Oppression in the Streets: How New Britain’s shelters treat the Homeless

Issue #2 Nov 2024

Stories from people who are and have been homeless in New Britain and around Connecticut. Edited and published by Dare to Struggle CT. Distributed by Homeless Liberation Initiative

“Deal with it… do as you’re told…or get the fuck out”

Many homeless and formerly homeless people we’ve talked to for the past year feel that Salvation Army and the Friendship Center (FSC) both operate in ways that force current residents out into the streets, either directly or indirectly. In this way the shelters preserve the very problem they’re supposedly addressing.

INDIRECT: Staff don’t address concerns (quality of food, safety, health, living conditions) or mediate conflict between residents. This eventually drives people out

DIRECT: write-ups for ambiguous bullshit reasons, trespass orders, word of staff taken as over resident, residents kicked out without investigation or explaining their side of the story.

Stories we’VE heard:

Staff at FSC wasn’t doing anything about a guy I was having problems with , if I stayed there any longer I knew there was going to be a fight and staff would call the cops. I was still on probation so I had to decide between going back to jail and living on the street, and I’ve been on the street ever since.

I had a restraining order against an abusive ex, FSC let him stay despite the restraining order, for my own safety I had to leave and I now sleep outside.

Many residents at Salvation Army have foot fungus from using the dirty showers there, I’ve been kicked out before for not showering often enough, so either I risk infection or risk getting kicked out again.

FSC falsely accused me of stealing donations and kicked me out, with no investigation, no chance to defend myself.

FSC kicked me and my entire family out over a petty argument between staff and my child!

Repression and Trespass Orders

Residents who have spoke out or filed complaints, have faced harassment and threatened with being kicked out. For our press conference calling out the abuse at the FSC back in February of 2024, clients were told they’d be kicked out if they got on the mic with us

Trespass orders mean no more access to resources like food, showers, and warming centers. One homeless man has had atrespass order at the FSC since 2020

“These people [shelter directors and staff] have so much control over clients’ lives … we need a watchdog group.”

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