Homeless Hate Crimes Report About This Paper
H
ate crime and violence against some of the most vulnerable members of our society, our homeless neighbors, continue to persist and have increased across the country over the past year. Since 1999, the National Coalition for the Homeless has been tracking the epidemic of violent and brutal attacks against homeless persons. In our first joint report on the topic, the National Coalition for the Homeless and
Hate, violence, and death on main street USA the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty have documented how this growing trend has played out in 2007.
Prayer List The Darlington Family Brian • Owens Family • Kerri Fitzpatrick • Maria Rosales • Joe Middleton • Cathy • Frannie • • Carlos Alberto Dominique Francis Family • Sara • Sara--Lee Raul • Rudy • Lisa • John McLean • Darren • • Jan Cerrito Rev. Patrick O’Shea • Shiqi Gui • Angelo • Maria Dragon • Blanch Lake • Dave Nerau • Megan • Theresa • To add a name to the list call 954 410--6275 954--410 No monetary donations needed
T
he National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) thanks all of its advocates, service providers, and homeless individuals for providing information for the report. We are extremely grateful for the time and efforts of our volunteers, interns, and staff who have assisted in the publication.
Homeless persons are particularly vulnerable to violent attacks Sean Cononie presents Michael Stoops’ Homeless Hate Crime Report to the press. when they are living outside in public space to meet the need, spaces. Most of our leaving many homeless communities do not persons forced to live have adequate afford(Continued on page 5) able housing or shelter
Cathy’s •
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The following individuals and organizations assisted in the publication of this report: Sean Cononie, Lois Cross, and Mark Targett are homeless activists with the Homeless Voice/ COSAC Foundation, located in Hollywood, Florida. All three have dedicated tremendous time and energy to stop hate crimes/violence against homeless people. Cononie’s organization is the most active local organization nationwide doing work on the hate crimes/
Florida is the Most Dangerous State People are Working Hard to Stop it.
W
hile these attacks happened all across the country and in many states, some states stand out in having a significant number of incidents. • Florida leads all states with the greatest number of attacks – 31. • California came in second with 22 attacks. • Nevada came in third with 14 attacks. • Ohio came in fourth with 13 attacks.
With this growing problem becoming more and more apparent in communities around the country, some states, cities, and advocacy groups are doing something positive to address the issue. • California passed a law in 2004 mandating police officer training on hate crimes against homeless persons, particularly those with disabilities. (Continued on page 13)
(Continued on page 8)
CPR Changed
Y
ou can skip the mouth-to-mouth breathing and just press on the
chest to save a life. In a major change, the American Heart Association said Monday that hands-only CPR rapid, deep presses on the victim's chest until help arrives works just as well as standard CPR for sudden cardiac arrest in adults. Experts hope bystanders will now be more willing to jump in and help if they see someone suddenly collapse. Hands-only CPR is simpler and easier to remember and removes a big barrier for people skittish about the mouth-to-mouth breathing. "You only have to do two things. Call 911 and push hard and fast on the middle of the person's chest," said Dr. Michael Sayre, an emergency medicine professor at Ohio State University who headed the committee that made the recommendation. Hands-only CPR calls for uninterrupted chest presses 100 a minute until paramedics take over or an
How’s My Vending?
automated external defibrillator is available to restore a normal heart rhythm. This action should be taken only for adults who unexpectedly collapse, stop breathing and are unresponsive. The odds are that the person is having
Call (954)
cardiac arrest, the heart suddenly
925-6466 X101
stops which can occur after a heart (Continued on page 11)
The Voice of the Homeless
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The Targett Family Patrick Helings John Bendor In Loving Memory of Uncle Joe & Nana Shannon Brooks Lisa Cebrat Pakita Price The Watsons Sally Lister Judith Kelly Martha Roman The Baptista Family John Criasia Daniel Harrison The Martinez Family Amanda Reynolds Dolores R. Cerra Bob Hall Tressie W. Osborne Clark Rogers The Savir Family Corinne James Chris Sanchez Hugo DeCarpintini Mario Yuio Richard Friedman Diane Friedman Uylna Quadrino Arnold Reemer In Loving Memory of Peter Sullivan Maryann Springer Elaine Snaith Marshal Bugin Keith Yude Bruce Wethersoon Isabelle J. Henry Raul Cardenas M.D. Wendy Bryan Jacqueline McCarty Albert J Taragowski Darla King Paula King Richard Gomez Anthony Ralph Jennifer Hicky Timothy Lukehard Thomas Rua Justin Rowan Mary Green Morris Grazi Marvin Shatze Ronald Shafer Vance Gunn Adam Staler Allen Yancy Jimmy Daniels Mel Blount Carol Lockette Anna Marye Levier Magan Narduzzi Andre Johnson Antione Collins Eric Harrison
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Jessica Padilla Sheldon Jones Carlo Harrison Jason Emrik Dan Gilcert Amber Rowan Jackie Johnson Ricky Cambell Todd Palgon The Morabito Family Todd Palgon Holly J. Andrus Dorr’e Terry Samual Manery Marilyn Vokish Jenny Curic Amy Curic Lisa Jackson Jim Johnson Bobby Neal Erica Fulton Darren Nolf Erica Sanclair Steve Dillan Dallan Michele King Bobby Ore Casandra Thomas Tara Hunter Mark Faber Nichole Faber Kevin Britt The Cable Family The Maione Family Barbara Strong Grace Marth Regla J Ferrer The Baldwin Family C.R. Gallagher Jonathan Burger Russell J. Ferguson Marjorie G. Rhines Jamie F. Flores In Loving Memory Of Thomas Gasbarro Cathy and Kids The Davis Family Graham R. Mitchell Essential Oil Healthline Amparo L. Korey John’s Plumbing Service Thank You Winn Dixie Ms. Marilyn Smith Albert J. Taragowski Ruth C Grey Mike Cross Tamara Southard Raul Cardenas MD PA Al and Annie Hurricane Prevention Inc Adriana Fernandez Andrea Brown The Kunicki Family Danny and George OTD Messenger, Inc M. Smith
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Yorick and Bonita Parrica Lee Russ & Delores B Mordon Robert Jesus Llanes Comet Couriev Proietto Family In Memory of Billy Corwin Josh Searles Patricia Lee Russ Delores B Mordon Everglades Moon, Covenant of Goddess, Elibet Hanson Judy B. Pascarella John Gaeta Michael R. Prokop, Jr. Jackie M. McCarty In Memory of Charles Horton In Memory of William F. Judge In Loving Memory of Florence & Nat Popkin Tailored Advertising, Inc Claudia K. Tapolow Margie Jones In memory of Wesley H. Woodall Maria M. Riveiro Gottlieb & Blair Family Pioneer Middle School Youth Crime Watch Rhenals-Mei Family The Strikowski family Margie Jones & Friends Ronald Prescia In Memory of Brian Groleau Laura Flash Jacqueline M. McCarty The Herrmann Family The Monserrate Family Madeline Butera Jennifer S. Nickel Marilyn R. Smith David Thawley On Behalf of Matthew Lambert Mustafa Mehmet Gokoglu In Memory of Scott Paul Cooper Robert and Ruth Baal In Memory of Melba DeSanto In Memory of My Mother Pearl McCann, Love Teresa Barbara Desanto Leah and Ray Michael & Michale Rhett Marie Sutera Floyd and Luana Coats Doug Boucher Family Kevin Jones Dorothy Griffith Family In Loving Memory of Kris Soltan Kevin “KJ” Jones Douglas Boucher The Swartout's Ivonne Fernandez The Verny & Stewart Families In Loving Memory of Frances Klein The Herrmann Family
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In Memory of C.T.R. Thank you so much, Sean & Lois, for all your help. –Joan Futscher & Kids McAvoy Family The Geise Family Mrs. Jenkins Richard & Margaret Martin Kenny Angela Adriana N. Quila Elizabeth P. Sublett Barbara N Robinson Mark E. Johnson Adrienne and Mike Julio A. Izquierdo Ann M. Hamilton Nicole Lee Nelson Anthony Rhodes Susan P Brady Christine M Wilson K.J. Williams Renato and Malika Vasconez Christine McAuliffe In Memory of Chief George J. Hodges Real Breakthrough Solutions Hartford Property Connection, Inc. In Loving Memory of Rex Lichtenberger In Loving Memory of Jose A. Estruch, Jr. Ronald & Cathy Walker Ms. Evelyn Salerno Nicole Lee Nelson Al & Barbara Liebmann In Loving Memory of Isabel Grimany Dr Mary Michaela Farren In Memory of My Good Friend Pat Gibson Fred T Verny JR Nicole Lee Nelson In Memory of Dan Holland Sheila Holder Merav & Ezra Alexander In Memory of Maxima Oakland Park Elks Lodge # 2407 J. Coffee In Memory of Stanley Smolen In Memory of Martin Grey God Bless Florence Menard Sebastian Parks Kellie Jones Jesus Diaz Virginia H. Bailey Naomi Ross Deborah H Green In Loving Memory of Giankarlo Squicemari In Loving Memory of My Daughter Melissa Lurz In Loving Memory of Charles J. Youngman In Loving Memory of Martin E. Grey Sabrina Thorton, Former Ms. Ft. Lauderdale
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Beth Farans, Saks Jewelry Designer Margaret D. Neverdousky Sandra L. Wilhelm The Schneider Family John Dinielli Dorothy Kay Garbutt In Memory of Bill Sledge The Ramos Family In Memory of Gertrude Chong In Memmory of Steven Maderman Roy T. Bruno, Jr. In Memory of George Ericson YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE YOUR NAME HERE
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In Loving Memory of Shirley Coulson
John C. Burt Albert Taragowski Renato & Malika Vasconez
In Loving Memory of Donald Fraser
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Volume X, Issue 5
HOMELESS VOICE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND TO:
I
