serving our community since 1997
www.HomelessVoice.org
Helping the Homeless Help Themselves
Part of the North American Street Newspaper Association
Volume XI, Issue 7
Hit and run driver kills woman
in Dania Beach
The Broward Sheriff’s Office is
searching for a hit-and-run driver that
killed a Hollywood woman Aug. 21,
Friday morning in Dania Beach.
Renae Maureen Lettiere, 50, was
crossing the westbound lanes of
Sheridan Street in the area of U.S. 1
about 5:39 a.m. when she was struck
and killed, according to BSO spokeswoman Keyla Concepción.
Lettiere was a McArthur High
School graduate who for the past 10
years lived off and on at the Homeless
Voice shelter in Hollywood, director
Sean Cononie said.
“She just left a couple of months
ago,” he said. “She was a caring individual. She loved animals and worked
at the Hollywood Animal Hospital for
(Continued on pg 5)
States where hate crimes/
violence occurred in 2008:
T
otal Number of States: 22 and
Washington, DC
Arizona—1 incident in 1 city (Tucson) resulting in 1 death
Arkansas—1 incident in 1 city
(North Little Rock) resulting in 1
death
California—17 separate incidents
in 10 cities (Bolinas, Costa Mesa,
Hayward, Isla Vista, Long Beach,
Los Angeles, Richmond, Riverside,
Sacramento, San Pablo) resulting in
10 deaths and 12 non-lethal acts
(Continued on pg 4)
* David Bookbinder
* Brian
* Kevin
* Joseph
* Edith
* Clarence
* and Renee Green
* Alice Johnson & Family
* Lisa
* Earnest Bowens & Family
* Ed & Ruth
* Rudy
* Lisa
* John McLean
* Darren
* Jan Cerrito
* Rev. Patrick O’Shen
* Angela Forrest & Family
* Carlos
* Adeel Jamal
MD to Become First State
to Add Homelessness as
Protected Class to Hate
Crimes Law
A
Dania Beach, FL
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Key West, FL
Manatee County, FL
Miami, FL
Panama City, FL
Pompano Beach, FL
St. Augustine, FL
St. Petersburg, FL
West Palm Beach, FL
Florida Attacks and Murders
W
est Palm Beach, Florida
Two homeless men killed in two
separate incidences in one week
May 17: In West Palm Beach, Florida,
there have been two different homeless
men slain during the course of a week.
One man, Rolando Longoria, 27, was riding his bicycle in a shopping plaza and
was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting; eye witnesses report the shooter being male driving a black car. Police say
that Longoria had a confrontation with
the driver behind the Starfish Game
Room located in the West Palm Plaza.
Sheriff spokeswoman Teri Barbara said
detectives believe there were witnesses in
the area.
Prior to the shooting, the Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy
on a homeless man;
the report ruled the
cause of death “homicide” due to a fatal
gunshot wound. The victim, David Roland Ulmer, 41, was found by a woman at
about 10:50 am. It is believed that the two
incidents may be related.
Panama City, Florida
Teen Stabs man to Death
August 2: Jose Gonzalez, 17, has been
charged with 1st degree murder and
faces a life in prison sentence. Gonzalez was convicted for stabbing Timothy
Humphries, 49, to death one evening.
He is said to have pulled Humphries off
his bike when he was on his way to his
cousin’s house.
St. Petersburg, Florida
Man attacks homeless couple sleeping
at a campsite
February 15: Jesus Escudero, 31, was
arrested in St. Petersburg, Florida for
attacking a homeless couple at about 1
a.m. Detectives suspect Escudero of approaching the couple, who were sleeping
at a campsite, and attacking the man, 48,
with a brick. Escudero then struck the
woman, 42, in the head. The male victim
attempted to call 911, but when he came
back to the campsite he learned that the
female victim had been raped and that the
attacker had fled. Deputy Jake Viano and
his search dog found Escudero a half hour
after arriving at the scene of the crime.
Escudero was arrested and charged with
two counts of aggravated battery, one
count of sexual battery, battery on a law
enforcement officer,
petty theft, and providing a false name
to a police officer.
He was also arrested
on an outstanding
warrant for failing
to appear in court on
a grand theft charge.
The female victim was transported to a
hospital, but the male victim refused
treatment. According to Sgt. Jim Border,
“there was no indication that the suspect
and the victims were acquainted before
the attack took place”.
Pompano Beach, Florida
Man Rapes Homeless Woman
September 2: The Broward County
Sheriff’s Office reported that Guy Cherubin, 31, was charged for armed sexual
battery against a 48 year-old homeless
woman on the night of September 2nd.
At 5 a.m. that morning, BSO detectives
said, Cherubin, “attacked and raped a
homeless woman in Pompano Beach …
he covered the 48 year-old woman’s face,
forced her to the ground and placed a knife
In 2008 Florida
had 21 separate
incidents in
10 cities
Cathy’s Prayer List
To add a name please call
954-410-6275, no menetary
donations needed
(Continued on pg 6)
nnapolis, MD– The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH), the
National Law Center on Homelessness
& Poverty (NLCHP), Health Care for
the Homeless (HCH) and the Homeless
Persons Representation Project (HPRP)
are pleased to announce that Governor
O’Malley of Maryland will sign SB 151
into law at 10:00 a.m. on May 7th. SB
151 will make Maryland the first state to
add homeless people as a protected class
to its hate crimes law.
From 1999-2007, there have been 774
documented acts of violence committed
against homeless individuals in the United States, 217 of which have resulted in
deaths. In Maryland, documented attacks
on homeless people date back at least to
1992, when a homeless Korean War veteran was killed in Annapolis after being
soaked in urine, kicked down a ravine,
and called a “worthless bum.” In 2001,
a group of young men from South Baltimore began beating and robbing homeless
people, a spree which resulted in three
deaths. On Valentine’s Day in 2008, a
homeless man was beaten to death while
sleeping in an alley in Frederick.
These incidents demonstrate the dangerous reality of life without housing and
the increasing disregard for people experiencing homelessness. This law magnifies the importance of protecting our most
vulnerable neighbors. Adding homeless
individuals to Maryland’s hate crimes
law sends a message that homeless individuals are not second-class citizens and
deserve the same protections as historically targeted groups.
-AP
Hate, violence, and death on
main street usa 2008
C
rimes of hate and violence have continued to plague the forgotten and
most vulnerable members of our society:
homeless people. Since 1999, the National Coalition for the Homeless has been
tracking the cataclysm of violent crimes
that have been committed against homeless persons. The National Coalition for
the Homeless has for the tenth year published this report that documents the unfortunate trend of violence towards the
homeless. People who are homeless are
more vulnerable to attacks because they
live outside in public spaces. Most of
our communities do not have adequate,
affordable housing or shelter space to
meet the need, leaving many homeless
people to live outside. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development, 41.8% of our
homeless population is unsheltered.1
Undoubtedly, this percentage is higher
as current economic issues have brought
Our Purpose: To Help the Homeless Learn How to Help Themselves
(Continued on pg 7)
The Voice of the Homeless
Page 2
Friends of the Homeless
For just $15 a month you can
keep a homeless family off
the streets for a day
Adam Staler
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In Loving Memory of My
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Sullivan
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P.O. Box 292-577 Davie, FL 33329
Please include on memo
what name should appear in paper.
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Volume XI, Issue 7
Page 3
Letter from the Editor:
Hey Mr. Mayor, Why Are You So Mean To Me?
Each year the National Coalition For the Homeless publish two major reports. July 15th the meanest city report will be made public. This is the
report that tells us advocates what city law makers are doing to the homeless. Basically what laws are they making that target the homeless? Laws
such as no public lodging or no panhandling ordinances. Or get this one, no
feeding the homeless and if you do it is time to get arrested. I’m sorry Mr.
