Good day,
My name is Elischia Fludd. I became homeless in October 2013 as a result of Domestic Violence. Eventually, I settled at Van Siclen Women's Shelter located in East New York, Brooklyn, zip code 11207. It is run by Samaritan Village Inc, a place that was recently in the news for being investigated for "missing" 1.1 million dollars. I am divulging where I am because at this point, it is a necessity.
There are many things that are violating about becoming homeless, including how the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and individual shelter administration treats us as a population. I can speak about many angles, but the most poignant at this time for me is related to my disabilities.
I've declined in health for a number of years, to the point where it was prompted by my doctor to apply to Social Security Disability (SSD). I have conditions that render it hard for me to walk on a daily basis, and that is with pain medication that has been increased over time. I even have been dubbed as "homebound" by the Human Resources Administration (HRA) until August when they will review my status again, as well as have been granted a scooter to use as a medical necessity by my insurance and team of specialists.
At Van Siclen, as per DHS rules, dorms are not accessible Monday-Friday between 9am to 5pm. In order to have access to the dorm, you have to have what is called a bed pass. Since arriving on 22 Oct 2013, I had been getting bed passes to cover me every day Mon-Fri up until March, when I was suddenly denied. I've tried to work with DHS and Van Siclen Social Services Director to no avail. I had gotten a pass re-instated after providing additional documentation to update that my situation had not changed in regards to needing access to the dorm, until the last week in May.
In May, I was suddenly denied again, no explanation. I was then told that my doctor's note was not specific. So, I provided another one. Today, I was told by the Social Services Director a bunch of things, including what I think is an admission to discriminatory practices.
I have been taping conversations I've been having for a while and I also have emails that proves that DHS was aware of what's happening as well as the Coalition for the Homeless.
Kindly review the tape of Ms. Simone Ross, Director of Social Services that is attached. Ms. Ross and I had a tense conversation where she was in my opinion disrespectful and admits to an abuse of power. I now have bed passes daily, only for a limited time where I'm supposed to be kicked out of the dorm. The only portion that is not on tape is when I had just stopped it; Ms. Ross says "THIS IS ENTERTAINMENT FOR ME!" as she laughs at me.
This injustice must stop, this is more than a personal issue, but a policy one as well. I just happen to be one of the ones that fights back. Hard.
Elischia Fludd
Huffington Post Blogger
NY Politics and Bronx Community Activism Examiner
Examiner.com
ElischF-at-gmail.com
Wow, after listening to that tape, it's hard to believe that someone like that would be hired to provide sensitive services to the public.
Samaritan Village is the same entity that wants to open homeless shelters in Glendale and elsewhere. Their shelters are notorious for their poor conditions. Yet they get contract after contract with the City. Why? Here's who they gave money to: DeBlasio, Katz and Stringer, among others. -- QC
5 comments:
I have an idea for this woman! Give up your USA citizenship, go to Mexico Then come back here by jumping the border. Then "claim " that you are an illegal! Then poof you get treated better than citizens! You get section 8 and foodstamps! Sounds like a good idea to me!
Samaritan Village needs to be stopped. They waltz in and do whatever the hell they feel like doing and all the pols do is shrug.
There is no way that the woman on the tape should be working with vulnerable people.
Samaritan Village's executive leadership team has extensive ties as former high ranking employees with various city agencies such as DHS and NYCHA. http://samaritanvillage.org/about-good/leadership
Seems like their connections allow them to get lucrative contracts with NYC.
This women has treated her staff in the same manner and has gotten away with it for months. Her supervisors have repeatedly ignored complaints and many of the employees have resigned.
Today this awful Unprofessionsl women was Fired! The leadership allowed this insensitive behavior to continue, until she put the Agencies relationships at risk. Leadership has damage staffs respect and trust. Supervisors cowardly participated as her pawns providing no support to the staff. The clients and staff are better off now that she gone.
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