t is that time of year again to publish all the hate crimes that are committed against the homeless in the whole county. Let it be known once again, Florida is the most dangerous state for the homeless to live in. Years back I would hear about these horrible attacks on the homeless and I would basically cringe. These attacks are not just simple crimes against them; they are crimes that are done in the most horrible ways. Some of them get set on fire by teens pouring gasoline on them. They shout out hate words to homeless people such as “you bum get a job.” When you have these words attached to a crime it is for sure a hate crime. What we have learned in the previous years, teens or very young adults are usually the ones who are responsible for these crimes. And this year we saw something that we have never seen in the past, the criminals are getting even younger. How can you make sure that your child does not get into trouble and commit one of these vicious attacks or murders? It is a two fold approach; first make sure that you as an adult do not say bad things against the homeless. Then also make sure that your child understands that when other kids do these types of crimes against the homeless it is seriously wrong. Take your children to shelters and let them understand why people become homeless. The Homeless Voice and our sister agencies that we formed almost seven years ago, Stopping Hate Crimes USA and The National Coalition Against Terrorism have been working very hard to help educate and to help stop these attacks. In fact we are the most active local agency in the whole United State of America that works on these issues. You can go to www.homelessvoice.tv to see all the news stories and also national coverage. You will also be able to catch the Dr. Phil Show Sean did on the attacks that happen and why they are happening as well as other National News. As you read this paper, you will see that there is a whole lot of work to do. Mark Targett
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St. Petersburg, Florida
Two Homeless Men Found Murdered A Few Blocks Apart January 18: Just days after the city decided to shut down and literally destroy the tents in a tent city, populated by over 150 homeless people, the bodies of David Heath, 53, and Jeff Shultz, 43, were found a few blocks apart. The two homeless men did not know each other, nor were they residents of the tent city. Both local homeless people and advocates responded to the murders by saying everyone was safer when the tent city existed. “There’s safety in numbers, and right now there’s a lot of fear,” Mary Street explained to The St. Petersburg Times. Street left the tent city last week after getting a voucher for an apartment. A few weeks later, police arrested two young men Cordaro Antwan Hardin, 18, and Dorion Deshawn Dillard, 20, charging them with both murders. Robbery may have played a role in Shultz’s killing, but Heath’s death seemed to be random. Local police determined that the attackers did not get anything from the victims. Heath leaves behind three children. In light of the murders, two tent cities were allowed to stand. Mayor Rick Baker later said the decision to cut tents was a mistake and police said they did not plan any more raids.
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The Attacks Are Worse Than This Report States
A
s someone who has a degree in Criminal Justice, I can tell you that not all crimes are reported. How many times do things happen to our property and we figure there is nothing the police can do? So why report it? All research has indicated that rapes are under reported as well as other sexual crimes. We also know that not all people report crime because they do not want to bring attention to themselves because they may be involved in criminal activity themselves or they are embarrassed that a certain incident took place and they became a victim. For example…a person may have been tricked into giving money to some disreputa-
ble contractor, who then took off with their money, leaving them with no backup paperwork to prove it. The person maybe did not even get that contractor’s name. In South Florida, we saw a lot of that after Hurricane Wilma. We know for sure that our population of homeless people, for similar reasons, do not always call the police when they are attacked, but the biggest reason is that they may be wanted for small crimes such as sleeping in the public or trespassing. When shelter providers see the clients check in at the
shelter with bruises and lacerations and even broken arms, we ask them what happened. Many times they say they were just sitting down and some young group of kids came over to them and beat them while calling them names. When we ask if they called the police, we get answers like… “I did not because I have a warrant and did not want to go to jail with no pain medication.” It is a proven fact that many jurisdictions harass the homeless because they have pressure from city residents and city leaders. In many circum-
stances, this makes the homeless afraid of the police. However, in some jurisdictions the police are very friendly to the homeless. We also learned in the last year or two that the St. Petersburg, Florida Police went out and destroyed the Tent City by cutting all the tents of the homeless even though it was on an approved site for them to use. They, the police, took orders from City Administration. When we have behavior like that, it tends to prove that the homeless are sometimes afraid of the (Continued on page 10)
Haverhill, Massachusetts
Homeless Man Beaten To Death January 24: Patrick Donavan, a 51-year-old homeless man, died after Brian Sewasky, 25, punched him in the face outside a convenience store. The punch caused Donavan’s head to slam against the pavement. He died the next evening at Merrimack Valley Hospital due to the injuries. Police said the two had a brief argument outside the store before Sewasky punched him. According to court documents, a 35 year-old homeless man witnessed the attack and identified Sewasky in a photograph. Brian Sewasky is charged with murder.
Gibsonton, Florida
Homeless Man Robbed and Beaten to Death January 28: After fending off three men with a knife in December, a homeless man was stabbed and killed by his previous attackers seeking revenge. Ralph Woods Jr., 25, Raymond Sample, 27, and Richard Morse Jr., 18, stabbed the 31-year-old homeless man with his own knife behind an Advanced Auto Store on U.S. 41. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Deputies described the men as thugs on a simple mission. “They were looking for an easy prey, and they figured that a homeless person was easy prey,” investigators told WFLA News.
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Page 5
Volume X, Issue 5
HOMELESS VOICE Homeless Hate Crimes Report (Continued from page 1)
outside. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 44% of our homeless population is unsheltered. Without proper action to deal with the crisis of homelessness as a whole, our homeless neighbors will continue to be vulnerable to brutal attacks. While some cities and states have taken positive steps to address hate crime and violence against homeless persons, many cities around the country continue to dehumanize homeless persons by enacting and enforcing laws that criminalize their homeless status. Many laws, such as those that restrict sleeping, sitting, storing property, and asking for money in public, send a message to society that homeless people are not human, do not deserve respect, and that attacks against them will not be taken seriously. -NCH
San Diego, California
Homeless Man Murdered and Scattered Around the City February 23: San Diego police arrested 61year-old Michael Nash near his home in conjunction with the disfigurement and killing of Allen Burton Hawes, a 57-year-old homeless person. Hawes was shot and killed sometime on or after February 23. A tow truck driver found Hawes’ head in a plastic bag on Interstate 5. Parts of his body were found near the Otay River in Palm City, Interstate 5, and on State Route 163. Friends described Hawes to CBS News as “the nicest guy around here.” Investigators believe the two knew each other, but they have not been able to establish a clear motive. Some neighbors say that he may have been gay; however, the police have not commented on whether sexual orientation played a role in the murder. Nash pleaded not guilty to the crime.
Download the full report at www.HomelessVoice.org
Case descriptions of attacks involving setting on fire, not resulting in death by month, date, and city in 2007: Corona, California
Homeless Man and Woman Set On Fire in Their Sleep February 9: A homeless man and woman were sleeping behind Corona Rancho Market, when the man awoke smelling gasoline and realized the woman was on fire. She suffered second-degree burns on over 30% of her body, including her head, legs and hands, while the man suffered burns on his hands and arms from trying to put the fire out. Police say something like a Molotov cocktail, usually a glass bottle filled with gasoline and then lit, might have started the fire. The victims’ names have not been released due to the ongoing investigation. Ron Stewart of the Riverside Homeless Programs responded to The Press-Enterprise saying, “Such abuse should be treated as a hate crime and is a growing national trend.” He continues, “It’s deplorable and tragic that this could happen in our community …Prevention can start with increased awareness of homeless needs ... to get them off the streets and keep safe.”
Los Angeles, California
Inspired by “Bumfights”: Four Teens Have Been Terrorizing Homeless People and Recording Video Footage on Their Cell Phones to Post as Videos on the Internet July 3: Four teenage boys, ages 15 to 17, have been arrested for the attacks of at least eight homeless people. The attacks occurred between July 3 and July 15. On July 3, the teens used an air pistol to fire plastic pellets at a homeless man covering his head with a blanket. On July 4, the boys threw a homeless man’s bicycle into his tent. On July 15, the teenagers threw smoke bombs at four homeless people, causing one man’s blanket to catch fire. Police made the arrest after they saw the teens recording the homeless man whose blanket caught fire. The cell phones were taken as evidence and revealed videos of other attacks. According to Lt. Paul Vernon, the teens said they were influenced by the “Bumfights” movies and planned to post the videos online. They also believe the boys may have been involved with as many as seven incidents. The perpetrators, whose names will not be released because they are minors, are being held without bail at a county juvenile hall and may face charges of arson and assault with a deadly weapon.