Priest you can’t do what God commands you to do and if you do you will end
up having a new ministry, a “Jail Ministry”.
Florida has been a state that has some of their cities listed in this report
year after year. From ripping down the tents of homeless people to arresting college kids for feeding the homeless. Cities across the USA get listed
in this report and some people who find out that certain cities are mean to
the homeless they end up refusing to go there and spend their hard earned
dollars. The report also embarrasses some of the local law makers to have
their own city they are in control of having experts putting all kinds of data
out there showing just how mean they really are to the homeless. Will they
ever get a conscious? In the next issue of the Homeless Voice you will see
the results of what cities are the mean ones and don’t be surprised if you
see a city from this great state.
The sad part about being a mean city is that research shows that when cities are mean to the homeless and pass laws that target the homeless, usually attacks on the homeless are increased by housed individuals. This is
one of the reasons why Florida has more attacks to the homeless than any
other state in past years.
The second report they publish is based on how many homeless are attacked each year and how many homeless people are killed by housed individuals. This report will be out in the next coming weeks.
Steps are being made to pass laws that if you attack a homeless person
simply because they are homeless then you will be facing a longer prison
term under the hate crimes laws. -Mark Targett
Publisher (middle) Sean Cononie meeting with Rain Wilson and his wife
discussing poverty in America and the continued world hunger problems
and the efforts the Homeless Voice is making in Haiti. Rain Wilson got
many stars support from hit tv shows such as Heroes, My Name is Earl,
Reno 911, and most of the cast from the award winning show The Office.
Attention Readers:
The bad Economy has Hit
us as well... and we need you
more than ever! We need your
help, and we need it bad.
Emergency Funding, this
month and for the next few
months we are asking for as
many supporters to please
send in their checks of $25.00
to:
COSAC HOMELESS
ASSISTANCE CENTER
P.O. Box 292-577
or make your donation online
www.HomelessVoice.org/donate
Need flyers passed out?
or other temporary
labor?
Call 954-924-3571
Why call a day
labor company
and spend large
amounts of
money?
Call our contractor refferal line. Call us and we
will get you the person to do the job for much less!
The Voice of the Homeless
Page 4
National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
E
ach year, one week before Thanksgiving, National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign
Against Hunger and Homelessness cosponsor National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. During this week,
a number of schools, communities and cities take part in a nationwide effort to bring
greater awareness to the problems of hunger and homelessness. If your community
has already joined this effort, this guide can
serve as an evaluator for past efforts and
possibly offer fresh ideas for the future.
If this is your first time participating, this
guide will explain how your community
can get involved!
Why?
Organizing events will not seem very substantial if you do not stop to ask: Why is
National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week so important? Participating in
National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week not only brings greater awareness to your community, but also helps to
promote the national endeavor to end hunger and homelessness. The plight of those
without a home can be both lonely and difficult. Addressing their struggles by organizing and participating in this week may
bring greater solidarity and understanding,
as well as promote future involvement.
Events, such as “One Night Without a
Home,” help people realize the difficulties
that homeless persons daily face. Talk about
these issues with your coordinators and discuss what impact such an event might have
on your community. It is imperative to dispel myths that label homelessness as someone else’s problem or claim that an end to
homelessness is impossible.
When?
November 15-21, 2009. Early planning
is important. Begin recruiting interested
people, outlining and planning events, and
contacting organizations that might be interested in helping and/or participating. The
more time you spend on organizing now,
the better the week will go in November.
Remember that the week does not have to
be full of events. Especially if you are just
starting out, it might be better to choose one
or two events, which will be dynamic and
focused. The solution to hunger and homelessness will not happen in one week, but
a dedicated and timely effort in planning
your week will contribute greatly to the endeavor.
How?
First things first: you need a team. Putting
together a dedicated and enthusiastic team
is important for a successful week. You
may
already
know
many
people
who
would like to
join the effort.
Don’t be afraid
to ask those
whom
you
think
would
not be interested - you may
be surprised. Look within community organizations that you are involved with. Even
if you are not active in a particular group,
you can look around for groups that may
already be active in hunger and homelessness. It is important to talk to people about
your ideas both to promote interest and to
get feedback. Discuss some of the events
that you plan to do and be open to changes
and new ideas. It is important to know the
community you will be working with and
to try to adapt the events accordingly. After
forming a team, it is important to decide on
the logistics as soon as possible. Here is a
sample check list of some, but not all, questions which need answers:
•How many and which events should we
plan for?
•When should the events take place?
•How many people should coordinate each
event?
•Who should handle publicity?
•What is the best meeting time (preferably
weekly) for everyone?
•What community organizations would
help us by co-sponsoring the week?
•Who knows how to organize things in the
community well?
Suggested Activities
Suggested Activities
Below is a list of suggested events for
National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Please feel free to develop new
activities for your unique community. If
your idea is a great success, please let us
know so that we can share your event with
other communities!
•Organize a
“One
Night
Without
a
Home” awareness sleep out
in front of city
hall or on a
nearby college
campus. (See
the
detailed
description included later in this packet).
•Organize Oxfam America’s Fast for a
World Harvest in your community to take
place during Awareness Week. (See the
detailed description included later in this
packet).
•Designate one day for community members to skip a meal. Instead of purchasing
lunch that day, they can donate the money
that they would have spent to hungry people
in your community.
•Host educational forums on hunger and
homelessness. Invite speakers, such as
homeless persons to share their experiences, service providers and community speakers. Show videos and distribute fact sheets
or other informational material (refer to the
National Coalition for the Homeless’ website: www.nationalhomeless.org).
•Organize a movie night and show one of
At least
1.35 million children
are homeless during
the year
the movies listed above in the Education
section. Have a local business or group donate popcorn.
•Organize a book reading and discussion
group. See listed books in the Education
section above. Arrange to go into an elementary school and read one of the children’s books and have the teacher facilitate
an age-appropriate discussion.
•Register homeless and low-income people to vote.
•Have a booth where people can write to
their Congressional representatives about
the importance of programs for homeless
persons. (See Bread for the World Offering of Letters description included in this
packet).
•Organize a drive to collect non-perishable
items such as certain foods, hygiene products, clothing, blankets, books, and toys. Involve the community organizations in a
competition to see which group can collect
the most donations.
•Organize a potluck dinner in which community members bring in a dish for themselves and three other persons. Invite
homeless persons as guests in order to encourage community interaction. Remember to choose a neutral site for the dinner
— a convenient place with no religious affiliation.
•Sponsor a bake sale. Donate collected
money to a local shelter.
•Sponsor a benefit concert with local musicians. Donate collected money to a local
shelter.
•Arrange a walk or a run. Have each participant collect sponsorship money; set a
minimum, such as $20 per participant. Donate collected money to a local shelter. Encourage local businesses to donate food and
drinks. Encourage local bands to provide
entertainment.
•Arrange a Community Service Day where
people can volunteer at different local organizations and learn about their activities. Suggested contacts: food pantries, home(Continued on pg 9)
Are the poor always with us?
