thought he hit a triple.” Let’s call them ‘givers’. Givers dismiss or overlook the many advantages and benefits of their upbringing: financial, social and educational.

In this worldview, homeless people in shelters (let’s call them ‘takers’) have only themselves to blame for their low station, and their lack of sufficient industry and moral fiber. The giver mentality ignores the many disadvantages, privations and crippling abuses in a typical taker’s upbringing. Hence, it’s easy for givers to resent surrendering any of their “hard earned” wealth to government programs assisting “those people”, those lazy, lax takers. I don’t know if they really buy into this narrative, or if they just use it to justify greedy behavior.

Regardless, the issue of homelessness in New Haven is only the tip of a more consequential iceberg. Human beings are social animals. We only thrive in a community, in a compassionate commonality. We need to take care of each other. We need to take care of Us. Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock this past year, you know how terribly important it is where to draw the line between Them and Us, between the outsiders and the insiders, because that decision will seriously affect our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

Brian
Please give examples from the posts how they lack compassion?

Thank you for posting this issue. The Traffic Sign Division has been notified.

Still no glass and more graffiti! CT Transit bus shelters should be required to be kept up or fine them.

This issue was recategorized from Signs to Bus Shelters.

This issue has been marked as a duplicate of issue 2162522.

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