Highland Park, Michigan
Homeless Victim of Burn Sues Assailant July 12: Bill Zimmer, a 50-year-old homeless man who has been staying in an abandoned house in Detroit, is suing KFC Manager Kimberly Mallory in excess of $25,000 for allegedly scalding him with water. Zimmer has also included parent company Yum! Brands Inc. of Louisville, Kentucky, and Kazi Foods of Michigan as co-defendants in the lawsuit. Zimmer reported that he was panhandling outside the restaurant door when Mallory tossed a pail of boiling water on him. He spent 13 days in the burn unit of a Detroit hospital as a result of the severity of his injuries. Mallory still works for the restaurant but could not be reached for comment.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Four Attacks Including a Panhandler Whose Coat and Possessions Were Set on Fire Early-November: According to Sarah Erdo, program manager from Project HOME’s outreach center, there have been reports of four attacks on homeless people in the month of November. One victim, “Ponytail,” from South Philadelphia had her coat and possessions set on fire.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Homeless Man’s Blanket Set on Fire while Sleeping November 29: Angel Dejesus, 49, usually sleeps outside the Liberty Gas Station, covered in a blanket. Around 7 pm, two juveniles who set his blanket on fire startled him awake. Dejesus was treated for minor burns on his fingers and hands at Episcopal Hospital. A surveillance camera at the gas station reveals blurry footage of the incident and police are unsure what the juveniles look like or what they used to start the fire.
Mount Kisco, New York
Police Officer Charged With Murder in Connection to Death of a Homeless Man April 28: George Bubaris, a 30-year-old police officer, has been charged with seconddegree murder in the death of a homeless Guatemalan immigrant. Bubaris faces one count of unlawful imprisonment and two counts of official misconduct. Rene Javier Perez, the 42-yearold victim, called 911 from a laundromat and spoke with Officer Bubaris. Perez was known as a troublemaker and has been arrested repeatedly for petty crimes. One hour after the 911 call, Perez was found unconscious on the side of a dirt road. He was taken to a hospital and died hours later. The medical examiner declared the cause of death to be homicide. Apparently, Perez’s internal abdominal injuries resulted in his death. Fernando Mateo, president of Hispanics across America, responded to the crime in New York Times by saying, “Murder is not deportation. You don’t murder someone to get rid of them. If you’re a police officer you should be protecting the community, not assaulting the community.”
“Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.” -Buddha
Springfield, Missouri
Man Charged in Brutal Murder of Homeless Woman April 28: On May 4, a 24-year-old man was arraigned on a second-degree murder charge after turning himself in to Springfield police for the murder of a homeless woman, Tyla Elane Rhodelander, 44, near E. Chestnut Expressway. Although arraigned, the man did not confess to the crime. According to the statement filed by the police, Michael Humphrey called the police and reported his nephew, Aaron Letterman, had killed someone and could lead them to the body. According to Humphrey’s statement, he and Letterman met Rhodelander near the cemetery on April 28. Rhodelander told the men she was homeless and the two men helped her to carry her personal belongings and a tent to the wooded area. After setting up her tent, Humphrey said they talked and listened to music for several hours. Humphrey said Letterman wanted to have sex with Rhodelander and followed her into her tent. After a few minutes, Humphrey said Letterman retrieved a hatchet from outside of the tent, hit Rhodelander in the head and continued to strike her. The medical examiner declared she died from a trauma to the head.
The Voice of the Homeless
Page 6
HOMELESS VOICE Chicago Illinois
Death of Homeless Woman Caught On Camera May 15: Alicia Foster, 40, was viewed on surveillance video being beaten by two suspected gang members outside a restaurant on May 15th. Ricardo Cortes, 28, was detained on a firstdegree murder charge in the death of this woman with another suspect being investigated. The police have released some of the video footage in hopes of ascertaining more information from the public in identifying the suspects. Foster had a verbal exchange with Cortes and another man before they attacked and beat her to death in the parking lot of Lawrence’s Fisheries.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Homeless Woman Dies After Police Used a Taser Gun May 19: Milisha Thompson, a 35-year-old homeless woman, died after being shocked with a Taser gun by local police. A Taser gun is an electric stun gun often used to subdue people who are difficult to contain, without using a more violent force. Many are speculating that the use of a Taser was unnecessary in Thompson’s case, as she was already handcuffed and on the ground. Officers were in the area investigating a report of drug activity near a homeless shelter. According to Police Chief Bill Citty, Thompson was being disruptive, so the officers handcuffed her. Citty says Thompson would not calm down, so the officers stunned her twice in the neck with the Taser. Thompson’s husband, Marvell Thompson reports they shocked his wife 20 times and told the Oklahoma Tribune, “They did use excessive force on my wife.” Mr. Thompson said his wife suffered from schizophrenia and might have had an episode causing her to feel threatened at the time of the interaction. Mr. Thompson said they were living and working at the City Rescue Mission while recovering from drug addictions. After Milisha Thompson appeared to be unconscious, the officers started CPR, and she was taken to the hospital and said to be dead upon arrival. The two officers have been placed on paid administrative leave and an investigation is planned. A church surveillance camera caught the incident on tape, but the police are holding it for the investigation. Thompson’s family has filed a $1.5 million dollar lawsuit against Oklahoma City claiming the police used excessive force and have failed to properly train officers in Taser gun protocol.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Police Call the Murder of a Homeless Man a “Thrill Killing” May 31: A homeless man, whose name has not been released, is believed to have found shelter for the night in an abandoned apartment. Four men arrived at the building to party for the night. Once they came upon the homeless man, police say they beat the man to death for the thrill. Brothers, Dusty and Leslie McGee have been arrested for the murder and police are still looking for a third suspect.
Some of the attackers repeatedly cited their motive of attack as boredom
Since 1999
W
ith the probable exception of homicide and fire-setting figures, the figures for other victimizations likely do not represent the full extent of the problem. Many attacks against homeless persons go unreported so most likely the numbers are higher than what’s represented here. Nonetheless, hundreds of homeless persons have been attacked and some killed over the past nine years. Since 1999: 774 violent acts have been perpetrated against homeless individuals across the country in a variety of communities. These attacks occurred in 235 cities throughout our country, in 45 states and Puerto Rico. 217 homeless people have been killed, as
a result of attacks ranging from being beaten to being set on fire and other atrocious acts. The victims have endured humiliations both great and small and the injuries they sustained created not only physical pain and scars, but also the crippling effects of wounded self-esteem and dignity of the human spirit. Attacks against homeless persons have increased in 2007. Throughout 2007: 160 homeless persons were violently attacked. 28 of those 160 persons were killed as a result of those attacks. The number of attacks in 2007 rose from the number of attacks in 2006: The total number of attacks rose by 13%
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from 2006 to 2007 – from 142 attacks to 160 attacks. The number of attacks resulting in death rose by 40% from 2006 to 2007 – from 20 deaths to 28 deaths. The number of non-lethal attacks rose by 8% from 2006 to 2007 – from 122 non-lethal attacks to 132 non-lethal attacks. The perpetrators of these violent attacks against homeless people tend to be younger men or boys. The majority of crimes were committed by teens and youths as young as ten-years-old. Of the known attackers in 2007: 64% were youths between age 13 and 19; An overwhelming 86% of the accused and convicted were 25 and under; Some of the attackers repeatedly cited their motive of attack as
boredom, committing the crimes for the “thrill” or “fun,” because the victim is homeless, or perhaps even more harrowing, because they simply “can.” While we may not know or understand the motive for all of the attacks documented in the report, some of these attacks seem to be perpetrated due to bias against the victims because they were homeless. In addition, the perpetrators’ characteristics, motive, and weaponry are very similar to perpetrators who commit hate crime against all other hate crime victim groups. Regardless of whether the motive of the perpetrators was that of opportunity or of bias against homeless persons, homeless persons continue to remain particularly vulnerable victims due to the nature of homelessness. -NCH
Hospitals: Is the Price Right?
M
ost Americans know that if you "We thought he was gonna get sick enough to go to a hosdie. I mean, at that moment, you’re pital, it's going to be expensive. But terrified. You’re just — you don’t you may be surprised to learn that even care about anything. You don’t hospitals all over the country charge care about the money," Peggy extheir highest prices, by far, to those plains. who can afford it least — the 46 milFerlini was seriously inlion Americans who don’t have health jured; he fractured his skull and ribs insurance. and punctured one lung. He spent 18 Hospitals charge uninsured days in St. Joseph’s, 14 of them in patients two, three, four or more times intensive care. He had no surgery and what an insurance was sent home. Then company would pay he got the bill. Hospitals charge for the same treat"We knew we were uninsured ment. And, when the gonna owe a large patients two, uninsured can’t pay, amount, and we know three, four or more they often find themwe have to pay it," times what an selves the target of recalls Peggy. collection agencies or Carlos remembers first insurance in bankruptcy court. seeing the $246,000 company would 60 Minutes bill. "I showed my pay for the same had no idea how daughter, 'This is the treatment. much hospitals can bill?' And she said to charge people without me, 'Oh, my God." insurance, until we met Carlos Ferlini The Ferlinis didn’t know and his daughter Peggy. what to do until Carlos heard KB Correspondent Dan Rather Forbes on a local Spanish-language reports. radio station, saying that many hospi"I would consider us, you tals don't give uninsured patients a know, right at the bottom of the midfair break. dle class. We’re not poor," says They contacted Forbes, a Peggy Ferlini. community activist who has been "I pay my bills. I pay all the waging a nationwide crusade on beregular guys, but I’m not a rich man," half of the uninsured. He says what adds her father, Carlos. happened to the Ferlinis is all too Carlos Ferlini made a decommon. cent living installing and repairing "Basically, hospitals charge gutters, but not enough to afford uninsured people four or five times health insurance. Then, last February, more than what they would accept as Carlos fell off a roof while on a job in payment in full from an insurance suburban Los Angeles. company. Simply put, it’s priceHe was rushed to Provigouging," says Forbes. dence St. Joseph's Medical Center, a Forbes and his staff anaCatholic-run, non-profit hospital in lyzed Carlos Ferlini’s bill from St. Burbank, Calif. Carlos' wife and Joseph’s, using figures that American daughters knew it would be expenhospitals are required to submit to the sive, but they weren’t thinking about federal government each year. Those costs at that time. figures are a matter of public record.
