Testimonials

ATTACK ON THE SUBWAY

Not too long ago, I observed a woman on the train and I make the assumption that she was homeless, not only because I was formerly homeless and you kind of know when someone’s from the same tribe, but the fact that she had all of her worldly possessions with her led me to believe that she was homeless. When the train stopped at this particular station, I heard this very loud sound and when I turned my head to look, I see someone had violently thrown all of her belongings out of the train car.

I can only imagine how that must have made that woman feel because it did something to me, I had a visceral reaction to it. The reason I think of that moment when I think of the Homeless Protection Act is simply because it was obvious that this person felt that they could do this to this woman, that they could violate her because she was homeless.

A violation doesn’t always have to happen to your physical being. They can violate someone emotionally. They can violate someone by threatening their peace of mind, their sense of safety. By tossing this person’s stuff off in such a violent manner, he violated her, and he did it because he knew he would get away with it, he knew he wouldn’t be held accountable.

- Dennis, Lived Experience Advocate

ASSAULT IN A BODEGA

I was street homeless for 10 years and learned to wear three or four layers of clothing because I was arrested so often. If you don’t have a change of clothes at central booking or Rikers Island, you may have nothing to wear or lie on. I wore layers so I’d have a coat to lie on and clean clothes underneath.

One night around 2:00 a.m., I went to a bodega with one dollar for a cigarette and a soda. While standing in line, two men came in behind me and suddenly assaulted me, beating me to the ground as others watched. They yelled slurs about my sexuality. A friend saw what was happening and called the police. The men stopped, walked away, and were arrested.

I filed a police report at the nearby precinct, listing my address as the street corner where I stayed. I never heard anything after that. I believe I was attacked because they knew I was homeless, and the police never followed up because I didn’t have a fixed address. Under other circumstances, they would have. I was never called to court, and I don’t know what happened to the men who attacked me.

- Cynthia, Lived Experience Advocate