E
ven though Jesus may have said,
need for help is growing. There are more
“The poor are always with you,”
than 10,000 families earning less than
from the perspective of the poor, always
$35,000 a year, and there is not enough
is a discouragingly long time.
affordable housing. There are chronically
Family and friends were able to help
homeless households. They struggle with
me when I had few choices. I also later
healthy decisions because of their low inhad loans and tax breaks that made livcome.
ing more affordable and
The Homeless Adprovided greater access
visory Board has
to a “normal” life: a
proposed supportive
Poverty defined as
mortgage for a home, a
housing solutions for
loan for a car and insurinequality will always the chronically homeance for medical care.
less because it is the
be with us
Poverty, at its core, is
humanitarian and most
not financial. Those in
successful solution for
poverty lack a healthy
using the community’s
support network and, most often, good
resources.
options. The poor are shamed for making
In addition to the individuals living in
bad decisions, even though poverty itself
the hidden corners of our community are
leads to poor decision-making. Often the
the thousands of people who cannot afford
choice is between two equally bad opthe plentiful supply of rental units availtions. The shame that accompanies povable. Thirty percent of income is considerty creates fear.
ered a reasonable proportion to spend on
For those not experiencing a life of povhousing. In 2009, fair market rent for a
erty, self-protective fear and anger can
two-bedroom apartment in Sioux Falls is
spill over into shunning the poor and can
$673. Many households do not earn the
lead to self-righteous blame against them
approximately $25,000 a year needed to
for being poor.
live in those homes.
Sometimes, political leaders have courPoverty defined as inequality will alage enough to act on behalf of powerless
ways be with us. Poverty defined as a
people, even as those who fear change
lack of good options can be addressed if
try to sabotage their leadership. With the
the goodwill of people can overcome the
courage and strength of our community
malice of fear that intimidates the politileaders and the many agencies and indical will.
viduals who have provided the bootstraps
- Peter Holland is director of clinical
where none have ever existed, there is
hope that people can pull themselves out
pastoral education at Avera Health.
of poverty.
However, in our own community, the
States where hate crimes/violence occurred in 2008:
(Continued from pg 1)
Colorado—2 separate incidents in 2
cities (Colorado Springs, Lakewood)
resulting in 2 non-lethal acts
Delaware—1 incident in 1 city
(Wilmington) resulting in 1 nonlethal
Florida—21
separate incidents
in 10 cities (Dania
Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Key West,
Manatee County,
Miami,
Panama
City, Pompano Beach, St. Augustine,
St. Petersburg, West Palm Beach) resulting in 3 deaths and 27 non-lethal
acts
Georgia—1 incident in 1 city (Athens) resulting in 1 non-lethal act
Hawaii—1 incident in 1 city (Honolulu) resulting in 1 non-lethal act
Illinois—3 separate incidents in 3
cities (Elgin, Peoria, Rockford) resulting in 4 non-lethal acts
Indiana—2 separate incidents in 2
cities (Indianapolis, Southbend) resulting in 2 non-lethal act
Louisiana—1 incident in 1 city
(Monroe) resulting in 1 non-lethal
act
Maryland—4 separate incidents
in 4 cities (Annapolis, Cumberland,
Frederick, Glen Burnie) resulting in 2
deaths and 2 non-lethal acts
Massachusetts—3 separate inci-
dents in 3 cities (Boston, Cambridge,
Waltham) resulting in 1 death and 3
non-lethal acts
Michigan—2 separate incidents in 1
city (Pontiac) resulting
in 2 deaths
Missouri—2 separate incidents in 2 cities (Kansas City, St.
Louis) resulting in 1
death and 1 nonlethal
act
New York—5 separate incidents in 1 city
(New York) resulting in 2 deaths and
5 non-lethal acts
North Carolina—1 incident in 1 city
(Jacksonville) resulting in 1 death
Ohio—5 separate incidents in 3 cities (Akron, Cleveland, Columbus)
resulting in 1 death and 4 nonlethal
acts
Oregon—5 separate incidents in
1 city (Portland) resulting in 5 nonlethal acts
Pennsylvania—2 separate incidents
in 2 cities (East Stroudsburg, Scranton) resulting in 3 non-lethal acts
Tennessee—2 separate incidents in
2 cities (Bartlett, Nashville) resulting
in 3 non-lethal acts
Texas—1 incident in 1 city (San Antonio) resulting in 1 death
Washington, DC—3 separate incidents resulting in 1 death and 2 nonlethal acts
-NCH
Emergency Funding: please send in your checks of $25.00 to COSAC HOMELESS ASSISTANCE CENTER, INC,
P.O. Box 292-577 Davie Florida, 33329
Volume XI, Issue 7
Page 5
You Will Be Missed By Me and By Many Others
I knew her for almost 15 years, as a
friend, as a Director of our shelter, as
someone who cared about her and at the
same time someone you would get mad
at, at times. I knew her even longer because of the school we shared although at
different times we could share some stories. I remember all the arguments we had
in my office. Sometimes
the arguments were so
loud I finally realized
that there was someone
louder than me in this
place. To those who did
not know Renae, Renae
got away with a lot more
stuff than others, not because I knew her a long
time, although that did
help her sometimes. It
was because no matter
how much trouble she
got into there was just
something about her.
As if this was a real life
movie like, “Something
about Mary.”
Renae would have her ups and downs
but no matter what Renae had her dreams
like anyone else but those dreams always
dealt with helping those little creatures
who were sick and injured known as our
pets. Even if it was not a pet and just a bird
that was injured Renae was there lending
a helping hand. Some of us would tell
her that she needed to take care of herself
before she could help pets but in reality
we all know that when you have a love
for pets and you want to care for them
sometimes you worry more about them
than yourselves. Renae had a chance to
work with pets at the Hollywood Animal
Hospital in her younger years and she had
dreams of going back there one day. But
she would slip and fall and have to start
over again at her recovery process.
In August, just this last month Renae
was hit by a hit and run driver as she was
crossing the street in Dania on her way to
the hospital for her frequent severe migraine headaches she had which kept her
from employment. When we all heard
the news it really brought tears to some
of our eyes. For me, I did not get so upset
at first, it was a day later as I thought back
on all the times when she was in my office and we were talking about rules and
her following them. The
conversations were always intense but there
was many cries, and
many hugs that existed between the two of
us, again, “Something
about Renae.”
We had her funeral service at the
COSAC’s Homeless
Voice, Homeless Center, where her friends,
and some family members as well as many of
the friends here at the
shelter came to give
their last respects. We
learned a lot that night,
the last few months of her life was pretty
good for her. For, she was not homeless any longer and she was living with
her husband to be Mr. Charlie Robinson.
Charlie was a former client of our shelter
who also got his life together after he got
his disability benefits in place.
Renae, even when she was slipping she
was a Christian. It was no shelter anymore for her because she got it right, she
started her recovery process and it was
going uphill as she reached for the next
step, she now is reaching for His hand to
take her to Heaven, I am sure He, Jesus,
her Lord and Savior has His hand out
and He did not hit her with the cross for
her mistakes but rather He said, “Renae,
this Blood, my Blood I shed for you, This
Bloods for you.”
I love you Renae,
Love Sean
Hit and run driver kills woman in Dania Beach
(Continued from pg 1)
a couple of years during the late 1980s.”
Cononie said there was a funeral held for Lettiere at 8:30 a.m. Sunday at the
Hollywood shelter, 1203 N. Federal Hwy.
Cononie said he tried unsuccessfully to look for Lettiere’s relatives in the
hopes that they would attend.
Investigators say the car they are looking for is a dark-colored, four-door
Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 with right, front-end damage to its spoiler, bumper and
headlight area.
