EAU Press Clippings
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Can I Get A Witness?
Unbearably Hot
Mike Slater
My name is Mike Slater. My pregnant girlfriend, Dawn, and I entered the EAU on September 13, 2002. It took 5 days for us to get a 10-day placement, after which we were determined to be ineligible. We then had to go through the whole process again from the beginning. It took another 7 days for us to get a 10-day placement, and again we were found to be ineligible. We went back to the EAU again and started from the beginning. It took 4 days for us to get a 10-day placement, and this time they found us eligible for emergency shelter.
We were placed in a hotel on 110th street in October. In November, Dawn was arrested because of an old warrant. I was told that I would have to leave because the shelter was for couples, or pregnant women, only. I was on the street again until February 2003 when Dawn was released from jail.
At that time we once again went to the EAU. At this time, Dawn was 8 months pregnant. It took 5-days for us to get a 10-day placement. They found us eligible and placed us in another hotel. Dawn gave birth on March 15th. She was in the hospital until March 17th. A few days before she gave birth, we were given a notice telling us that we would be moved on March 19th. After she was released from the hospital with the baby we were told we had to go back to the EAU, with a two-day-old child, to get transferred to an appropriate shelter for families. We were placed in a shelter on 101st street. In May of 2003 we finally filed an application for Section 8 housing. In July, our son was removed by ACS. An ACS worker was allowed in our while we were not home, and she determined that our room was in a neglected condition and therefore was dangerous to our son. We were moved to a different shelter. By this time, Dawn was pregnant again. This new shelter, The Gracy Inn, had no cooking facilities, the electricity would turn off a few times per day, and there was no air conditioning (or adequate airflow) which made our room unbearably hot. We were in this shelter until October. We were logged out of this shelter and had to return to the EAU. We were immediately found to still be eligible and given a 28-day placement. After the 28-day placement, we were placed in another hotel.
My name is Mike Slater. My pregnant girlfriend, Dawn, and I entered the EAU on September 13, 2002. It took 5 days for us to get a 10-day placement, after which we were determined to be ineligible. We then had to go through the whole process again from the beginning. It took another 7 days for us to get a 10-day placement, and again we were found to be ineligible. We went back to the EAU again and started from the beginning. It took 4 days for us to get a 10-day placement, and this time they found us eligible for emergency shelter.
We were placed in a hotel on 110th street in October. In November, Dawn was arrested because of an old warrant. I was told that I would have to leave because the shelter was for couples, or pregnant women, only. I was on the street again until February 2003 when Dawn was released from jail.
At that time we once again went to the EAU. At this time, Dawn was 8 months pregnant. It took 5-days for us to get a 10-day placement. They found us eligible and placed us in another hotel. Dawn gave birth on March 15th. She was in the hospital until March 17th. A few days before she gave birth, we were given a notice telling us that we would be moved on March 19th. After she was released from the hospital with the baby we were told we had to go back to the EAU, with a two-day-old child, to get transferred to an appropriate shelter for families. We were placed in a shelter on 101st street. In May of 2003 we finally filed an application for Section 8 housing. In July, our son was removed by ACS. An ACS worker was allowed in our while we were not home, and she determined that our room was in a neglected condition and therefore was dangerous to our son. We were moved to a different shelter. By this time, Dawn was pregnant again. This new shelter, The Gracy Inn, had no cooking facilities, the electricity would turn off a few times per day, and there was no air conditioning (or adequate airflow) which made our room unbearably hot. We were in this shelter until October. We were logged out of this shelter and had to return to the EAU. We were immediately found to still be eligible and given a 28-day placement. After the 28-day placement, we were placed in another hotel.
( categories: Can I Get A Witness? )
Neglected
Dawn Quinones
My boyfriend Mike and I entered the EAU on September 13, 2002. It took 5 days for us to get a 10-day placement, after which we were determined to be ineligible. We then had to go through the whole process again from the beginning. It took another 7 days for us to get a 10-day placement, and again we were found to be ineligible. We went back to the EAU again and started from the beginning. It took 4 days for us to get a 10-day placement, and this time they found us to be eligible for emergency shelter.
