Dare to Struggle CT Letter to the Editor: 3/10 “Rally Against Shelter Abuse”

By Dare to Struggle CT

To the editor,

The Rally Against Shelter Abuse, which took place in front of one of New Britain’s homeless services centers/shelters on 61 Arch Street March 10th, was characterized by mass participation from the Arch Street neighborhood, threats of retaliation from the Friendship Center, and the directors not responding to our demands to stop reported mistreatment.

Organized by Dare to Struggle CT and Homeless Liberation Initiative, this year’s event featured stories of mistreatment from former and current shelter residents along with former shelter staff. It also included speeches from formerly homeless individuals and locals who are close to the homeless on Arch Street, from their neighbors to library workers.

“The Friendship Center is a shelter, it’s necessary, but that doesn’t mean you guys should have to deal with BS,” said Lily, a member of Dare to Struggle CT.

About 25 people stood with us during this year’s event, with dozens of spectators on the other side of the street. Many residents and clients weren’t able to speak or stand with us due to fear of retaliation. “Anyone who shows up [to the rally] will lose their bed,” staff told one resident. Despite this, several of them discretely gave words of appreciation after the rally. Many people walking past also cheered and those driving by honked or stopped to pick up our handouts, agreeing that the mistreatment must stop.

Residents and clients at the Friendship Center have been kicked out and banned, losing access to essential services, without reason. Some staff supposedly tasked with making “love visible” instead steal donations, get into arguments with residents, and fail to properly de-escalate conflicts. They also serve residents rotten, sickening food, resulting in hospitalization.

“The rotten food … they [staff and directors] still try to serve it to the residents … food that had expiration dates for over 4-5 days old … wilted oranges, wilted apples, moldy bread … I would take it upon myself to throw it out, to do a sweep of the refrigerator every time I came in for my shift, because I was disgusted … The love is invisible.”

Quanishe, Former Staff Member at the Friendship Service Center.

These issues all occur while the CEO Caitlin Rose and directors make 6-figure salaries and pointedly ignore complaints from staff and residents. In 2023, two directors made over $100k while front line staff were paid minimum wage[1]. The Director of Homeless Programs, Catellia Casey, recently submitted testimony on state bill SB 1231, asking that a restriction be lifted so executive leaders at nonprofits can make even more money[2].

Catellia Casey did not respond to our phone call, voicemail, or email on February 28th to have a public meeting over these concerns. No directors were present for the event, even as we marched up to the front door of the Hope Connection Center. They instead called the cops to intimidate us and hid inside to seemingly request a private media interview.

Our demands for the Friendship Center are as follows:

1. Stop kicking people out, work with residents to prevent that from happening in the first place 2. Stop banning people from the facilities to receive necessary services
2. Stop retaliating against residents and clients who speak up when something is wrong, act on and investigate their complaints
3. Crack down on staff members with complaints against them, take complaints of mistreatment from residents seriously, fire repeat offenders and properly vet who you hire.
4. Move funds from directors’ 6-figure salaries to programs for the homeless and increased pay to front line staff. Address the concerns of front line staff.
5. Treat residents like human beings, from the quality of food, to day-to-day interactions with the staff, to health and safety living conditions

It is imperative that the Friendship Center correct these injustices and work toward providing genuine care to each and every person who walks in. These current conditions are inexcusable for a shelter that claims to be a place where everyone is welcome.

Join Dare to Struggle and Homeless Liberation Initiative in holding the Friendship Center accountable and fighting for our collective power in the face of all systemic injustices and corruption around us. You can find us on Instagram (@dts.ct) and Facebook (Dare to Struggle CT), or email us at DareToStruggleCT@protonmail.com.

Note: As of March 25th, the Friendship Center has not responded to the exposure of these issues or our demands.

Editor’s note: Opinion pieces published in the New Britain Progressive do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the New Britain Progressive, the New Britain Independent Newspaper, Inc. or its editors, officers, directors or other volunteers. Letters to the editor may be submitted to newbritainindependent@gmail.com.