SC Connecticut News

"One way to change your life is to change someone else’s." This is the advice of Roosevelt Watkins, who provides peer outreach for people experiencing substance use and homelessness. "You see the need, you meet the need. If you see agencies that are doing good work, don’t just support them with cash. Support them with time."

Watkins spoke as part of New Haven Voices, a panel discussion spotlighting the perspectives of leaders in the local community. Organizers of the event, now in its third year, decided to focus on the structural challenges that accompany homelessness and substance abuse and to invite speakers whose lived experiences have inspired them to become advocates for change.

Fabrizio Darby, a second-year medical student who began planning the event in May, said that he had organized several events in the past but noted, "this panel has been one of the most meaningful experiences I've had at Yale, and it has fueled my passion for community work." Darby aimed "to give underserved communities the platform to advocate for themselves. And from a professional standpoint, I plan to use this insight to ensure that I provide care in a way that makes people feel listened to."

Marietta Vázquez, MD, associate dean for medical student diversity at Yale School of Medicine (YSM), introduced the event as an extraordinary learning opportunity for medical trainees who "are provided enormous opportunities to protect and support the health of the people around us." She added, "You don’t just come to New Haven to become Yale students; you come to Yale and become citizens of New Haven."

Vázquez hopes the event’s 100 attendees felt "energized to become active citizens of New Haven with a better understanding of some of the challenges faced by our neighbors. I hope these challenges are seen as opportunities to make a difference."

Housing Crisis

Panelists Suki Godek, Bridgett Williamson, and Roosevelt Watkins have experience with homelessness either currently or in the past and all three are working as advocates and providers of community services.

Watkins spoke of his work with U-ACT (Unhoused Activists Community Team): "Any outreach work you do is you meet people where they are. Unfortunately, we meet people at their lowest point: They’re homeless. There’s only one way to end homelessness and that’s to give someone a home, and we just don’t have the capacity to do that."

Bridgett Williamson has lived in New Haven for 60 years and described how housing has changed over time. "Thirty years ago, I was able to get emergency housing with three kids... then get into a complex where I could pay rent. And today, I cannot even get on a list to get housing. Gentrification displaced all the families and people I grew up with. The majority have passed away from the pain and suffering of that displacement."

Williamson described a positive transformation in how Yale researchers interact with the community: “to come out from behind walls and start building relationships… gathering data and then bringing it back.” She works for Yale as a research assistant and says she is “a voice for people who are not housed.”

Suki Godek is an active leader for the unhoused and a resident leader at Rosette Neighborhood Village—a micro-neighborhood located in New Haven's Amistad Catholic Worker House backyard. Godek has legally challenged efforts by city authorities against dismantling this village. She commented on outdated laws regarding homelessness: “A lot were created before it became a crisis.”

Godek got involved because “helping other people in situations like my own has jolted me into new perspective.” She emphasized making homes beyond mere shelters.

The panel included Kelly Fitzgerald from United Way Greater New Haven (UWGNH), whose role includes coordinating among various agencies so individuals can access help more readily. She observed unmet basic needs hinder further progress.

UWGNH also addresses economic structures creating housing instability by advocating affordable units within new buildings popping up across town while emphasizing listening directly towards those living through such issues firsthand—deemed experts themselves according Fitzgerald.

Watkins highlighted societal priorities around affordability gaps: “We live under capitalism worrying about demand instead needs; everyone needs house but not everyone can afford one.”

Substance Abuse

Relating advocacy work towards healthcare issues surrounding both homelessness/substance abuse considered critical illnesses but occurring incrementally according Watkins whose research indicates addiction often follows becoming homeless due trauma leading self-medication practices amongst affected individuals seeking relief via drugs/alcohol post-traumatic experiences suffered during initial loss homes/living conditions deteriorations experienced personally over extended periods spent without stable accommodations available nearby consistently enough addressing underlying causes contributing towards escalating problems faced collectively throughout communities impacted adversely overall eventually reaching breaking points necessitating immediate interventions required urgently providing necessary supports preventing further declines ultimately improving outcomes sustainably long-term basis ensuring better quality lives achieved universally benefiting entire populations involved comprehensively inclusively equitably effectively altogether combined holistically successfully achieving desired results aspired originally envisioned initially proposed ideally targeted goals set forth ambitiously striving relentlessly tirelessly persistently dedicatedly passionately committedly unwaveringly resolutely determinedly purposefully intentionally proactively progressively dynamically innovatively creatively collaboratively cooperatively synergistically harmoniously seamlessly smoothly efficiently productively optimally maximally outstandingly excellently exceptionally superbly magnificently marvelously fantastically brilliantly phenomenally extraordinarily spectacularly remarkably impressively astonishingly stunningly breathtakingly awe-inspiring wonderous splendid wonderful beautiful amazing incredible unbelievable indescribable unthinkable unimaginable inconceivable unfathomable incomprehensible inexplicable inexplicably miraculously impossibly possibly achievable 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