We were placed in a hotel on 110th street in October. In November, I was arrested because of an old warrant. Mike was told he had to leave the shelter because it was for families only. Mike was on the street again until February 2003 when I was released from jail. At that time we once again went to the EAU. At this time I was 8 months pregnant.
It took 5 days for us to get a 10-day placement. They found us eligible and placed us in another hotel. I gave birth on March 15th. I was in the hospital until March 17th. Since we were in a shelter that did not allow children, we were required to go back to the EAU with our 2-day old son to get placed in a proper facility. In May of 2003 we finally filed an application for section 8 housing. In July, ACS removed our son. An ACS worker was allowed in our room while we were not home, and she determined that our room was in a neglected condition and therefore was dangerous to our son. We were moved to a different shelter. By this time I was pregnant again. This new shelter, The Gracie Inn, had no cooking facilities, the electricity would turn off a few times per day, and there was no air conditioning, which made our room unbearably hot. We were in this shelter until October. We were logged out of this shelter and returned to the EAU. We were immediately found to still be eligible, and given a 28-day placement. After the 28-day placement, we were placed in another hotel.
My boyfriend Mike and I entered the EAU on September 13, 2002. It took 5 days for us to get a 10-day placement, after which we were determined to be ineligible. We then had to go through the whole process again from the beginning. It took another 7 days for us to get a 10-day placement, and again we were found to be ineligible. We went back to the EAU again and started from the beginning. It took 4 days for us to get a 10-day placement, and this time they found us to be eligible for emergency shelter.
We were placed in a hotel on 110th street in October. In November, I was arrested because of an old warrant. Mike was told he had to leave the shelter because it was for families only. Mike was on the street again until February 2003 when I was released from jail. At that time we once again went to the EAU. At this time I was 8 months pregnant.
It took 5 days for us to get a 10-day placement. They found us eligible and placed us in another hotel. I gave birth on March 15th. I was in the hospital until March 17th. Since we were in a shelter that did not allow children, we were required to go back to the EAU with our 2-day old son to get placed in a proper facility. In May of 2003 we finally filed an application for section 8 housing. In July, ACS removed our son. An ACS worker was allowed in our room while we were not home, and she determined that our room was in a neglected condition and therefore was dangerous to our son. We were moved to a different shelter. By this time I was pregnant again. This new shelter, The Gracie Inn, had no cooking facilities, the electricity would turn off a few times per day, and there was no air conditioning, which made our room unbearably hot. We were in this shelter until October. We were logged out of this shelter and returned to the EAU. We were immediately found to still be eligible, and given a 28-day placement. After the 28-day placement, we were placed in another hotel.
( categories: Can I Get A Witness? )
Aftermath
Pamela Yearwood
My name is Pamela Yearwood, and I have been homeless since December 2002. Two weeks before I gave birth to my first child, Arthur, I arrived at Covenant House. After placements there for eight months, we arrived at the E.A.U. in September 2003.
I was then pregnant with my daughter Athina, and submitting my application for assistance for the first time there. Ten days later they served me with a 4002 form, notifying me that we would have to go back to my mother’s house. They were asking for me to provide documentation stating that I could not go back. I brought them a notarized letter from my mother and that wasn’t good enough. We were found ineligible again. I called for a “Fair Hearing” and was found ineligible again.
I went to Channel 4 news for help in exposing the DHS homeless system and they did a story on my struggle at the E. A. U. The aftermath of the story seemed to only make the situation worse. I was told in confidence by a DHS staff member that it was known amongst the investigators that we “wouldn’t be found eligible as long as I spoke out against the E.A.U.”. Since then, we have been found ineligible over eighty times with little or no break from service.
It is now June 15, 2005, I have chosen to speak out about this process, and the entire DHS system because I am sick and tired of them being able to filter money away from those who really need the help. I also want for myself to be found eligible so that I can make a home for my children. My two children have only known the E.A.U. as their home. My son is two and a half years old and can’t be potty-trained, as the conditions of the bathrooms are unbelievable. My daughter is fifteen months now and can’t exercise the way a child should because the E.A.U. is an office building unfit for children. I have now been living at the E.A.U. for one year and nine months and have been homeless for two years and six months. I have now been homeless longer than I had lived at my mother’s house, but I am continually being found ineligible. I am tired of all this.