The bottom line: Forbes found that, while St. Joseph's was billing Ferlini almost a quarter of a million dollars, it would accept just under $50,000 as full payment from an insurance company for the same treatment. The hospital charged Ferlini more than $5,800 a day for intensive care, nearly 2½ times more than what an insurance company would pay. A spokesman for St. Joseph's told 60 Minutes that Ferlini’s bill reflected the hospital’s retail price list, and that they were looking into his case. "We're willing to pay what the insurance company is willing to pay. So why should they charge us three or four times more than it actually costs?" Peggy wonders. That’s the question Forbes has been asking for five years. Forbes, whose mother is Chilean, heads an activist group called the Council for United Latinos. It’s a tiny operation run on a shoestring out of a small office in East Los Angeles. Forbes is a staunch conservative who once was Pat Buchanan's press secretary. The group he runs now may be small, but it’s had a big impact: He has taken on — and em(Continued on page 15)
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Page 7
Volume X, Issue 5
HOMELESS VOICE Fort Lauderdale Turmoil
A
Fort Lauderdale man who says he is trying to rid his neighborhood of drug addicts and criminals has been ordered by a judge to stay away from five homeless men, who say he is a vigilante who chased them with a chain saw and threatened to kill them. Broward Circuit Judge Julio Gonzalez Jr. on Monday ordered Stephen D. Sticht, 49, to have no further contact with the five men and to surrender any weapons to law enforcement until a formal hearing can be held on April 17. Police said Monday they have had no recent complaints of criminal activity by Sticht and that some of the allegations against him come from known criminals suspected in area burglaries. But the homeless men said they have tried complaining to police, to no avail, and accuse Sticht in court records of posting "Wanted" posters of homeless people, one of which offered a $500 reward for a particular "crackhead." The homeless are being helped by members of Legal Aid and the Public Defender's Office, who are gathering with members of the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Coalition for the Homeless today to protest at a news conference. "If nothing is done about this, one of us is going to end up dead," James E. Brown, one of the five men, said in an interview. Sticht, a building consultant and artist, says he has never threatened anyone or done anything illegal to prevent rampant crime near his business in Middle River Terrace. And he didn't
make the wanted posters, he said. "This isn't a homeless problem, this is a crackhead problem," he said in an interview. "These people just aren't down there taking a nap. They are petty thieves, they break into cars, prostitute themselves." He said he has complained for months, to minor effect, to police and city officials while taking part in local Crime Watch groups. The neighborhood is bordered to the south by Sunrise Boulevard, to the North by the Middle River, to the west by Northeast Fourth Avenue and the east by Dixie Highway and the railroad tracks. Police spokesman Sgt. Frank Sousa said Sticht is well known in the department as a vocal opponent of crime. "Mr. Sticht has been told not to go after anyone, not to take matters into his own hands," Sousa said. Sousa said Sticht was arrested in 1999 for an incident in which he was accused of chasing someone with a chain saw, but said further details of the case were not available. The allegations against Sticht come as local human rights advocates remain on edge about crimes against the homeless. Three teens are set to stand trail for murder this summer, two years after police say they attacked three homeless men with baseball bats in Fort Lauderdale, killing one. "We really think this [situation with Sticht] is dangerous. We're afraid
(Continued on page 12)
Things We Need....... • Toilet Paper We are in desperate need of toilet • Ketchup paper. Sometimes people do not like to do• Ham slices nate money and would rather donate prod• Ground beef ucts. We spend anywhere from $1500 to • Eggs $2500 a month on this product. It changes • Milk at different times of the year. We need this • Juice product donated as well as many • Pancake syrup other products. What some people have • Sugar done was to set up food donation programs • Coffee at the office or where they live. One • Spaghetti lady last year made a little flyer and passed • Spaghetti sauce it out in her community asking her • Veggies neighbors to buy a little extra when they • Fruit in cans went to the store and then bring it to her • Salt and pepper house once a week. Her little flyer said, • Tuna fish “When you buy that TP buy some for the homeless and bring it to me.” It was so • Oatmeal nice to see her show up weekly with a • Grits truck full of supplies. She would bring her • Garlic powder kids who were young like maybe five years old weekly. She would tell her kids little things like, “You see this food it is going to kids who don't have any snacks or food.” Once in a while her kids would be eating their own snack and they would come up to us handing their little half eaten snack and say “here give to peeeeopple who hungy.....” She was grooming them for a life of giving to others. It was the cutest little thing. So today with no delay start a food drive at your church or office or even where you live, allow us to put your generous support in the form of smiles. If you are short on your time you can try to collect gift cards from Publix and send them to the: Put a Smile on A Face Campaign P.O. box 292-577 Davie Florida 33329
Open a new SunTrust checking account and they will donate $100.00 to the Cosac Foundation, Inc. (Homeless Voice). When you go to open up your new account, mention or show them this AD.
COSAC'S CHURCH Come to the Church that is a Church of Service and Charity Learn of Jesus and learn how to put Gods' words into action.
Sunday 2pm to 2:45pm 1203 N. Federal Highway Hollywood Florida 33020 954-924-3571 x316
•
•
• Free Weddings Free Memorial Services Alternatives to Abortion • Healing Services
The Voice of the Homeless
Page 8
HOMELESS VOICE Things We All Can Do To Make Our World Last
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ast year we at COSAC and the into the wall and just disconnect the Homeless Voice thought that it did phone from the power cord when the not matter how many homeless people phone is charged. By leaving that we saved in the world if the world charger plugged into the wall all you are would be destroyed over time with doing is contributing to global warmGlobal Warming. We did what we had ing. So when your phone is charged to do and that was to start an Anti Global remove the plug from the wall. Please Warming Agency that would first start also remember in most cases it only cutting our energy takes a few hours to consumption here charge your phone so and to replace what don't leave it plugged in we use as well as over night. Try to plug Also today I dare planting trees to it in a few hours before take out the carbon bed time then unplug it you to form a we put in the atmoswhen you are ready to COSAC GREEN phere. We also go to bed. Some of decided to use the us have an hour to get TEAM on your Homeless Voice to work so it is far betstreet, or in your Newspaper to eduter to charge your section of your cate you the public phone in your car and so we all can start that means no cost as apartment or condo. doing one or two well as preventing things to keep God's global warming. precious earth up Fluorescent lights last and running. I said longer than regular to myself, God gave me three precious light bulbs and run much cooler than the granddaughters and I want them to enjoy other type of lights. When you have a a long life and I need to use the recooler light it helps keep the temperature sources of what we have like the paper to down in your home which means your keep on educating. So here are some AC runs less. Also these lights usually tips this month. save you about 15 percent in cost off We all have things plugged in of your electric bill. on our desk like our printers, phone So today promise me that you chargers, calculators, and even our PC will help preserve the earth and also save screen that are not being used all the money off the cost of your electric bill time. These items are called vampires and when you save money you can take and all they do is suck up energy and if that extra money and save it to make you shut them off when not in use you some extra principle payments on your will do two things, one lower your elecmortgage. Remember when you pay one tric bill and two save the earth. Most of extra mortgage payment per year you us have a way of helping the energy hog can cut your length down from a 30 year known as the Electric Vampire out all loan to almost a 15 to 20 year loan. the time. When we charge our phone Also today I dare you to form most people leave the charger plugged a COSAC GREEN TEAM on your street
(left to right) Laura Hanson, Director of The Coalition to End Homelessness; William Robb, Lead Technical Advisor the Homeless Voice; and Michael Stoops, Director of the National Coalition for The Homeless in Washington DC.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (Continued from page 1)
violence issue. He is viewed as both a local and national expert/ spokesperson on this issue. Targett is best known for video broadcast work of the news to advocates across the United States on vicious attacks to the homeless by using the latest technology in multimedia means. Cross does all the media/ public relations on this issue for both Helping People in America and assists the National Coalition for the Homeless in getting the word out to the media. The National Coalition for the Homeless The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
or in your section of your apartment or condo. We are calling it the COSAC GREEN which stands for A Community Of Saving And Correcting Global Warming. Imagine if every street in America developed a COSAC GREEN TEAM! What can we really do to help correct global warming? We will for sure make a difference to help save the world and also to put money back in the pockets of your friends and family. How we can help you form this committee? You can email us at my
personal email and I will send you back some web sites that you can direct others to go to, to learn all about ways to save energy. Then get your friends on your street together and have monthly meetings and just sit back and watch the money you will save. Not only will you all save money, you will help correct global warming. Together we will help save the earth. My email is sacacon@aol.com -Sean Cononie
Mother's Dictionary of Meanings Dumbwaiter: One who asks if the kids would care to order dessert. Feedback: The inevitable result when the baby doesn't appreciate the strained carrots. Full Name: What you call your child when you're mad at him. Grandparents: The people who think your children are wonderful even though they're sure you're not raising them right. Hearsay: What toddlers do when anyone mutters a dirty word. Independent: How we want our children to be for as long as they do everything we say. Puddle: A small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes into it. Show Off: A child who is more talented than yours. Sterilize: What you do to your first baby's pacifier by boiling it, and to your last baby's pacifier by blowing on it and wiping it with saliva. Top Bunk: Where you should never put a child wearing Superman jammies. Two-Minute Warning: When the baby's face turns red and she begins to make those familiar-grunting noises. Whodunit: None of the kids that live in your house. Mother’s Day Thoughts and Quotes The advice your son rejected is now being given by him to your grandson. Working mothers are guinea pigs in a scientific experiment to show that sleep is not necessary to human life. Parents often talk about the younger generations as if they didn't have anything to do with it. Grandma on the Plane For two solid hours, the lady sitting next to a man on an airplane had told him about her grandchildren. She had even produced a plasticfoldout photo album of all nine of the children. She finally realized that she had dominated the entire conversation on her grandchildren. “Oh, I've done all the talking, and I'm so sorry. I know you certainly have something to say. Please, tell me... what do you think of my grandchildren?”
