Remember the “upsetting incident” of oral sex on the steps of 15th Street F Train stop that made a stir a couple of weeks ago? Well, the women’s shelter that was implicated in the incident has sent out an email about it, apologizing for the “graphic public vulgarity” to which someone was exposed. (There was no proof that the woman involved lives at the shelter, which is located at the Park Slope Armory.) Here it is:
On behalf of CAMBA Park Slope Women Shelter we apologize that you and your family were exposed to that graphic public vulgarity. We are not sure that the homeless female individual you observed resides or has resided at our facility, but we have addressed all of our program participants about the situation. All of our residents agreed to uphold our “Good Neighbor Policies” while they reside at our facility. Any acts of public vulgarity or outlandish behavior in the nearby community will not be tolerated. On some occasions we do have residents that violate our Good Neighbor Policy and they are addressed directly by the shelter administration and, if necessary, in cooperation with the New York City Department of Homeless Services.
The Park Slope Women’s Shelter administration is committed to upholding a long lasting, positive relationship with all community members, schools, businesses, and organizations. The administration conducts numerous walks through the community to visit make ourselves available to local residents and visit businesses. We welcome feedback about the different interactions between our residents and the community at any time. We have provided our contact information to all of the businesses, schools and organizations in the nearby community, and ask that you feel free to contact us in the event there is any issue of concern.
You are also invited to our Community Meetings at the shelter occurring every last Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. We discuss any community events, issues or concerns. We the administration staff can we reached 24 hours, 7days a week. If you have any concerns or questions please feel free to contact the administration staff at 718-369-7226.
[Photo courtesy of David Shankbone]
5 responses so far ↓
1 alyssa // Aug 24, 2008 at 12:13 pm
this is such bullshit from CAMBA. the shelter residents display “outlandish behavior” on an hourly basis. i live on 15th street; if i sit in my front room with the windows open i hear all kinds of screaming and yelling, and each time it happens and i look outside it’s nearly ALWAYS shelter women.
they made the people who own royal deli and supermarket crazy, coming in without money and making all kinds of trouble. they spend huge amounts of time begging for $$ on PPW.
are they being helped there? are they getting counseling? i don’t think the people at CAMBA really care about the size of the footprint the shelter has in the neighborhood.
i’m not a “not in my neighborhood” kind of person, but many of the residents are disruptive and difficult. and they do, in fact, hang out with the homeless junkies who “live” on either bartel pritchard square or the F-train station. the combination of the two makes the situation worse, and i really don’t believe the CAMBA admin. care a bit about it.
2 Anonymous // Aug 25, 2008 at 9:15 am
It’s not unusual to see women in night clothes, PJ’s and slippers, heading over to the Royal deli for snacks, ect. The begging is mostly non threatening. However, the fighting is very disturbing. These are not frail looking women. Some are pushing 250lbs so when they go at it, it’s for real. It’s pretty common for EMS to be parked in front of the building a couple times a week, lights flashing, for reasons unknown. Can’t speak for everyone. but CAMBA seems to be trying very hard at maintaining the peace. Years ago it was much worse… boyfriends hanging out…drugs.. public defecation..ect.
The women that I talk to on an almost daily basis have been friendly and as sane as anyone else in the nabe considering their circumstances and all. It will be interesting to see what happens when the sports facility comes on line. There should be some programs for the women at the shelter.
3 Matt // Aug 25, 2008 at 9:48 am
Alyssa, You are 10% CORRECT! Wen my wife & I lived on PPW & 13th, I would have to step over the trash left on the sidewalk from the trash pickers from the shelter. Terrace Bagels and the diner next door had a problem… I understand that there may be a point in someone’s life where things are overwhelmingly bad, and they need a safe place tolive, but this is not an economic issue, this is BAD BEHAVIOR and a real lack personal responsibility.
4 Gina // Aug 25, 2008 at 11:43 am
What are the intake parameters of the shelter? Homeless women/women with addiction issues/Mental health issues? All of the above?
5 alyssa // Aug 25, 2008 at 1:27 pm
gina, i believe it’s for mentally ill, drug addicted homeless women.
matt, you are one of many in the neighborhood who have had this experience. i spoke with the CAMBA people once–it took them six months to answer an email i sent–and they invited me to come in and sit down with them and jim brennan; i tried to get other neighborhood people to come with me but i couldn’t find anyone who wanted to so i let it drop.
and yes, anonymous, some of the women are very scary and very large. i try to cross they street when i’m walking down 8th ave because i’ve been stared down more times than i can tell you.