Anyone with information should contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954493-8477. -David Smiley
For video coverage go to www.homelessvoice.org/story/renae-lettiere
A musical tribute to Renae
Sean saying a few words
Ramona saying a few words
Lettieres’ fiance Mr. Charlie Robinson, (middle)
The Voice of the Homeless
Page 6
Volume XI, Issue 7
Page 7
Florida Attacks and Murders
SUMMARY OF HATE CRIMES AND VIOLENCE DATA IN 2008:
(Continued from pg 1)
against her side, threatening to kill her if
does.” Sticht has also been arrested for
she didn’t have sex with him.” Cherubin
trespassing with a dangerous weapon in
was involved in a similar attack a few
1999, but the charge was reduced to misdays earlier at which time he kicked and
demeanor trespassing. Several large orgaraped a 39 year-old Boca Raton homeless
nizations, including the NAACP, ACLU,
woman, leaving her with several broken
and Public Defender Howard Finklestein
ribs. He is being held without bond in the
have created a coalition to try and get
Broward County Sheriff’s Office.
the Ft. Lauderdale police to protect the
Manatee County, Florida
homeless population better. President of
Homeless Man Hurt in Robbery
the Broward NAACP, Marsha Ellison,
January 20: Joshua Joe Smith, 28, was
says “surely, another homeless person
drunk and malicious on Sunday the 20th
doesn’t have to die before the police do
when after trying to steal a car from D&L
something.” The court date has been set
Auto Sales in Manatee, Florida, he tried
for April 17th
robbing a nearKey
West,
by
homeless
Florida
man who was
Two Home...surely, another
sleeping. Acless Men Ascording to the
homeless person doesn’t saulted OutSheriff’s report,
side Fast Food
have to die before the
“the intoxicated
Restaurant
suspect
was
April 27: Two
police do
found in the
teenagers
atsomething...
process of robtacked
two
bing a homeless
homeless men
man who had
outside a Wenbeen sleeping on the back porch”.
dy’s fast food restaurant in Key West,
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Florida at 1:20 a.m. One of the teenagers
Homeless Man Brutally Attacked
had a dark Mohawk, and is known on the
February 25: February saw a sharp
street as “Lucky.” The other teen has not
increase in homeless attacks in South
been identified, but is thin with tattoos on
Florida. The latest attack was on Leander
his head and neck. The two teens started
Williams, 68, which left him bleeding on
arguing with the homeless men as they
walked out of the restaurant, and one of
the streets with severe head injuries. Sean
the teens pulled out a knife. The two vicCononie, of the Homeless Voice, and
tims were found walking down the street
Michael Stoops, of the National Coaliinjured.
tion for the Homeless, say that homeless
St. Augustine, Florida
people who are still on the streets should
Three Homeless Men Beaten by
seek shelter and stay in well lit areas until
Teens
there is more information about the freAugust 25: Three homeless men were
quent attacks.
attacked by a group of teenagers underFt. Lauderdale, Florida
neath a railroad bridge at approximately
Homeless Men Violently Harassed
11:15 p.m. Two of the men, Andrew
with Chainsaw on Numerous Occasion
Christianson, 43, and Andrew Robert, 53,
April 5: Stephen Sticht, 49, of Ft. Lauwere hospitalized and were placed in critderdale Florida has been ordered by Broical condition. Robert and Christianson
ward Circiut Judge Julio Gonzalez, Jr. to
suffered serious head injuries after endurstay away from five homeless men and to
ing many blows with a board, a shopping
surrender all weapons to authorities. The
cart and rolled-up fencing. The third man,
homeless men have complained to the
Michael McMeans, 31, only suffered mipolice department on several occasions
nor injuries and was able to get back to a
that Sticht chases them with chainsaws,
nearby restaurant and receive help.
pistols, and the homeless men believe
Police arrested 17 year-olds Jonate
he has put up “Wanted” posters of the
Anderson and Reginald Anderson and
men around town with captions reading
charged them with aggravated battery
“crack head, prostitute, and self-serving
and attempted robbery. Both teenagers
type.” Sticht defends his actions, saying
were brought to the state Department of
that the homeless men are consistently
Juvenile Justice. Police questioned two
around his property and that he has tried
other teenagers, a 16-year-old male and
to get them to leave the area. He says that
a 17 year-old female who have not been
the men are lying and making up their
charged with the crimes
accusations. “It’s a witch hunt. These
Key West, Florida
guys are crack heads. All these allegaHomeless man stabbed by two men
tions are fabrications. Its like they came
September 28: A homeless man was
up with this grandiose story and now I
stabbed while riding his bicycle in what
am made out to be the bad guy.” The five
may have been an attempted robbery. Afhomeless men claimed that Sticht walked
ter the attackers knocked down the vicaround the area where they slept at night
tim, the victim struck back and hit one
with a spotlight, brandishing a knife and
of his assailants in the face. At this point,
firing a gun. The men believe that Sticht
one of the assailants pulled out a knife
put up the Wanted Posters because they
and stabbed the victim in the stomach.
saw him taking their photographs. While
The victim was able to ride his bike to the
several of the homeless men have crimihospital and recovered from surgery sucnal records, one of the men says “We
cessfully. His attackers are still at large.
might have colorful pasts or addictions,
(Continued on pg 9)
but we do have rights, same as [Sticht]
Ten year history of the violence towards the homeless
Total number of violent acts over 10 years: 880
Total number of deaths over 10 years: 244
Total number of non-lethal attacks over 10 years: 636
Total number of cities where crimes occurred over 10 years: 263
Total number of states where crimes occurred over 10 years: 46
Age range of the accused/convicted: 10 to 75 years of age
Age range of the victims: 4 months to 74 years of age
Gender of victims: male: 547 female: 80
5
7
4
2
3
22
4
2
5
1 DE
2
4 MD
3 Washington D.C.
2
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
30
Year Homicides Classified as Hate Crimes (FBI Data) Fatal Attacks on Homeless Individuals (NCH Data)
1999
17 (9 racially, 2 religiously, 3 sexual orientation, 3 ethnically motivated) 48
2000 19 (10 racially, 1 religiously, 2 sexual orientation, 6 ethnically motivated) 42
2001 2002 2003 11 (4 racially, 1 religiously, 4 sexual orientation, 2 ethnically motivated) 10 (4 racially, 1 sexual orientation, 5 ethnically motivated)
14 (5 racially, 6 sexual orientation, 2 ethnically, 1 anti-disability motivated)
17
13
7
2004 2005
5 (3 racially, 1 religiously, 1 sexual orientation)
6 (3 racially, 3 ethnically motivated)
25
13
2006 3 (3 racial- 2 anti-white, 1 anti-black)
20
2007
9 (5 sexual orientation, 1 anti-black, 1 anti-multi-ethnicity, 2 anti-hispanic)
25
2008 (FBI data unavailable at this time)
27
10 Year Total 94
237
Attacks on Homeless need to be Classified as Hate Crimes
F
rom the above chart you can surely
see that the hate towards the homeless is much greater than all of the other
groups that are a protected class of people/groups who are covered under hate
crimes laws. The question remains, if
the homeless are killed much more than
all the other federally protected groups
combined by federal hate crimes laws,
why are the homeless left out? Could
it be that even our elected officials who
are bound by oath to protect and serve
each of us equally, just don’t really care
that the homeless are picked on and
killed just because they are homeless?
Could it be that America has hardened
our hearts? Could it be that we just
don’t care about our veterans are singled out because they are homeless?
Let me point it out again so you fully
understand just how unfair it is. You
see there are groups of people that are
protected under the federal hate crimes
laws. Groups such as races, religious
brands, sexual orientation, and ethni-
cord and have been at odds for years therefore
cally motivated. If an attacker goes after one
many of the homeless do not report attacks
of these groups based on their status the crime
because more severe. For example, if the KKK
that occur to them.