Page 9
Volume X, Issue 5
HOMELESS VOICE Gastonia, North Carolina
The National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty recommend that the following actions be taken: 1. Inclusion of housing status in the pending state and federal hate crimes legislation. 2. Awareness training at police academies and departments nationwide for trainees and police officers about the causes and solutions to homelessness and how to deal effectively and humanely with people experiencing homelessness in their communities. 3. Faces of Homelessness Speakers’ Bureaus (made up of homeless and formerly homeless people) become established in communities around the country. Speakers would visit both public and private schools in communities for the purposes of information and education, as young people perpetrate a significant portion of the violence against homeless persons. For more help and technical assistance in establishing a Faces of Homelessness Speakers’ Bureau in your community, contact Michael O’Neill, Project Director, at: Ph. (202) 462-4822 x20; Email: moneill@nationalhomeless.org, or visit http:// www.nationalhomeless.org/faces 4. A public statement by the U.S. Department of Justice acknowledging that hate crimes and/or violence against people experiencing homelessness is a serious national trend. 5. The U.S. Department of Justice issues guidelines for local police on how to investigate and work with people experiencing homelessness based on recommendations from the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty. The U.S. Department of Justice recommends improvements to state law on how to better protect against violence directed at people experiencing homelessness, including tougher penalties. 6. With the assistance of the National Coalition for the Homeless, the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, and criminal justice professionals, add “housing status” information to the checklist of data maintained as part of the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) maintained by the FBI. Similar efforts should be undertaken by state uniform crime reporting (UCR) agencies. 7. A U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) study into the nature and scope of hate crimes and/ or violent acts and crimes that occur against people experiencing homelessness. This proposed study will address the following: • Causes of hate crimes/violence. • Circumstances that contribute to or were responsible for the perpetrators’ behavior. • Beliefs held by the perpetrators of these crimes and how their beliefs have changed since conviction.
Michael Stoops, National Coalition for the Homeless
• Thoughts and advice from the perpetrators to others who are considering hate crimes/violence against the homeless population. • Factors in the community that may be contributing to targeting of homeless persons, such as measures that criminalize homelessness. • Contributing factors to homeless persons’ vulnerability, such as lack of adequate shelter or housing, and ways to address those factors. • Community education, prevention, and law enforcement strategies. 8. Cities should implement more constructive approaches to homelessness and not implement or enforce criminalization measures. 9. Our federal, state, and local governments should prioritize creating and providing adequate affordable housing and services to bring an end to homelessness in our communities. -NCH
Teens Plead Guilty to Death of Homeless Man June 26: Royce Dean Mathis, a homeless man from Gastonia, NC, was brutally murdered after stepping in on behalf of a younger boy engaged in an argument with three teens. Crips gang members, Quentin O’Neal Woods, 15, Ithamar Ajalon Davis, 15, and Jamond Rashad Burney, 18, have been accused of the crime. Burney has specifically been accused of sneaking up behind Mathis and stabbing him in the neck. According to police, Mathis sustained injuries from a hunting-style knife and from being hit and kicked by the 15-year-olds. The teens report that they wanted to teach Mathis a lesson because they thought he disrespected them by breaking up the verbal fight. Richard Ervin Mize, a 47-year-old homeless friend of Mathis, was initially accused of the murder, and was released after spending 75 days in jail. Davis will be charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and malicious secret assault. Although Davis is only 15 years old, he will be charged as an adult. Burney has also been charged with murder and malicious secret assault. Woods made a plea deal with prosecutors, agreeing to testify against Davis and Burney.
Statesville, North Carolina
10 Teens Attack a Homeless Man and Leave Him for Dead July 12: A homeless man died in the hospital after being beaten by a group of 10 teenagers. Terry Turner, 45, was attacked and robbed by the group in the middle of a busy intersection. They also stole $65 dollars from him. The teenagers fled the scene once an ambulance arrived for Turner. Turner was taken to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, where he died of blunt trauma wounds. “They killed a man for nothing,” Turner’s friend, Michelle Wallace told WSOC-TV in Charlotte, NC. Relatives have been working with local businesses to raise awareness about what happened and collect money for a reward. Police arrested Jatorre Dixon, 16, and two 15-year-olds, whose names were not released because they are juveniles. All three were charged with first-degree murder and commonlaw robbery. Police are still searching for the other boys involved.
The Voice of the Homeless
Page 10
HOMELESS VOICE CITIES WHERE HATE CRIMES/VIOLENCE OCCURRED IN 2007: Total Cities: 74 cities •Abilene, Texas—1 incident resulting in 1 death •Akron, Ohio—1 incident resulting in 2 non-lethal acts •Albuquerque, New Mexico—2 separate incidents resulting in 4 non-lethal acts •Allentown, Pennsylvania—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Austin, Texas—2 separate incidents resulting in 2 non-lethal acts •Baltimore, Maryland—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Bayamón, Puerto Rico—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Boston, Massachusetts—1 incident resulting in 2 non-lethal acts •Bradenton, Florida—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Burlington, North Carolina— 1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Camden, New Jersey—1 incident resulting in 1 death •Carolina, Puerto Rico—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Chicago, Illinois—4 separate incidents resulting in 3 deaths and 1 non-lethal act
Level the opportunity for employment for the homeless
•Cincinnati, Ohio—1 incident resulting in 1 death •Cleveland, Ohio—10 separate incidents resulting in 10 non-lethal acts •Colorado Springs, Colorado—3 separate incidents resulting in 3 non-lethal acts
A
cross the country, most companies that may want to hire a homeless individual face several obstacles in contacting that person. For instance, typically there is not a phone number to call, or a legal residence to mail anything, and email may not be available either. Therefore, this hinders the employability of the homeless without much consideration by most employers. Usually, if a potential employee is inaccessible, the employer looks into other candidates. This unfairly discriminates against their pursuit of happiness. It could be said in the movie The Pursuit of Happyness that the struggles of homeless employees can cause added stress to the employee. For instance, it is a problem to have no idea where one will sleep safely to go to work the next day. In Washington D.C. there is a community voicemail system that is free to use that allows for messages to be retrieved by homeless at pay phones. Therefore, this gives a phone number and way for communication to take place. This national non-profit company, Community Voice Mail, during 1991 was founded in Seattle. In an article in Street Sense by Melanie Lidman, it found that a homeless person that used this system was able to find permanent housing and a job within three weeks. Therefore, communication is paramount in finding a secure life. Consider how anyone that uses the cell phone everyday feels, if suddenly they are unable to use it. Most people would have issues at work, home, and with friends that were unable to contact them. It is time that homeless gain the same consideration of those with homes. Calling on our local and national politicians to advocate more nonprofit companies that assist those in need is important because our economy depends on employment. Consumer spending has decreased significantly and almost every business sees the effects. For instance, churches have mentioned financial struggles due to low support from members. Therefore, they are limited on how many people they are able to assist. Employers that hire homeless should be given some type of incentive because they may be putting more effort to employ someone with difficult circumstances. Hopefully, this would work similar to incarcerated employees that work in businesses in hopes of re-establishing themselves to society smoothly. This would create more empathy for situations of those less fortunate and may lead to further support.
