Community Corner

Homeless Struggle To Find Food, Shelter During Summer

Some homeless sleep in tents in the woods across the East End.

When it rains, the homeless are often left without dry socks and shoes for days.

So said a member of the staff at the Maureen's Haven day center in Riverhead on Friday. Maureen's Haven, a homeless program run under the auspices of Peconic Community Council, provides food and shelter at East End houses of worship during the cold winter months.

But when the program ends for the season, the homeless are left struggling, some sleeping in tents in the woods.

"The greatest challenges they face are finding enough food and a place to sleep," said Tracey Lutz, executive director of the Maureen's Haven outreach program.

On a recent Friday, approximately eight homeless guests visited the Maureen's Haven day center on Lincoln Street in Riverhead.

Food is donated to the center during the week, with businesses such as 7-Eleven and various churches sending trays of food and snacks to feed lunch to the homeless.

The First Presbyterian Church of Southold hosts a community dinner every Tuesday where the homeless can eat and also take showers.

At the center, the homeless are able to use computers to help with training and to look for work. Classes are offered in subjects including English as a Second Language and computer skills.

Lutz said donations are always welcomed to help support PCC's ongoing mission and the day center. In addition, socks, shoes, new underwear in both men's and women's, all sizes, are always needed.

For the homeless, who shared salads dotted with shrimp, rolls, and ice cream for lunch on Friday, the center is a haven.

"Things were rough, growing up," said Tylete, 20. "My mother was on disability and only got $700  a month." Tylete said he did very well in high school but, when he failed classes in college, he lost his scholarship funding and was unable to continue, unable to afford tuition "out of pocket."

Today, he and his mother do not get along, and he is homeless, seeking a place to sleep at night.

For others, Maureen's Haven provides help during the darkest of times. One homeless guest was able to find housing with the help of PCC and a student volunteer who took the time to help her navigate the paperwork, which can sometimes seem daunting to the homeless, especially to those with mental health issues, Lutz said.

The homeless, she said, are faced with mountains to scale in the shape of human service offices that are located far from bus routes and the day-to-day battle just to stay alive.

"One man told me, 'My nerves are shot,'" Lutz said.

But there are success stories: Maureen's Haven guest Brenda Richardson, known as "Lil' Bit," to the other guests and volunteers, recently found a room and plans to begin classes in computer technology.

Maureen's Haven, she said, was a life raft during the stormy days, giving her a warm bed at night and the company of friends. "It was very peaceful," Richardson said.

Editor's Note: Patch editor Lisa Finn is a Maureen's Haven volunteer at her church.


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