New Haven Independent

Bear was one of a few dozen homeless and formerly homeless people and their advocates who remembered 13 men and women who died homeless in New Haven during the year. The event took place Dec. 21 in the rotunda at City Hall.

In an annual service — the Winter Solstice, which to some signifies celebration and merriment, but to the homeless signifies suffering and deprivation on the longest night of the year — the Hill Health Center’s Homeless Healthcare Program sponsored the event. It included the reading of the names of those who have died, a chance for people to celebrate those lives, and a fabulous spread of finger foods to warm the hearts and bellies of participants.

Toni Harp (pictured), wearing not her state senator hat but her hat as director of the Hill’s homeless program, welcomed people to “witness for the world the cost of homelessness to our city and our nation. Dec. 21 is the longest night of the year, and this night, for some, is the difference between life and death. To die homeless in our society indicates a failure of our society to meet its basic needs of caring for one another.”

Allison Cunningham (on the right in the picture), director of Columbus House shelter, was the keynote speaker. She said the week before this event there was a record number of 275 people crammed into the city’s three shelters, which have a capacity for 225. But she added that homelessness is not just about a shelter bed. She said it’s an indictment of our society, in which poor people sometimes have to choose between paying rent and buying food.

She urged people to take action: “telling people in political office your own personal story of struggles with homelessness,” signing petitions, working for better health care and job opportunities. Click here to hear more.

Deborah Elmore (pictured on the left with Allison Cunningham) read four short poems that captured the lives and attitudes of the homeless and those who help them or turn away from helping. Here are the first few lines from one called “Where do I go?”

Wake up, sir, you cannot sleep on this bench.
This is a public area and we don’t want the stench.
Officer, I lost my job and I recently lost my home.
I’ve been using this little space on earth just to get along.
Where do I go?

Click here to hear all four poems.

Then several people were handed electric candles representing the lives of those who died this year: Joe Crimi, Doug Demesquite, Jackie Panella, Joseph Hoydilla, Donna Fields, William Pecor, Steve Barberi, Willie Knight, Judith Mahon, Salvatore Forgione, Joseph Onofrio, Calvin Walker, Joann Jackson and Scott Heaney.

Ron Dunhill (pictured with Toni Harp, above) is a nurse in the homeless program who described his job as “going into the woods and under bridges” to find homeless people and try to bring them in out of the cold for services. He said, “I worked with and knew everyone on this list, and some that aren’t. And I’d just like to say that they all had a special place in my heart, and they’ll never be forgotten.”

Bear (who was the inspiration for Elmore’s poem, “Canning” about people who collect and redeem cans and bottles) now lives at Safe Haven on State Street, which provides supportive housing. He says before that he lived in a trailer and in a tent in the woods. “I used to sleep just in my underwear - no long johns or anything - just layers of blankets. Once you’re out of the wind, you’re fine. If you’re in the wind, well…”.

Last January volunteers counted almost 700 homeless men, women and children in New Haven. The 2008 Homeless Count will take place on Jan. 30 this year. To help, contact Columbus House at 773-9673.