•Corona, California—1 incident resulting in 2 non-lethal acts •Corpus Christi, Texas—2 separate incidents resulting in 2 non-lethal acts •Dania Beach, Florida—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Daytona Beach, Florida—1 incident resulting in 2 non-lethal acts •Delray Beach, Florida—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Deltona, Florida—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Elgin, Illinois—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Ellenton, Florida—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Fort Smith, Arkansas—4 separate incidents resulting in 4 non-lethal acts •Gastonia, North Carolina—1 incident resulting in 1 death •Gibsonton, Florida—1 incident resulting in 1 death •Granite City, Illinois—1 incident resulting in 1 death •Hamilton Township, New Jersey—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Hayward, California—1 incident resulting in 1 death •Haverhill, Massachusetts—1 incident resulting in 1 death •Highland Park, Michigan—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Houston, Texas—1 incident resulting in 3 non-lethal acts •Huntsville, Alabama—1 incident resulting in 2 non-lethal acts •Indianapolis, Indiana—2 incidents resulting in 6 non-lethal acts •Kalamazoo, Michigan—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Laguna Beach, California—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Lakeland, Florida—2 separate incidents resulting in 2 non-lethal acts •Lakeside, California—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Lawrence, Kansas—2 separate incidents resulting in 2 non-lethal acts •Leesburg, Florida—2 separate incidents resulting in 3 non-lethal acts •Los Angeles, California—9 separate incidents resulting in 9 non-lethal acts •Manchester, New Hampshire—2 separate incidents resulting in 2 non-lethal acts •Milwaukie, Oregon—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act
(Continued on page 13)
•Missoula, Montana—1 incident resulting in 1 death •Mount Kisco, New York—1 incident resulting in 1 death •Nashville, Tennessee—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act
The Attacks Are Worse Than This Report States
•New York City, New York—1 incident resulting in 1 death
(Continued from page 4)
•Oakland, California—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Ocala, Florida—1 incident resulting in 1 death •Oklahoma City, Oklahoma—3 separate incidents resulting in 1 death and 2 non-lethal acts •Omaha, Nebraska—1 incident resulting in 2 non-lethal acts •Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—5 separate incidents resulting in 5 non-lethal acts •Phoenix, Arizona—1 incident resulting in 1 death •Ponce, Puerto Rico—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Portland, Oregon—5 separate incidents resulting in 5 non-lethal acts •Ramona, California—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Redding, California—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Redlands, California—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Reno, Nevada—12 separate incidents resulting in 1 death and 11 non-lethal acts •Richmond, California—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Riverside, California—1 incident resulting in 1 death •San Diego, California—1 incident resulting in 1 death •San Francisco, California—1 incident resulting in 1 death •Sparks, Nevada—1 incident resulting in 2 non-lethal acts •Springfield, Massachusetts—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Springfield, Missouri—1 incident resulting in 1 death •Statesville, North Carolina—1 incident resulting in 1 death •St. Petersburg, Florida—7 separate incidents resulting in 3 deaths and 4 non-lethal acts •Tampa, Florida—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act •Tucson, Arizona—1 incident resulting 1 non-lethal act •Tulsa, Oklahoma—1 incident resulting in 1 death •West Palm Beach, Florida—9 separate incidents resulting in 1 death and 8 non-lethal acts •York City, Pennsylvania—1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act
was too dark or they could not even police and therefore do not want to tell if the person who attacked them have any contact with them at all. was a male or a female. They figSometimes the police are ure, why call the police if they have unwilling to take a report or will nothing to offer them to identify the classify it not as an attack, subject. Some but “unfounded.” They of the relation...experts agree figure that the victim, the ships with the that the statistics homeless person, will never police may be of unreported show up at court or will so good that the attacks on the make a bad witness…so homeless perhomeless will be why take the time to take a son feels bad to quite high report. Also, sometimes call them when officers who do not like the conthey have no evidence and they stant complaints from residents on know just how busy their police certain homeless individuals and friends are. Some of them have who consider them a pain to socibecome so used to the little attacks ety will almost convince the homeor even serious attacks; they just less person it is their own fault why figure it comes with living on the they got beat and to change their streets, so why bother to report it. lives. With all the above we can We also hear many of surely state, like all crimes, there is them say that when they called the under reporting; but some experts police in many jurisdictions that are agree that the statistics of unreextremely busy with police calls ported attacks on the homeless will that sometimes they have to wait an be quite high because of the charachour for an officer to show up and teristics of the homeless population sometimes they leave before a reas well as the constant battle of the port is taken. Police and the Homeless. Written By Occasionally, the homeSean Anthony Cononie less themselves who have good National Homeless relationships with the police may Hate Crimes Expert not report a crime or an attack to them because they may have been sleeping when the attack took place and they saw nothing because it
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Page 11
Volume X, Issue 5
HOMELESS VOICE San Francisco, California
We Still Need Your Help!!!
Homeless Man Harassed By Teens and Died From the Beating
Attention Homeless Voice Supporters For the last few months we have been running the same “We Still Need Your Help” story. I wanted you all to know that we paid off the mortgage and I did not want to mislead anyone to thinking we still needed donations to pay off the full balance. We did pay it off but we used conserved emergency funds so we still are in need of this campaign to replenish the emergency funds. We will not be in so much of a rush now but with all the expansion plans we do need to keep on raising us much as we can. So this month and every month after, we will still have our campaign and we ask you all to keep on sending your checks in to our special account. We also have to thank each and every one of you for helping us pay off this mortgage much faster than what we had planned! Thank Thank--you!
HELP PAY OFF OUR MORTGAGE We need just 17,868 people to send in a check for $20.00, Or 7,147 people to send in a check for $50.00, Or 3,574 people to send in a check for $100.00, Or 358 people to send in a check for $1,000, Or Just one wonderful person or business to send a check for the entire $357,350; We will name the shelter after you or whomever you choose
Send in your checks to: COSAC Homeless Assistance Center, P.O. Box 292 292--577, Davie, Florida 33329
•
You can set up payroll deduction through your employer to support the COSAC Foundation’s Homeless Voice • Your company might even match your donation • See your human resource or department manager
Remember the donation is tax deductible!! Please send your checks to:
The COSAC Building Fund P.O. Box 292-577 Davie, Florida 33329 We do thank you
CPR Changed (Continued from page 1)
from a near-drowning, drug overdose, or carbon
attack or be caused by other heart problems. In such a
monoxide poisoning. In these cases, people need
case, the victim still has ample air in the lungs and blood
mouth-to-mouth to get air into their lungs and blood-
and compressions keep blood flowing to the brain, heart
stream.
and other organs. A child who collapses is more likely to and
in
pression-only. The last update, in 2005, put more
problems
emphasis on chest pushes by alternating 30 presses
that
case,
mouth-to-mouth
Cincinnati, Ohio
Homeless Man Shot in the Face after asking for a Quarter August 7: Donald Francis, 44, was shot and killed after asking Geraldine Beasley, 62, for a quarter. Beasley reportedly expressed a complaint about Francis to a nearby individual, Francis asked her for a quarter, and she proceeded to shoot him in the face. Of the incident, Police Chief Tom Streicher was quoted in the Associated Press saying, “That’s apparently all there was to it.” According to the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, Francis’ death was “[an act] resulting in Cincinnati’s first documented homeless hate crime in two years.” Additionally, Georgine Getty, Executive Director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless stated, “This crime is a tragedy and absolutely appalling.” Beasley has a fifteen-year court history and is thought to experience mental illness. She was charged with murder and her trial was in February 2008.
The CPR guidelines had been inching toward com-
have
primarily
breathing
But in either case, "Something is better than nothing," Sayre said.
July 17: Ramon Lopez, a 35-year-old homeless man, died after a teenager punched, kicked, and beat him with a glass bottle. According to eyewitness reports, Lopez was near 25th and Harrison Street when a group of teens approached him. One teenager tried to take his shopping cart, but Lopez argued, saying that it belonged to him. The teen punched Lopez and threw a bottle at him, hitting him on the head. The teenager left with his friends, leaving both Lopez and the shopping cart. Police are still searching for the teenager who committed this atrocious murder.
with two quick breaths; those "unable or unwilling" to do the breaths could do presses alone.
breathing should be
Now the heart association has given equal standing
used. That also ap-
to hands-only CPR. Those who have been trained in
plies to adults who
traditional cardiopulmonary resuscitation can still opt
suffer lack of oxygen
to use it. Sayre said the association took the unusual step of making the changes now the next update wasn't due until 2010 because three studies last year showed hands-only was as good as traditional CPR. Hands-only will be added to CPR training. An estimated 310,000 Americans die each year of cardiac arrest. Only about
West Palm Beach, Florida
3 Held in Beating of Homeless Man August 8: Gary Fenshaw, 41, told local police officers that a group of three chased him down and severely beat him with a two-by-four. The attackers yelled out racial slurs while they kicked and beat him. The young men chased Fenshaw, finally catching him near a convenience store. Fenshaw managed to stop the attack when he slashed Kevin Medrano across the neck with a shard. Fenshaw later died. Ronald Shupe, 18, Kevin Medrano, 18, and Alex Medrano, 17, were arrested on charges of aggravated battery with prejudice and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery. Kevin Medrano and Alex Medrano are members of the Sur-13 gang.
6% of those who are stricken outside a (Continued on page 13)
Camden, New Jersey
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Four Teens Murder Homeless Man August 30: John Anthony Smith, 54, was well liked in his South Jersey neighborhood. Friends and residents described him as wise, proud, and stubborn. So stubborn that on the night of his death he had denied an offer to sleep in a companion’s home. Smith was awoken from his park bench when four area teenagers began to punch, kick and beat him with a stick. Smith was taken to Cooper University Hospital where he suffered for 18 days before dying. The motive is unknown; the teenagers did not take any of Smith’s personal belongings. If tried as adults, the young men aged 15 to 17 years, could face life in prison. Their status hearing was held in March 2008.