Then we need to add in the factor that many
attacks a Jewish person based on the simple fact
homeless individuals go to the hospital emerthat the victim was attacked merely because he
gency rooms and sometimes the staff there
was Jewish, the penalties become stiff for it is
tries to shuffle them out by just offering the
a hate crime. Now if you look at this chart you
see that all those protected classes of people
homeless a blanket and a dinner and make the
health care issue seem like they are minute isunder hate crimes law protection only had a tosues because many
tal of 94 deaths over
of the ER worka nine to ten year period. Now take the
‘some of the homeless people feel ers are burnt out on
some of the frequent
same time period but
homeless individua complete ten years
that getting beat up is just
als who make refuge
there were a total of
237 homeless people
out of their ER’s.
“life on the streets”’
Another major reawho were killed.
To make the matson why homeless
individuals do not
ters worse, on atcall the police when they are attacked is betacks that are not lethal we have to assume like
all crimes there is an underreporting factor.
cause many homeless individuals have minor
Many crimes go underreported in the housed
warrants for their arrest for not showing up to
court for their crimes of drinking a beer in a
population for many reasons. However, for the
homeless population we know that the police
public place or sleeping in a park. The homeless have a hard time to make it to court so
and the homeless do not have a good track re-
many warrants are issued for their arrest. In some instances it is estimated
that when a homeless person checks
in to a shelter about 40 percent of
them have open charges for such little
crimes and because they go from city
to city the homeless sometimes forget
where they got a ticket for court and
they have no address to receive a court
date. When this happens warrants are
issued and they know they have a warrant and they would rather the assailant
go un-arrested then them to get arrested
as soon as the police arrive on scene.
Also we can’t forget than many homeless individuals suffer from mental illness and when they are attacked they
simply wipe the blood off and continue
to wander from place to place in their
confused state. One of the other reasons why some homeless people do not
call the police is because some of the
homeless people feel that getting beat
up is just “ life on the streets.”
-HV Staff
Emergency Funding: please send in your checks of $25.00 to COSAC HOMELESS ASSISTANCE CENTER, INC,
P.O. Box 292-577 Davie Florida, 33329
# of Violent Acts in 2008: 106
# of Lethal Attacks: 27
# of Non-Lethal Attacks: 79
Breakdown of Non-Lethal Attacks:
# of Rapes/Sexual Assaults: 9
# Setting on Fire: 3
# of Beatings/Assault: 54
# of Shootings: 8
# of Incidents involving Police Harassment/Brutality: 5
Hate, violence, and death on main street usa 2008
(Continued from pg 1)
about high unemployment (9.5%)2 and
foreclosure rates (up 18% from January 2008)3. Without proper action to
deal with the crisis of homelessness as a
whole, our homeless neighbors will continue to be vulnerable to brutal attacks.
Some cities and states have taken action
to address the hate and violence faced by
our homeless neighbors. This report highlights: positive steps being taken around
the country to combat the growing trend
of attacking the homeless, recommendations for advocates, policy makers, and
members of the public to help end the
violence faced by homeless persons.
While some cities and states have taken
positive steps, there are still many parts
of the United States that continue to dehumanize homeless persons by creating
and enforcing laws that criminalize their
homeless status. These laws contain restrictions on sitting, sleeping, storing
property, or asking for money in public
spaces. Laws that criminalize the homeless encourage the belief that homeless
persons are not human, are unworthy of
respect, and attacks against the homeless
will go unnoticed. Samples of headlines
from the report showcase the violence
and horror of the crimes endured by the
homeless:
• 16 Year-old Boy Beats Homeless Man
to Death with Baseball Bat
• Homeless Veteran Killed in Middle of
Marketplace During the Day
• Homeless Man Robbed and Set on
Fire
• Homeless Men Violently Harassed
with Chainsaw on Numerous Occasion
• Homeless Man Beaten with Nail Studded Board
• Twin Brothers Terrorize Homeless
Community
Over the past ten years, hundreds of
homeless people have been attacked and
killed. While this report provides alarming numbers, the fact remains that countless attacks go undocumented each year.
Homeless individuals are treated so poorly by society that their attacks are often
forgotten or unreported. Knowing some
cases are missing, the attacks that are accounted for over the past ten years are
still shocking:
Prosecutor Peter Holden shows how Norris
Gaynor was beaten while sleeping on a park
bench. Gaynor later died from these injuries.
This incident was among a string of highly publicized FL attacks in 2006.
• 880 acts of violence have been committed against homeless individuals
• The attacks have happened in 46 states,
Puerto Rico and Washington, DC
• 244 homeless individuals lost their
lives in the brutal attacks
The victims of these attacks have faced
injustices greater than the scars and pain
they endure; they have
had to cope with humiliation, tattered
self-esteem, and battered respect for
themselves as humans.
In 2008, violent acts against the homeless leave much room for improvement:
• 106 homeless persons were victims of
violent attacks
• 27 of those 106 persons were killed as
a result of those attacks
The perpetrators of these attacks have
shown an overwhelming trend to be
young men and teen aged
boys. Over the past ten years, the majority of attacks against the homeless have
been committed by teenage boys and
youth as young as ten years old. In 2008:
• 43% of attacks against homeless people were committed by teens aged 13-19
• 73% of the accused/convicted attackers were ages 25 and younger
Some of the accused/convicted have been
quoted as saying: “It was just a vagrant”,
“it was fun”, or they did it because they
“could”. The motives to all attacks are not
all clear, but it is obvious that many attacks were committed because the victim
was homeless or because the homeless
(Continued on pg 9)
The Voice of the Homeless
Page 8
CITIES WHERE HATE CRIMES/VIOLENCE OCCURRED IN 2008:
Total Cities: 55
Akron, Ohio
—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal
act
Annapolis, Maryland
—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal
act
Athens, Georgia
—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal
act
Bartlett, Tennessee
—1 incident resulting in 2 non-lethal
acts
Bolinas, California
—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal
act
Boston, Massachusetts
—1 incident resulting in 1 death
Cambridge, Massachusetts
—1 incident resulting in 2 non-lethal
acts
Cleveland, Ohio
—3 separate incidents resulting in 1
death and 2 non-lethal acts
Colorado Springs, Colorado
—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal
act
Columbus, Ohio
—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal
act
Costa Mesa, California
—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal
act
Cumberland, Maryland
—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal
act
Dania Beach, Florida
—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal
act
East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
—1 incident resulting in 1 nonlethal act
Elgin, Illinois
—1 incident resulting in 1 nonlethal act
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
—3 separate incidents resulting in 7
non-lethal acts
Frederick, Maryland
—1 incident resulting in 1 death
Glen Burnie, Maryland
—1 incident resulting in 1 death
Hayward, California
—5 separate incidents resulting in 5
non-lethal acts
Honolulu, Hawaii
—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal
act
Indianapolis, Indiana
—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal
act
Isla Vista, California
—1 incident resulting in 1 death
Jacksonville, North Carolina
—1 incident resulting in 1 death
Kansas City, Missouri
—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal
act
Key West, Florida
—2 separate
incidents resulting in 3 non-lethal acts
Lakewood,
Colorado
—1 incident resulting in 1 nonlethal act
Long Beach,
California
—1 incident resulting in 5 deaths
Los Angeles, California
—2 separate incidents resulting in 1
death and 1 non-lethal act
Manatee County, Florida
—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal
act
Miami, Florida
—2 separate incidents resulting in 2
non-lethal acts
Monroe, Louisiana
—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal
act
Nashville, Tennessee
—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal
act
New York, New York
—5 separate incidents resulting in 2
deaths and 5 non-lethal acts
North Little Rock, Arkansas
—1 incident resulting in 1 death
Panama City, Florida
—3 separate incidents resulting in 1
death and 2 non-lethal acts
Peoria, Illinois
—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal
act
Pompano Beach, Florida
—4 separate incidents resulting in 4
non-lethal acts
Pontiac, Michigan
—2 separate incidents resulting in 2
deaths Portland, Oregon
—5 separate incidents resulting in 5
non-lethal acts
Richmond, California
—3 separate incidents resulting in 2
deaths and 1 non-lethal act
Riverside, California
—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal
act
Rockford, Illinois
—1 incident resulting in 2 non-lethal
acts
Sacramento, California
—1 incident resulting in 2 non-lethal
acts
San Antonio, Texas
—1 incident resulting in 1 death
(Continued on pg 10)
Hate, violence, and death on main street usa 2008
(Continued from pg 7)
are more vulnerable
than housed individuals. In addition, the
perpetrators’ characteristics, motive, and
weaponry are very
similar to perpetrators who commit hate
crimes against all other hate crime victim
groups. Whether or
not the crime was committed out of bias or
hatred for the homeless, the fact remains
that our homeless neighbors fall victim to
an alarming number of attacks each year.
