PunkyP0WER
08-05-2009, 02:53 PM
Back in spring a former employee at the shelter wrote a scathing account that was printed in the Hartford Courant's op-ed page. Basically she told stories of employee theft/embezzlement/mistreatment etc amongst the staff. Here's the link to that thread:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=245967&highlight=shelter
Well, just a week ago or so 6 residents contacted a reporter from the Hartford Courant with reports of racial discrimination and sexual harassment. Anyway, here is the article as printed, my boss Valerie Archer is mentioned in it. (I've mentioned her numerous times on the board - she is currently pregnant with twins via invitro-fertilization after her and her husband tried unsuccessfully for 10 years)
http://www.courant.com/community/hartford/hc-my-sisters-place-0724.artjul24,0,4878683.story
HARTFORD — - My Sisters' Place, the transitional housing complex in the North End, says it offers a safe haven and empowerment for women forced out of their homes due to domestic violence, eviction, unemployment or mental illness.
But that hasn't been the case for six black women, who say they have been belittled, threatened with eviction, stolen from, subjected to unwanted sexual commentary and made to feel unwelcome during their stay.
"I wouldn't wish this place on my worst enemy," said Angie Richardson, 33, who has been living at My Sisters' Place since October.
The women say they have lodged numerous written and oral complaints with My Sisters' Place staff about their treatment at the Pliny Street shelter. They say staff members have gone through drawers in their apartments and opened mail when they were out of the building. Money, food, sneakers and jewelry have disappeared from their apartments, and hurtful comments are made to them, they say.
After the women complained to The Courant, Diane Paige-Blondet, executive director of My Sisters' Place, began an investigation last week.
"There may be some truth to some of this or not," said Paige-Blondet, who also met with the women after learning that they had contacted the newspaper. "Everything they told me will be addressed."
The women say they are also held to a different standard of behavior than the shelter's Latina and white clients, from being denied weekend passes to being written up for minor infractions.
Some of the women who are complaining previously lived in an emergency shelter run by My Sisters' Place before moving into the transitional housing. The emergency shelter closed in May.
"I've been written up for standing outside," said Brandy Whitehead, 29, a resident since September.
The women say that most of their issues are related to three white staff members: Barry D'Andrea, the clinical case manager; Michelle Dumais, a case manager; and Valerie Archer, the complex's supervisor.
D'Andrea, they say, constantly drives group discussions toward the subject of sex, which makes them feel uncomfortable.
"He should not be here trying to counsel anybody," said Brandy Evans, 30, a resident since December. "This is supposed to be a recovery group and all he does is talk about sex."
Diona Mundle, 19, a resident since May, said D'Andrea frequently made explicit comments about the size of her breasts.
Tracy Mills, 40, a recovering heroin addict who takes methadone, said D'Andrea recently told her that she would always be "a dope fiend."
"They never have anything good to say," Mills said. "They don't commend you for anything you're doing positive."
Richardson alleges that D'Andrea has shared her private medical information with another resident.
D'Andrea declined to comment on the allegations, citing the confidentiality of his working relationship with the women.
The women say they believe the color of their skin is an issue when it comes to dealing with Dumais and Archer, who are responsible for meting out punishment and discipline and granting passes and other liberties, such as visitors.
"It's racially motivated. We get treated differently," Mills said.
Dumais declined to comment, also citing confidentiality restrictions.
Archer said, "If I was a racist, why would I choose to work here every day?"
Paige-Blondet has moved Kathy Shaw, the director of operations for My Sisters' Place, to the Pliny Street complex and said that if the allegations of racism and improper sexual discussions or comments are proven to be true, she will recommend that the employees involved be terminated.
"This is not the first time we've had allegations, some that were unfounded," she said. "But if something needs to be fixed or changed, I will do that."
Paige-Blondet declined to allow the women to give The Courant permission to see copies of the grievances they say they filed with management of the complex. Some of them have also been denied access to their files, they say.
When asked if she was going to let the women make copies of the grievances, Paige-Blondet said "no comment."
Mills, who said she feels that she has been singled out for punishment and is on the verge of being kicked out of her apartment, said she hopes the group's decision to speak out results in change.