The Voice of the Homeless
Page 12
HOMELESS VOICE Reno/Sparks, Nevada
Fort Lauderdale Turmoil
Granite City, Illinois
Teens Accused of Beating and Killing Homeless
Homeless Man Beaten to Death for a Beer
September 3: Two teenagers were arrested for the beating death of a homeless man. Christopher Michael Maciolek, 19, and Finley Byrdette Fultz, 18, were booked on suspicion of open murder in the beating and stomping to death of James Beasley, 55. Witnesses say the two attackers beat a homeless man at Wingfield Park, and then walked to nearby Brick Park where Beasely was sleeping on a bench. They kicked and stomped on Beasely’s head and torso. Both teens are suspected in the beating up two other homeless people on Labor Day. One victim didn’t file a police report in order to not to be known as a “snitch” to the police. This victim was beaten up by a group of men as he was sleeping. The man suffered leg fractures. Another man reported he was awakened along the banks of the Truckee River by a group of younger men who were beating his legs with either a bat or a stick. Mark Mallory, assistant manager for the Men’s Drop-In Center, said that seven of his clients, including the murder victim, Beasley, were assaulted by people believed to be housed.
October 7: Police arrested two teenagers, 17 -year-old Joseph Lee Raines and 18-year-old Brandon Bouck, for the death of Thomas J. Muffler, 48. Raines and Bouck were charged with first-degree murder and robbery. They asked Muffler, who was homeless, to buy them alcohol, and when Muffler refused because they were underage, they punched him once. Later that night, the two boys saw Muffler with a beer, so they beat him and stole his beer. Muffler’s body was found in a residential neighborhood, where he collapsed after the beating. An autopsy revealed Muffler probably died from complications of injuries (consisting of broken ribs and a pierced lung) he received. Bouck and Muffler could face up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in April 2008.
Chicago, Illinois
Two Homeless Men Shot in Uptown Chicago September 6: In what appear to be unrelated incidents, two homeless men were shot in a 24-hour span. Phillipi Larrnarri, 32, was shot in the head while sleeping on a bench early in the morning. Two men were seen fleeing the area, which is known to have gang activity. That night, 29-year-old James Lane, who lived in a shelter, was shot in the street. He was arguing with someone before he was shot. The shooter remains unknown in both cases, though police suspect the murders are unrelated.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is sorrow, joy. -Saint Francis of Assisi
St. Petersburg, Florida
Homeless Man Killed Under Freeway Overpass; Police Suspect Connection with Other Crimes against Homeless
Howard Finkelstein Public Defender Broward County Florida
(Continued from page 7)
someone is going to get killed," said Doug Brawley, chief assistant public defender. Tim Smith, president of Middle River Terrace association and a former Fort Lauderdale commissioner, sides with Sticht. He said parts of the area have become a "war zone" with 13 break-ins this year. He said the idea that Sticht physically threatened anyone is "the biggest bunch of bunk I've heard in my entire life." "I'm mad as hell. These homeless advocates are dead wrong," Smith said. "They are being used by criminals." In affidavits filed in court Monday, the five homeless men said Sticht patrolled the area at night with a spotlight, ran after them with a chain saw, threatened them with a knife, and fired a gun. Several of the men said they think Sticht made the wanted posters because, they said, he took their photographs and told one what he was going to do. Brown and a homeless advocate said they tried to complain about the posters to police, but waited for two hours at the station without seeing an officer. Brown then phoned in a complaint, and also turned to the public defender's office. State records show several of the homeless men have extensive criminal records, including arrests for cocaine possession, shoplifting, trespass, prostitution and lewd and lascivious conduct. Brown, for example, was found guilty in 2005 of burglary and grand theft, records show. The records also show that Sticht was arrested in 1999 for trespassing with a dangerous weapon, a charge later reduced to misdemeanor trespassing. He pleaded no contest and a formal finding of guilt was withheld. The only detail Sousa, the police spokesman, said he could add on Monday was that the incident had involved Sticht chasing someone with a chain saw. Staff Writer Tonya Alanez and Staff Researcher Bill Lucey contributed to this report. By JAMIE MALERNEE South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Homeless Man Beaten to Death October 27: Eric Raphael McMahon, 48, was discovered severely beaten in a back alley, and taken to the hospital. The next day, police removed him from life support. A witness described the two attackers as young men. One 15-yearold boy was arrested and sent to a juvenile detention center, but his name has not been made public due to his status as a minor. Police are searching for a second suspect. Of this incident, Sgt. Tim Schmidt, spokesman for the Abilene Police Department and Crime Stoppers, told Dallas Morning News, “It seems like a senseless, violent act by people who have no respect for other people. It’s just a brutal act seemingly unprovoked.”
Riverside, California
Police Arrest Suspect for Murder of Homeless Man November 27: Police arrested Francisco Javier Hernandez, 18, for the stabbing murder of a homeless man. The victim, a 47-year-old man who is unnamed pending family notification, was found lying in the dirt with multiple stab wounds. The motive for the attack remains unclear.
Ocala, Florida
Homeless Man Attacked By Two Teens November 28: Robert Towns Leigh, a 44year-old homeless man from Tallahassee, was beaten with an aluminum baseball bat by two teens. James Roberts, 18, and his cousin William Anthony Myers, 16, admitted to police that they beat Leigh around 1:00 AM. The two teens have been charged with capital murder. Leigh had been in Miami visiting a friend and intended on hitchhiking back up to Tallahassee. The teens claimed that they were “startled” by Leigh, who told them to leave him alone, and decided to go home to arm themselves. They returned to the bench and attacked Leigh. Richard, Leigh’s brother, commented to a Tallahassee news source about the death of his brother, “It’s just a senseless crime. I can’t believe this happened.”
September 13: Charles Cummings, 49, was found beaten to death under an interstate onramp, a few feet from his belongings. Police believe Cummings was the victim of a group attack by men who had assaulted other homeless individuals around the same time period. The motive is unclear, but Sgt. Mike Kovacsev was quoted in St. Petersburg Times saying, “Sometimes, [the homeless] are attacked just because they’re homeless. Sometimes, they are just victims of opportunity.”
New York, New York
Homeless Man Set on Fire October 5: Felix Najero, a 49-year-old homeless man, was set on fire outside of Bethany Christian Church where he rested for the night. The fire burned seventy-five percent of Najero’s body, spreading across his face, chest, and stomach. Najero died four days later in New YorkPresbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Police have arrested Israel Torres, a 29-year-old man from the Bronx, for the attack, charging him with attempted murder. Torres, a former prisoner, reportedly taunted Najero prior to the attack. Torres may be recharged with a more serious offence now that Najero is dead.
Abilene, Texas
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Page 13
Volume X, Issue 5
HOMELESS VOICE CPR Changed
Missoula, Montana
(Continued from page 11)
arrest, and it takes too long
Dallas emergency medical
intermittent
gasps
hospital survive, although
to stop compressions to
services
paramedics
arrived.
rates vary by location.
give two breaths 16 sec-
Pepe,
chairs
was thrilled to find out the
People who quickly get
onds for the average per-
emergency medicine at the
next day that Goodall had
hands-only
son. He noted that victims
University of Texas South-
survived.
awaiting medical treatment
often
western Medical Center.
have double or triple the
anyway, drawing in a little
chance of surviving. But less
air on their own.
CPR
while
than a third of victims get this essential help. Dr. Gordon Ewy, who's
gasp
periodically
Anonymous surveys show
also
Paul
He
On Sunday, he visited
One person who's been
Goodall in the hospital where he is recovering from
hands-only CPR is Temec-
triple bypass surgery.
ula,
do
Jared
Ewy
who
Dr.
spreading the word about
that people are reluctant to mouth-to-mouth,
chief
until
Calif.,
chiropractor
Hjelmstad,
"After this whole thing
who
happened, I was on cloud
been pushing for hands-
said, partly because of
helped save the life of a
nine," said Hjelmstad. "I
only CPR for 15 years, said
fear of infections.
fellow health club member
was just fortunate enough
in Southern California
to be there."
he was "dancing in the
"When people are hon-
streets" over the heart as-
est, they're not going to do
Hjelmstad, 40, had read
Goodall, a 49-year-old
sociation's
it," he said. "It's not only the
about it in a medical jour-
construction contractor, said
yuck factor."
nal and used it on Garth
he had been healthy and
Goodall,
collapsed
fit before the collapse, and
change
even
though he doesn't think it
who
Homeless veteran suffers deadly beating to the head by young men, memorial held. December 6: 56-year-old Forrest Salcido was found dead near the California Street footbridge in Missoula. According to reports from the police, Salcido was walking by two young men when he was struck in the head and subsequently stomped repeatedly, up to 30 times. Anthony St. Dennis, 18, and Dustin Strahan, 20, are facing murder charges for the crime. Police say they were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the attack. Acquaintances of Salcido told Missoula News he was a “very sweet man, very intelligent, very humble, and very respectful.” The victim’s own nephew commented that every year he gave him small gifts at Christmas and he wonders now what his uncle went without in order to buy the gifts.
Ewy
In recent years, emer-
is
gency service dispatchers
while working out at their
there'd been no hint that he
Hayward, California
director of the University of
have been coaching callers
gym in February. Hjelm-
had clogged heart arteries.
Arizona Sarver Heart Cen-
in hands-only CPR rather
stad's 15-year-old son Josh
"I was lucky," he said.
ter in Tucson, where the
than telling them how to
called 911 in the mean-
Had the situation been
Transient’s Beating Leads to Death
compression-only technique
alternate breaths and com-
time.
reversed, "I wouldn't have
was pioneered.
pressions.
goes
far
enough.