These brutal attacks happened all across
the United States; some states accumulated far more attacks than others:
• Florida had the most attacks committed- 30
• California also had a high number of
attacks- 22
Sean Cononie, a National Advocate
and an expert on attacks to the homeless,
stated, “When you look at the number of
homeless individuals in California compared to Florida it is actually a horrifying
picture for Florida. Considering California has way more homeless than Florida
by tens of thousands of people, you kind
of have to ask, “Why Florida?” Cononie, added, “Florida seems to elect politicians that make laws that target homeless
people and to open up a homeless shelter
in Florida it takes an act of God.” He
pointed out it was a five year fight for
his shelter to be allowed to stay open in
which a judge gave him a verdict to stay
open when city officials tried to close his
shelter down. Many Florida cities try to
make laws that stop good Americans from
feeding the poor and homeless people in
public areas. Cononie strongly suggested that when kids hear a leader of a community say it is against the law to feed
the homeless then we need to face the fact
that kids will eventually feel that the
homeless are really
not human or they are
at the bottom of the
list of living creatures
such as roaches and
the need to rid them
from our community
is simply Ok, after all,
who is really going to
care if the Mayor says don’t feed them.
With this growing problem becoming
more and more apparent in communities
around the country, some states, cities,
and advocacy groups are doing something positive to address the issue.
Here are a few things that are being done
to combat the violence :
• California passed a law in 2004 mandating police officer training on hate
crimes against homeless persons, particularly those with disabilities.
• Maine passed a law in 2006 that allows judges to take into consideration a
victim’s homeless status when considering sentencing for the offender. This was
the first state to give homeless people any
protection under hate crimes laws.
• A statewide public education project in Florida to educate people about
homelessness was initiated in 2007 by
the National Coalition for the Homeless
in conjunction with AmeriCorps*VISTA
Volunteers. This project has now expanded to Georgia and South Carolina.
• The Miami-Dade County Homeless
Trust has created a curriculum/video
about homelessness that is shown in
schools throughout the county to give
young people a greater understanding of
homelessness.
• Puerto Rico, in 2007, passed a law to
create a council that would address the
discrimination of homeless individuals
and strive to restore basic human rights
and needs to the homeless population.
also introduced in this session of Con• Alaska added homeless status to a law
gress in the U.S. House of Representacreating more protection for vulnerable
tive Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX). The bill
populations
seeks to provide support to victims of
Seattle amended the city’s malicious hahate crimes, including housing assistance
rassment statute to criminalize particular
for homeless individuals.
acts, including malicious and intentional
• Bills to add homeless persons as a proinjury or threats against a person, or detected class to state hate crime statutes are
struction of or damage to the person’s
currently being considered in California,
property, because of the perception that
Florida, and South Carolina.
the person is homeless
Even though the trend of violence
• Los Angeles passed a resolution requiragainst homeless persons has risen over
ing homelessness awareness to be taught
the past decade, there are steps that we
at the high school level, trainings for pocan take to put an end to this terrible
lice officers dealing with possible hate
trend. Advocates, service providers, policrimes against the homeless, and tracking
cymakers, and members of the public can
of hate crimes committed against hometake a stand by:
less individuals.
• Supporting bills, such as H.R. 3419
• Maryland became the first state to nonand H.R. 262.
discretionally add homeless persons to the
• Supporting state legislative efforts to
existing hate crime law.
add homeless persons
• Cleveland, OH passed
as a protected class to
...Florida cities
an ordinance dictating
state hate crime statutes.
that repercussions for
try to make laws • Initiating police train“intimidating” or harassings to help law enforcethat stop good
ing a homeless person
ment officers better undue to their status would
Americans from derstand homelessness
be more severe.
feeding the poor in general and how to
• Washington, DC City
prevent and manage hate
and homeless... crime against homeless
Council approved a bill
adding homeless people
persons.
to its hate crimes law. It
• Engaging in public
was signed into law by the Mayor on Aueducation initiatives in schools to educate
gust 6, 2009. In addition, several legislayoung people about homelessness and to
tive initiatives are currently underway to
humanize homeless neighbors.
address this growing problem.
• Advocating against city measures that
• A bill (H.R. 3419) was introduced on
criminalize homelessness and for more
July 30, 2009 in this session of Congress
constructive approaches to homelessin the U.S. House of Representatives by
ness.
U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice John• Advocating for more affordable housson (D-TX) and 13 other co-sponsors
ing and permanent supportive housing to
which seeks to amend the Hate Crimes
bring an end to homelessness for those
Statistics Act to include crimes against
homeless members of our communities.
the homeless.
-NCH
• A bill, David Ray Ritcheson Hate
Crimes Prevention Act (H.R. 262) was
Emergency Funding: please send in your checks of $25.00 to COSAC HOMELESS ASSISTANCE CENTER, INC,
P.O. Box 292-577 Davie Florida, 33329
Volume XI, Issue 7
Page 9
National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
(Continued from pg 4)
less shelters, and soup kitchens.
•Think Globally, Act Locally- Washington, D.C. isn’t the only place that lobbying
is possible! Gather a group of students and
homeless/formerly homeless individuals
and visit your city hall, county commission,
state legislature and/or a local office of your
Congressional representative or Senator. Focus on educating your audience on homelessness issues and what ideas you have to
better the situation. Lobbying doesn’t have
to have a negative connotation, think about
what you are doing as merely an educational, hopeful conversation.
All of these ideas leave plenty of room
for ingenuity. Take one of these ideas and
change it as you see fit, or combine components of multiple ideas, such as:
•Organize a carnival: charge a couple of
dollars for admission and/or collect canned
foods as admission. Have local businesses
donate food, drinks, and other goods or services. Charge very little for each, and donate all proceeds from the event to a local
shelter. Have homeless or formerly homeless people attend and speak briefly. Have
local bands perform. Have a booth to write
letters to Congressional representatives.
On any given day 200,000 children are
homeless
A truly successful Awareness Week will
inspire people to become further involved
with the issues of hunger and homelessness. At the end of this packet is a list of advocacy groups with whom people could work
to continue their involvement. These organizations, along with other, local, ideas of
how people can become more involved with
this issue on a more regular basis, should
be advertised throughout your Awareness
Week events.
Florida Attacks and Murders
(Continued from pg 6)
Pompano Beach, Florida
bruises”. Reflecting on the devastating
Homeless Veteran Robbed and Beatevents the homeless veteran had said, “I
en
constantly look over my back now, when
October 2: Richard Denise, 64, parapleI got back from Vietnam, I never thought
gic was found pleading for help after reI’d have to look behind my back again.”
ceiving a beating with a board and havMiami, Florida
ing $94 and his wheelchair stolen from
Two Homeless Men Shot with a BB
him. His attacker, a man known to the the
Gun
owner of a local medical supplies comJune 11: John Rains, 51, and Willie
pany.