My name is Pamela Yearwood, and I have been homeless since December 2002. Two weeks before I gave birth to my first child, Arthur, I arrived at Covenant House. After placements there for eight months, we arrived at the E.A.U. in September 2003.
I was then pregnant with my daughter Athina, and submitting my application for assistance for the first time there. Ten days later they served me with a 4002 form, notifying me that we would have to go back to my mother’s house. They were asking for me to provide documentation stating that I could not go back. I brought them a notarized letter from my mother and that wasn’t good enough. We were found ineligible again. I called for a “Fair Hearing” and was found ineligible again.
I went to Channel 4 news for help in exposing the DHS homeless system and they did a story on my struggle at the E. A. U. The aftermath of the story seemed to only make the situation worse. I was told in confidence by a DHS staff member that it was known amongst the investigators that we “wouldn’t be found eligible as long as I spoke out against the E.A.U.”. Since then, we have been found ineligible over eighty times with little or no break from service.
It is now June 15, 2005, I have chosen to speak out about this process, and the entire DHS system because I am sick and tired of them being able to filter money away from those who really need the help. I also want for myself to be found eligible so that I can make a home for my children. My two children have only known the E.A.U. as their home. My son is two and a half years old and can’t be potty-trained, as the conditions of the bathrooms are unbelievable. My daughter is fifteen months now and can’t exercise the way a child should because the E.A.U. is an office building unfit for children. I have now been living at the E.A.U. for one year and nine months and have been homeless for two years and six months. I have now been homeless longer than I had lived at my mother’s house, but I am continually being found ineligible. I am tired of all this.
( categories: Can I Get A Witness? )
Outrageous Blow
Paula Brown
My name is Paula Brown, I came into the DHS system for the first time 4/9/05. I have been found ineligible five times to date (6/15/05). The most outrageous blow of this whole ordeal, since my arrival in April, was when I went to my first fair hearing with the state. DHS noted that my cousin said that although he had room for eight people, we (my son and I) could not stay there. My cousin would not allow the investigator into the house. My cousin does not have room for eight people. That was a lie. But I was denied on that basis, and have been ever since. How can you be expected to go back to someone’s house after they’ve told you that you are not welcome? How can you be told to go back when the owner bars the door?
Although my son’s grades were average, he was passing and struggling to graduate high school in June of this year (2005). After having to stay in the EAU, the lights dimmed on graduation. My son’s school is in Brooklyn, from the EAU in the Bronx, he could never be on time for the first three of his classes. Busses from “overnight” get back to EAU between 7:30- 900am. My son would have to leave to EAU at 6:00 am to be on time for school. The ride to his school in Brooklyn encompasses three different train rides from the Bronx EAU. He could no longer partake of his after school tutoring program, because of the need to be back in time for overnight call (for fear of log-out). These circumstances have caused my son (18 y.o.) now to pursue a GED.
My name is Paula Brown, I came into the DHS system for the first time 4/9/05. I have been found ineligible five times to date (6/15/05). The most outrageous blow of this whole ordeal, since my arrival in April, was when I went to my first fair hearing with the state. DHS noted that my cousin said that although he had room for eight people, we (my son and I) could not stay there. My cousin would not allow the investigator into the house. My cousin does not have room for eight people. That was a lie. But I was denied on that basis, and have been ever since. How can you be expected to go back to someone’s house after they’ve told you that you are not welcome? How can you be told to go back when the owner bars the door?
Although my son’s grades were average, he was passing and struggling to graduate high school in June of this year (2005). After having to stay in the EAU, the lights dimmed on graduation. My son’s school is in Brooklyn, from the EAU in the Bronx, he could never be on time for the first three of his classes. Busses from “overnight” get back to EAU between 7:30- 900am. My son would have to leave to EAU at 6:00 am to be on time for school. The ride to his school in Brooklyn encompasses three different train rides from the Bronx EAU. He could no longer partake of his after school tutoring program, because of the need to be back in time for overnight call (for fear of log-out). These circumstances have caused my son (18 y.o.) now to pursue a GED.
( categories: Can I Get A Witness? )
