Advocates speak out for homeless on longest night of the year

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The Winter Solstice marks the longest night of the year and this year it happened during one of the coldest nights of the year. That’s why advocates spoke out about homelessness and hosted a community meal at the Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Bebhinn Francis is an organizer with the National Union of the Homeless. She was homeless from ages 15-20, then again at 41 years old.

“I would say the majority of our population thinks that it’s something that couldn’t happen to them. I think there’s a social narrative in this country around homelessness and impoverished people that they must’ve done something wrong to get into that situation or they don’t work hard enough or they don’t really want it and that is never the case,” said Francis.

She said they need the tools to survive on their own like housing access voucher programs and low barrier shelters. She said they appreciate the charity during the holidays, but…

“We feel like this type of charity given generates a pity type of feeling. And our motto, our slogans, are ‘Power not Pity! We’re homeless, we’re not helpless,” said Francis.

Donald Stubbs said accessing government programs is difficult because the paperwork becomes red tape. He is trying to further his education and become a leader in peer counseling. 

“I can’t even get to be seen by medical, to fill out the other half of the application that they’re asking me to do. The Department of Education gives you an application to fill out, and there’s two parts to it, one part has to be filled out by medical. There’s a six month to a year, two year waiting list just to get on a doctors list. I need a primary,” said Stubbs.

Reverend Joe Paparone is another organizer with the National Union of the Homeless.

“Why is it so difficult for people who are struggling to get the help that they need? It’s almost set up to discourage them from seeking out the things that they’re entitled to, the things that most of us consider human rights,” said Paparone. 

With temperatures dropping to the single digits overnight, Paparone started to get emotional.

“Since I’ve started this work I don’t get excited when it snows anymore. I think about my friends on the street,” said Paparone.

“I’m so enthused, I want to help. I want to do something good. I want to be a positive influence on my peers to let them see that I was out there too. I was homeless. I went through some struggles but look I made it. That’s what I want to shout to the world, ‘Donald made it. I made it! I’ve been through it. I know it. You can do it too’,” said Stubbs.