Thomas, 48, two homeless men living in
Pompano Beach, Florida
Miami, Florida, were shot early on June
Homeless Man Harassed by Teens
11th. Thomas was sleeping underneath
Oct/Nov: Timothy Creswell, 46, was
Interstate 95 when he was shot with a BB
awakened one night by 3 teenagers kickgun, and Rains was riding by on his bike
ing him. He attempted to flag down a
when he felt the shot and he saw a silver
passing BSO deputy, but was unable to
pickup truck drive by. Thomas and Rains
gain the deputy’s attention. He was picked
were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital
up by an ambulance and transported to a
and were released.
hospital where he was treated for a broPanama City, Florida
ken leg
Homeless Man Arrested and Beaten
St. Petersburg, Florida
by Police Officers for Simply ‘Looking
Homeless Vietnam Veteran is Brutally
Homeless’
Attacked
August 3: A homeless man, John Paul
December 21: A disabled homeless
Kimbro, 37, was falsely arrested by
Vietnam Veteran was beaten alongside
Panama City Beach Police officers on
his homeless son after attending the secthe night of August 3rd. The officers apond annual Homeless Persons’ Memorial
proached Kimbro because he looked like
Day vigil. William
‘a transient’ and then
Shumate, a menasked him to show
“I constantly look
tor to his homeless
his ID. Kimbro was
over my back now,
peers in St. Peterswithin his legal rights
burg, was sleeping
when I got back from when he refused to
at city hall after the
do so, yet the offiVietnam, I never
night’s memorial. An
cers arrested him and
thought I’d have to
estimated nine teentook him back to their
look behind my back headquarters. Video
agers demanded that
Shumate turn over
surveillance
tapes
again.”
his son’s bike as well
show that the officers
as his own. Shumate
placed Kimbro into a
refused. Subsequently the teenage group
headlock, slammed him into a wall and
started beating him on the spot. Shumate
punched him violently. When Kimbro was
was struck in the face and was unable
taken to the county jail, he was pepperto recover. Homeless Peoples Network
sprayed for refusing to cooperate again.
reported, “By the end of the encounter,
Sgt. Jimmy Warr was suspended for 5 days
in which the teens called the two men
and then resigned for his involvement
(Shumate and his son) ‘homeless scum,’
in the incident. Two other officers are
Shumate had suffered a minor concuscurrently under investigation.
sion, broken nose, black eye, damaged
-NCH
ear drum and numerous scratches and
make your
donation online
www.HomelessVoice.org/donate
Lets light a homeless person on fire, hey
are we a terrorist ?
March 23: Bartlett, tenfilled bottle in a panic, but one of the
nessee. Two homeless
homeless men said Eggleston threw it
men were the victims of
at his friend, 37-year-oldJohn Martin,
an attack on Easter Sunbefore running away.
day in Bartlett, TennesMartin sstained second- and thirdsee. Brenner Holloman,
degree burns on his head, neck, shoulders, hands and left leg. The second
Zachary Parrish one of the victims, was
unhurt from the attack but witnessed
homeless man was not injured.
everything. The attackers, adult males
“The victim said ‘I’m on fire’ and
ages 19-22, used molotov cocktails, a
started rolling on the ground,” said
homemade concoction that consists of
state prosecutor Betsy Carnesale,
a bottle filled with gasoline and set on
adding that any of the five defenfire. Holloman claimed the flames only
dants could have stopped the attack
made the attackers laugh harder, and
or called for help. “There’s no pain
“they thought it was funny all right,
like a burn. How can a human be so
they absolutely did.”
cruel to another person? The men
Holloman now says he
said they heard laughing after he was
can hardly recognize his
set on fire.”Parrish pleaded guilty to
friend, Jeffery Martin, 37.
attempted aggravated arson and ag“It made me ill, he reports.
gravated assault. Eggleston pleaded
“I just saw him yesterday,
guilty to attempted aggravated arson.
his head ballooned out
to there…his scalp was
Two other defendants -- Andrew
John Eggleston taken off, his right hand
Hicks and Wesley Ray, both 20 -is completely bandaged up…” Martin
pleaded guilty to facilitation to comreports that it
mit attempted
“was the worst
aggravated
There’s no pain like a burn.
pain I’ve ever
arson.
been in, in my
Hicks, the
life.” Martin
How can a human be so
group’s getsustained secaway driver
ond and third
who waited
cruel to another person?
degree burns
in his truck,
to his head,
was
senneck,
ears,
tenced
to
shoulders and
three years’ probation.
hands. Police found the attackers to be
Ray, who got out of the truck, but did
20 year-old Michael Grace, 19 year-old
not
follow Parrish and Eggleston, was
Andrew Colin Hicks, 22 year-old John
placed on diversion, which means his
Tyler Eggleston, 19 year-old Wesley
conviction can be erased with three
Ray, and 19 year-old Zach Addison
years of good behavior.
Parrish. All five have been charged
Skahan ordered both men to serve
with attempted Aggravated Arson, and
50 hours of community service at a
Parrish was charged with the additional
attempted Second Degree Murder, as
homeless shelter.
police suspect he threw the flaming botThe case against a fifth defendant,
tle at the victims. Eggleston and Grace
Michael Grace, 21, is still pending.
pleaded not guilty to the charges and
-- Lawrence Buser
waived their preliminary hearing.
Update to the above story:
Two get 8 years in attack on
homeless man in Bartlett
This Attack Proves It Is Ok
to Hurt or Kill A Vagrant
Others get light sentence for
firebombing
Two men went to prison and two others went home Tuesday in the aftermath of a firebombing attack last year
on a homeless man in Bartlett.
After a nearly three-hour hearing in
Criminal Court Tuesday, Judge Paula
Skahan denied probation for Zachary
Parrish, 20, and John Tyler Eggleston,
23, and ordered them to begin serving
eight-year prison sentences.Both men
carried Molotov cocktails -- gasolinefilled beer bottles with homemade
wicks -- in the early-morning hours of
March 23 last year as they approached
the campsite of two homeless men in
a wooded area near the 8300 block of
Stage Road.
They said the plan was to set fire to
the men’s tent in retaliation for one of
the homeless men accosting a member of their group a month earlier at
the nearby Lowe’s store.
“One of them grabbed me and I hit
him with the bottle,” Parrish testified. “He caught on fire. All I could
see was flames. I feel horrible. I can’t
stop thinking about it.”
Eggleston said he dropped his gas-
February 14: Frederick, Maryland. William Sigler, 49, a repeat offender of assault, drug possession, reckless endangerment, sexual assault, and battery, was
found guilty of the fatal attack of Samuel
Webster Hood Jr., 57, a homeless man
living in Frederick. Police were called
to respond to an unconscious Hood with
his skull cracked open from the attack.
Authorities report evidence of strangulation and severe trauma to the head and
neck from repeated assault. A witness reportedly saw Sigler standing over Hood
shouting to call 911, but said Sigler left
before authorities arrived.
Evidence found at the scene showed
blood marks on the wall of the alley as
well as on a windowsill.
Police were led to Sigler’s apartment,
where a search produced blood spattered
sneakers, blue jeans, and a hat.
In December, pleading guilty to seconddegree murder, Sigler was sentenced by
County Circuit Court Judge G. Edward
Dwyer Jr. to 30 to 50 years in the Maryland Division of Corrections. The Frederick News-Post reported, “It was the maximum sentence Dwyer could hand down.”
