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Norwich agencies reach out to city homeless NORWICH -- Service providers Thursday took their mission to end homelessness directly to the very people they pledge to help. A dozen agencies met with homeless and those on the fringe at St. Vincent DePaul Place, a community soup kitchen off Main Street. "Did you get your flu shot yet?" yelled Sister Maryanne Guertin, director of St. Vincent, from outside her office door to one of the many familiar faces outside the soup kitchen. Aside from the food offered there daily, visitors Thursday, many of them homeless, were met with a dizzying array of options -- from hair cuts and eye exams to flu shots and employment applications. "The purpose is to get services for a group who may be reluctant to come in on their own," Norwich Human Services Director of Social Work Lee Ann Gomes said. Like Guertin, Gomes was prodding people to get on The William W. Backus Hospital Mobile Outreach van for a flu shot. Inside the soup kitchen, food was strategically arranged near tables offering information on housing and employment. Hair cuts were among the most popular of the offerings Thursday. People signed up in droves for a bus headed for Shear Style School of Cosmetology and Hair Design in Norwich, which volunteered its services. Charles Roe, who had received a flu shot at the Norwich Hospitality Center the night before, said he planned to get his eyes checked out. Ronald Horvath, 55, said he applied for a certificate for housing. "I know how difficult it is. I have an apartment now. I'm lucky," Horvath said. "There are a lot of agencies here to give people help and direction -- to reach out to people in need. We're thankful to have it. There is hope if you're in a hopeless situation." Horvath was homeless for years and last November awoke at his campsite along the Yantic River to find his friend, James "Backpack Jim" Croushore, dead. It was a wakeup call, he admitted. Norwich has four times the number of chronically homeless, about 40 percent of the estimated 100 homeless, than the national average, said Chris Kelly, of the Connecticut AIDS Coalition. There are about 500 homeless in southeastern Connecticut, according to a recent report, in part a symptom of the growing lack of affordable housing. For most, it's a combination of substance abuse and mental health issues with lack of employment. A coalition of local agencies recently issued a report introducing a 10-year plan to end homelessness in southeastern Connecticut. Implementation of the plan is ongoing. After the morning visit to Norwich, Project Connect was expected to move to the New London Community Health Center for the afternoon. Reach Greg Smith at 425-4219 or gasmith@norwichbulletin.com |
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Hair stylist Osmee Desardouin gives James Pires of Norwich a haircut Thursday at Shear Style during a multi-agency event to reach out to the homeless. |
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HOW TO HELP Donations of clothing are being accepted at St. Vincent DePaul Place for gifts to the homeless at a Christmas party. The soup kitchen needs new hats, gloves, socks, fleece, sweatshirts, jackets and towels. Drop the donations off at St. Vincent DePaul Place at 1 Railroad Ave., Norwich or call Sister Maryanne Guertin at 889-7374. |