"We've been through a lot in our lives," she said. "You're looking for support and then you get abused and harassed."
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=245967&highlight=shelter
Well, just a week ago or so 6 residents contacted a reporter from the Hartford Courant with reports of racial discrimination and sexual harassment. Anyway, here is the article as printed, my boss Valerie Archer is mentioned in it. (I've mentioned her numerous times on the board - she is currently pregnant with twins via invitro-fertilization after her and her husband tried unsuccessfully for 10 years)
http://www.courant.com/community/hartford/hc-my-sisters-place-0724.artjul24,0,4878683.story
HARTFORD — - My Sisters' Place, the transitional housing complex in the North End, says it offers a safe haven and empowerment for women forced out of their homes due to domestic violence, eviction, unemployment or mental illness.
But that hasn't been the case for six black women, who say they have been belittled, threatened with eviction, stolen from, subjected to unwanted sexual commentary and made to feel unwelcome during their stay.
"I wouldn't wish this place on my worst enemy," said Angie Richardson, 33, who has been living at My Sisters' Place since October.
The women say they have lodged numerous written and oral complaints with My Sisters' Place staff about their treatment at the Pliny Street shelter. They say staff members have gone through drawers in their apartments and opened mail when they were out of the building. Money, food, sneakers and jewelry have disappeared from their apartments, and hurtful comments are made to them, they say.
After the women complained to The Courant, Diane Paige-Blondet, executive director of My Sisters' Place, began an investigation last week.
"There may be some truth to some of this or not," said Paige-Blondet, who also met with the women after learning that they had contacted the newspaper. "Everything they told me will be addressed."
The women say they are also held to a different standard of behavior than the shelter's Latina and white clients, from being denied weekend passes to being written up for minor infractions.
Some of the women who are complaining previously lived in an emergency shelter run by My Sisters' Place before moving into the transitional housing. The emergency shelter closed in May.
"I've been written up for standing outside," said Brandy Whitehead, 29, a resident since September.
The women say that most of their issues are related to three white staff members: Barry D'Andrea, the clinical case manager; Michelle Dumais, a case manager; and Valerie Archer, the complex's supervisor.
D'Andrea, they say, constantly drives group discussions toward the subject of sex, which makes them feel uncomfortable.
"He should not be here trying to counsel anybody," said Brandy Evans, 30, a resident since December. "This is supposed to be a recovery group and all he does is talk about sex."
Diona Mundle, 19, a resident since May, said D'Andrea frequently made explicit comments about the size of her breasts.
Tracy Mills, 40, a recovering heroin addict who takes methadone, said D'Andrea recently told her that she would always be "a dope fiend."
"They never have anything good to say," Mills said. "They don't commend you for anything you're doing positive."
Richardson alleges that D'Andrea has shared her private medical information with another resident.
D'Andrea declined to comment on the allegations, citing the confidentiality of his working relationship with the women.
The women say they believe the color of their skin is an issue when it comes to dealing with Dumais and Archer, who are responsible for meting out punishment and discipline and granting passes and other liberties, such as visitors.
"It's racially motivated. We get treated differently," Mills said.
Dumais declined to comment, also citing confidentiality restrictions.
Archer said, "If I was a racist, why would I choose to work here every day?"
Paige-Blondet has moved Kathy Shaw, the director of operations for My Sisters' Place, to the Pliny Street complex and said that if the allegations of racism and improper sexual discussions or comments are proven to be true, she will recommend that the employees involved be terminated.
"This is not the first time we've had allegations, some that were unfounded," she said. "But if something needs to be fixed or changed, I will do that."
Paige-Blondet declined to allow the women to give The Courant permission to see copies of the grievances they say they filed with management of the complex. Some of them have also been denied access to their files, they say.
When asked if she was going to let the women make copies of the grievances, Paige-Blondet said "no comment."
Mills, who said she feels that she has been singled out for punishment and is on the verge of being kicked out of her apartment, said she hopes the group's decision to speak out results in change.
"We've been through a lot in our lives," she said. "You're looking for support and then you get abused and harassed."