After trial, there remains to be no motive
for the crime. When Sigler was told that
the victim was Sammy Hood, he said,
“Oh him, he’s just a beggar, a vagrant.”
-HV Staff
The Voice of the Homeless
Page 10
CITIES WHERE
HATE CRIMES/
VIOLENCE
OCCURRED IN
2008:
(Continued from pg 8)
San Pablo, California
—1 incident resulting in
1 death
Scranton, Pennsylvania
—1 incident resulting in
2 non-lethal acts
South Bend, Indiana
—1 incident resulting in
1 non-lethal act
St. Augustine, Florida
—1 incident resulting in
3 non-lethal acts
St. Louis, Missouri
—1 incident resulting in
1 death
St. Petersburg, Florida
—2 separate incidents
resulting in 4 non-lethal
acts
Tucson, Arizona
—1 incident resulting in
1 death
Waltham,
Massachusetts
—1 incident resulting in
1 non-lethal act
Washington, District of
Columbia
—3 separate incidents
resulting in 1 death and 2
non-lethal acts
West Palm Beach, Florida
—2 incidents resulting in
2 deaths
Wilmington, Delaware
—1 incident resulting in
1 non-lethal act
-NCH
Street paper is good news for Nashville’s homeless
Hawking a monthly newspaper written by
Nashville’s homeless and formerly homeless
may seem to offer an unlikely path to stability,
especially at a time when media companies
across the U.S. are suffering.
But for Jerry Andreasen, and his wife, Karren, both 65, selling copies of The Contributor at $1 a copy has helped them move from
a tent by the river to renting a $100-a-week
room in a North Nashville house. A carpenter
and handyman, Jerry Andreasen had lost everything after he had a heart attack.
“You don’t start out with no mansion,” he
said, as he walked around the couple’s shared
room jammed with newly acquired tools, many
donated. “This here tickles us to death.”
The couple is part of a national movement
Some Homeless Voice vendors outside the Hollywood shelter.
that is changing the discussion about street
people by making them micro-businessmen
said.
public housing youth, and a review of the Toand putting a personal face on poverty.
They decided to buy a tent and now sleep
mato Art Festival in East Nashville. There’s
Andy Freeze, executive director of the North
in an isolated, wooded area so they can save
even a locally written “Hoboscope” column
American Street Newspaper Association, said
for an apartment.
that offers amateur astrology readings.
circulation is rising among the papers. There
Tuesday afternoon, office worker Chantay
Tom Turner, president and CEO of the
are about 25 street newspapers in 10 cities in
Shye threw her arms around vendor Debbie
Nashville Downtown Partnership, a businessthe U.S. and Canada.
Overstreet outside the Arcade and gave her
oriented group that wants to keep aggressive
In its first two months of publication in 2007,
$3. She said she worries when she doesn’t
panhandlers and drunks away from the area,
Nashville’s Contributor sold about 600 copsee Overstreet selling the paper.
said he appreciates what The Contributor is
ies. By August of this year, 4,500 had been
“Some of them are some good people,”
doing for the homeless population.
distributed, and sales
Shye said, grinning at Overstreet. “I don’t
“If you have a group
have been brisk enough
know how it feels to be homeless. I don’t
of courteous people
“This is like the first
that the 6,000-copy
want to know. I help people when I can.”
trying to better their
opportunity the
run of its September
Overstreet, 49, smiling but with a serious
position, I think it’s
homeless have had for an
issue could sell out.
look in her eyes, called out as people passed:
good for them and
Nashville’s paper this
“September edition is out. Want to buy a pagood for the comincome that’s really
summer won an award
per to help the homeless and formerly homemunity,” Turner said.
worked out.”
for a piece by Michael
less?”
“For a lot of people,
“Pontiac” Cooke about
“I’m almost at the same level,” one middlequality of life can
making the transition from a tent city to a subage man said with a nod as he passed.
start with a job. Anything that provides a part
sidized apartment.
“Have a blessed day,” she said.
of the solution is a step in the right direcTaking positive steps
Overstreet, looking like somebody’s big
tion.”
Vendors must sign a code of conduct that resister with blond ponytail and clean white
‘Like my own business’
quires sobriety while working, respect toward
tennis shoes, said she was disabled in a car
Leaving Downtown Presbyterian Church
all, staying off private property and wearing
wreck. When her husband divorced her and
last week, Tony Angello looked like a tourist,
an identification badge.
didn’t pay alimony, she lost everything.
with sunglasses perched atop his bald head,
The articles and photographs give a window
She has managed to get into federally subtidy jeans and a bright Hawaiian shirt. But the
into the lives of some of the sellers and others
sidized housing, but needs money from pastack of newspapers under his arm told a diflike them.
per sales for basic things such as toiletries,
ferent story. He and his wife, Quita Thornton,
Pieces in recent Contributor issues looked at
telephone service and washing clothes.
were on their way to sell The Contributor.
personal stories of addiction and redemption,
“This is like my own business,” she said.
Until two weeks ago, the couple were spendthe difficulty of trying to get by on minimum
“This is like the first opportunity the homeing $40 to $50 a night on motel rooms.
wage, why some people hate the homeless,
less have had for an income that’s really
“It was important we make those (newspaurban gardens, a bicycle repair workshop for
worked out.” - By ANNE PAINE
per) sales or we slept in the street,” Angello
COSAC’S CHURCH
Come to the church that is
a Church of Service and
Charity Learn of Jesus and
learn how to put God’s
words into action.
Sunday 2 pm to 2:45 pm
1203 N. Federal Highway
Hollywood, FL 33020
954-924-3571 x316
* Free Weddings
* Free Memorial Services
* Alternatives to Abortion
* Healing Services
Trash Hauling
U call...we haul!!!
How’s my
Vending?
Please call
954-410-6275
We’ll take it all!!!
No job too big or too small!
Bob cat service available
Bank repos our specialty
Commercial or Residential
Call J.R. (954) 534-6694
Volume XI, Issue 7
Page 11
What if The Homeless Voice had a penny for every
time you searched or shopped on the internet?
Business
Directory
To place YOUR AD
Call 954-924-3571
We’ll work with your logo or have one our staff
design your ad for you! Ads as large as 1/2 page
and full color available- call today!
Messianic
Temple
Aron
Hakodesh
Rabbi Joe Vitkus
Services
Fri. 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 11:00 a.m.
Search the web with www.goodsearch.com and money
from Yahoo advertisers will go to The Homeless Voice
without you spending a dime!
We need:
-snacks
-fruit drinks
-cans of tuna
Bedside Snack Ministry
-chicken salad
-styrophoam cups
-plates
-plastic forks
Youth Ministry
4761 N.W. 24th Court * Fort Lauderdale, FL 33313
(954) 485-8491
Help bring a smile to our residents!
To drop off donations please contact 954-410-6275
www.safelinkwireless.com
Most homeless people qualify for a free cell phone
and airtime in their state if they receive food
stamps, Medicaid or other assistance. All they need is an address of a local shelter to
use. Go to the web site and see what
your state requires.
Advantage
Communications,
INC.
Commercial,
Industrial, and
Government
2-way Radio
* ACI supports the Homeless Voice and the Cosac Foundation in raising awareness and providing solutions to
homelessness in our neighborhoods.
* ACI knows that lending aid to human beings in need is good for our souls, our communities and is simply the right thing
to do.
* ACI would like to thank all people who are actively engaged in helping humanity here on the blue planet. God bless the
Cosac Foundation
Mark Lavallee, President 954-961-2642 www. advantage-com.com Excellence in Radio