Edward Ray Van Epps leaves Sunrise Cafe well-fed.
For the first time since the pandemic broke, “Eddie Wigs” Wednesday ate his usual breakfast of eggs, smoothie and milk inside with other homeless New Haveners rather than out on the street.
Wigs — aka Edward Ray Van Epps, 52 — was among the 40 – 50 patrons who showed up for the resumption of daily free breakfasts with indoor seating at Sunrise Cafe at Olive and Chapel streets.
For the past 15 years, Epps has been “home-less 24/7,” according to a cardboard sign he carries with him while living on the streets of New Haven.
He said his year-round “home” is the streets.
“I love outdoors,” he said. “God made this perfect and I stay out all year around.”
Over the years Epps has established a daily routine for his day which starts with breakfast from the Sunrise Cafe. Until Wednesday, the cafe has for two years mostly served take out meals throughout the pandemic. It switched to pick-up to-go meals because of Covid-19 (weather permitting).
After filling up on a homemade breakfast at the sit-in cafe, Epps spoke on the“Word on the Street” segment of WNHH FM’s“LoveBabz LoveTalk” program.
Epps said he made sure to avoid the peppers and onions in his breakfast because they upset his stomach.
Cafe scene Wednesday morning.
While serving breakfast Wednesday, the Sunrise Cafe team celebrated the grand reopening of the indoor seating area for guests. Ten volunteers served the guests.
Sunrise Cafe Chairperson Elise Kamp said returning to indoor seating safely was a major goal for the program to continue offering guests an intimate place to eat, chat, and relax to start their days.
Sunrise Cafe opened in 2015 with the help of Thelma Ragsdale and Ellen Gabriel. The founders, board members, and mayor joined in celebrating the Wednesday reopening by helping to serve guests.
At the Sunrise Cafe guests are seated at dining tables and order their meals from a menu instead of eating cafeteria-style. Volunteers serve the guests. “There’s so much more dignity in that,” Kamp said.
The newly reopened cafe will run Monday through Friday from 7 to 9 a.m.
For the reopening celebration the program was given donations from Zoi’s and the Whitney Donut And Sandwich Shop.
The dining area reopened with several air purifiers and two-person cafe tables rather than the perviously used long picnic tables.
Wednesday's Sunrise cafe volunteers.
After fetching breakfast, Epps can usually be found at the corner of Temple Street and MLK Jr. Blvd collecting “anything an honest person can spare.” He then heads to Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK) Drop-in & Resource Center on State Street in the afternoons to hang out.
With the money collected, usually about $20 a day, Epps said he will often splurge on a cigarette and soda, which he called the “luxuries of my childhood.”
At the age of 7, Epps decided to follow in the footsteps of his mother and grandfather, who were artists. He makes portraits and landscapes using oils, pastels, and paints, and knows how to whittle.
Some years ago he created 17 art pieces for a Community Partners in Action Prison Arts Program exhibit, which featured the work of current and former inmates. He focused on his memories of the city and favorite spots around town.
“An electric soul, is electric rock and roll. I listen to music to get the lyrics out of the world, and that’s why I do all of this fun stuff as an artist,” Epps said.
Epps shows why they call him "Eddie Wigs."
He also has been doing carpentry work since he was a child. He received Job Corps certification as a facilities maintenance specialist. He is currently unemployed.
Despite his love for the outdoors, Epps said one of the hardest things about being homeless is obtaining sturdy shoes that don’t get worn out quickly and that can keep his feet warm. Over the years, he said, he has lost four toes due to frostbite.
For dinner Epps typically picks up a meal from DESK.
Watch full “Word on the Street” interview below.
Thank you to Sunrise Cafe for providing breakfast for the hungry and the unhoused. This is a really nice way for people to have a sense of dignity and community and chance to have a pleasant social interaction for folks who are often ignored and despised by many in our society.
Thank you also to Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK) Drop-in & Resource Center for providing a place where the unhoused can go to get resources and to hang out during the day.
It is resources like these organizations that help to provide dignity, support and resources for those among us who either through circumstances or by their choices or because living indoors isn’t possible for their peace of mind, and don’t have a safe place of their own to stay indoors that they can call home.
One of the most famous unhoused person in CT was the Leatherman, who walked a continuous route around New England and survived by the grace of good people in the community who helped keep him fed and allowed him to sleep on their property without harassment.
American legend Johnny Appleseed also comes to mind, who walked our country planting apple tree nurseries and relying on the kindness of others as he followed his calling.
The most famous of all, Jesus was also unhoused as he followed his calling.
We should keep these examples in mind in addition to the stereotypes we have of the unhoused.