(pronounced
AY-vee)
Hjelmstad
said
he
Ewy said there's no point
"They love it. It's less
pumped on Goodall's chest
to giving early breaths in
complicated and the out-
for more than 12 minutes
the case of sudden cardiac
comes are better," said
encouraged by Goodall's
known what to do." "It's a second lease on life," he added. -AP
Level the opportunity
(Continued from page 10)
Please Send/Bring Cards to: 1203 N. Federal Highway Hollywood, Fl 33020
In conclusion, the best way to make opportunity equal to all will mean using our technology capabilities to benefit the unemployed homeless populations, or anyone in low income situations. For example, more information needs to be available at shelters, health clinics, and other places that have homeless frequent with great accessibility. Washington D.C. has started and other metropolitan areas must do the same. After all, our economy needs jobs filled and created with consumer spending. By Jamie M. Kisner
Florida is the Most Dangerous State (Continued from page 1)
• Maine passed a law in 2005 that allows judges to take into consideration a victim’s homeless status when considering sentencing for the offender. • A statewide public education project in Florida to educate people about homelessness was initiated by the National Coalition for the Homeless in conjunction with AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers. • The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust has created a curriculum/video about homelessness that is played in schools throughout the county to give young people a greater understanding of homelessness.
December 22: An intoxicated Robert Marr, 49, came into Hayward Fire Station No.2 suffering from a head injury and cuts on his face. Marr was transferred to a local hospital where he underwent surgery to treat his injuries. Police interviewed Marr when he was first admitted to the hospital. He told police he was beaten up by a group of two to five men in their 20’s who were possibly white or Hispanic. After being released from the hospital, he was found face down on Anita Avenue. He never regained consciousness and his family took him off life support on December 30th. After reviewing the autopsy, his cause of death was a result of a severe beating, escalating the case to a homicide.
Phoenix, Arizona
Repeated Taunts Turns Deadly for a Homeless Man December 25: Aaron Taylor, a 36-year-old homeless man, burned to death after being set on fire. When the Phoenix Fire Department arrived Taylor was burning with a concrete bench attached to his back. Taylor may have been duct taped to the bench, which complicated all forms of rescue. The alleged suspects are three men, ages 17, 20, and 24. Due to the ongoing investigation, authorities have not revealed the identities of these men who have been accused of constantly harassing Taylor. One of the witnesses says that he saw the three men offering Taylor alcohol, and another witness reports that he saw the three men drinking with Taylor shortly before he was set afire.
In addition, several legislative initiatives are currently underway to address this growing problem. • Two bills have been introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives, H.R. 2216 and H.R. 2217, by Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson to add homeless persons to two existing federal hate crimes laws. • Bills to add homeless persons as a protected class to state hate crime statutes are currently being considered in Massachusetts, Ohio, and Alaska.
Even though the trend of violence against homeless persons has risen over the past decade, there are steps that we can take to put an end to this terrible trend. Advocates, service providers, policymakers, and members of the public can take a stand by: • Supporting H.R. 2216 and H.R. 2217, the two bills before the U.S. House of Representatives that would add homeless status to the Hate Crimes Statistics Act and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act.
• Supporting state legislative efforts to add homeless •
• • •
persons as a protected class to state hate crime statutes. Initiating police trainings to help law enforcement officers better understand homelessness in general and how to prevent and manage hate crime against homeless persons. Engaging in public education initiatives in schools to educate young people about homelessness and to humanize homeless neighbors. Advocating against city measures that criminalize homelessness and for more constructive approaches to homelessness. Advocating for more affordable housing and permanent supportive housing to bring an end to homelessness for those homeless members of our communities. -NCH
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The Voice of the Homeless
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Page 15
Volume X, Issue 5
HOMELESS VOICE Hospitals: Is the Price Right? barrassed — major hospital chains all over the country for using tough tactics on the uninsured. "When you walk in and you get an appendectomy that should be $5,000, let’s say top dollar, and you’re being charged $20,000, that’s wrong. You’ve been hosed, simply put," says Forbes. Forbes says one out of every six Americans is vulnerable. Forbes says those affected the most are middle-class Americans — people who are not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid or charity care. "They’re working-class folks that own a home, have a small business, may have a college savings account saved up for their children," he says. It's people like Lisa and Scott Starbuck. The Knoxville, Tenn., couple was making about $50,000 a year, before taxes, in the computer-consulting business they run out of their home. A decade ago, they were downsized out of corporate jobs that provided health insurance. Lisa got insurance on her own, but Scott couldn't afford insurance after he was diagnosed with diabetes. "Is it fair to say you were hoping against hope that the diabetes would get under control and there wouldn’t be any other illness?" Rather asked. "We were just kind of gambling, I think, that that was gonna happen. But we didn’t have any choice," says Lisa Starbuck. The couple lost their bet last year when Scott suffered chest pains and wound up in the emergency room at the University of Tennessee Medical Center — a non-profit teaching hospital. Doctors diagnosed a mild heart attack. They inserted two stents to open up a blocked artery to his heart. It was a textbook case; there were no complications, and Scott was released after 72 hours. A few weeks later, he got an itemized bill for more than $41,000. "The biggest thing on there was the stents. The two stents were $19,000. And I’m not a medical professional, so I don’t know a lot, but I just didn’t see how that could be $19,000," says Lisa. "So I got on the Internet and looked up the list price, and it was $2,300." 60 Minutes checked with the manufacturer, who confirmed that they sell the stent for $2,300 apiece. Since the doctor used two stents on Scott, the total manufacturer's price was $4,600 about a quarter of the $19,000 the hospital charged him. "I thought maybe there really is a mistake and so I called the hospital back and they said that the prices were not negotiable," recalls Lisa. The Starbucks said the hospital did offer them a 25 percent discount, if they paid it off in two years or less. They couldn’t afford that, so they were stuck with the original $41,000 bill. Soon, a collection agency started sending them demanding letters. The Starbuck family was considering bankruptcy, which isn’t unusual. A Harvard study found that medical problems contribute to about half of all personal bankruptcies in this country.
Then the Starbucks learned that the charge from UT Medical Center for someone with insurance would be $13,800 – about one-third of what Scott was billed. "I feel like we’ve been taken advantage of. And I'm upset because, you know, it’s a life-changing thing. It’s definitely rocked our world. Sorry," says Lisa. The University of Tennessee Medical Center told 60 Minutes that "patients who receive the same services are charged the same amounts." That’s true, but there's a catch: Federal law does require hospitals to charge every patient the same, whether they have insurance or not. But hospitals can accept different payments from different patients — and they do. Hospitals give discounts to insurance companies for the patients they cover. And they are big discounts, as much as 75 percent off the list price. Government programs like Medicare and Medicaid pay hospitals even less. Only the uninsured are charged the hospital’s full price. 60 Minutes asked Gerard Anderson, a professor of public health at Johns Hopkins University, just how typical these high charges are. "I think virtually all hospitals do this," Professor Anderson explains. "They charge two and four times as much. Some of them charge 10 times as much." Asked why that is happening, Anderson says, "It’s a long historical evolution, but essentially, they can get away with it." Anderson knows how the health care financing system works — because 25 years ago, he helped write the Medicare rules that, to this day, form the basis for what the government and insurance companies will pay hospitals. He has testified as an expert witness in some lawsuits over hospital charges. Anderson notes that hospitals keep their price list — known as a "charge master" — largely secret, so there's no way to compare one hospital’s prices to another. "That information isn’t available to you. In the hospital sector, you can't do any comparative shopping. And because you can't do comparative shopping, the hospital has no reason to control prices," Anderson explains. But the hospital industry is now feeling the pressure that KB Forbes and other advocates for the uninsured have focused on hospital billing practices. "Are there some examples out there that somebody can find of a hospital who’s not doing everything they possibly can? I’m sure you have. But those hospitals need to do it better," says Carmela Coyle, the senior vice president for policy for the American Hospital Association. She acknowledges the problem, but insists hospitals can’t solve it alone. "We’ve got to find a way to provide health insurance coverage for everybody in this country," Coyle says. "The problem we’re talking about here is the difference between what most hospitals charge for people who are uninsured, and what they charge for the insurance companies. And let’s
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"I feel like I do owe money. And I do want to pay it. And I’m not looking for charity...
cut to the chase: Do you agree or disagree that that is the situation?" Rather asked. "Actually, what hospitals charge for a service is the same for everybody, whether they have insurance or not. What’s confusing for everybody is that what a person ends up paying in this country can be very different," says Coyle. Why shouldn't everybody be charged at or near the same rates? "Everybody’s charged the same amount. But the Medicare program dictates to hospitals what it’s gonna pay. Big insurance companies? The same thing. They profit if they pay less," says Coyle. While she says hospitals didn’t create the problem, Coyle says in the last year, hospitals have begun to adopt policies which give some discounts to some of the uninsured. "There are 5,000 hospitals in this country that care for over 100 million patients every year, and they’re doing the right thing," she says. 60 Minutes got a different perspective from Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. The Senate Finance Committee, which he heads, is investigating hospital charges and collection practices. Asked how widespread the problem is with the uninsured, Sen. Grassley says, "From media reports, from advocate groups, from individuals and from my own investigation, I think it’s very, very widespread. It’s an institutional bias against uninsured people. And it's something to be outraged about." But Coyle disagrees. "The senator is very knowledgeable in health care issues. But what’s going on in hospitals is nothing of the sort," she says. Asked if she's saying the senator is wrong, Coyle says, "I’m saying that the face of what’s going on in health
care has changed dramatically, literally in the last year." "What I’m told by the hospital association is 'Please understand, we’re making changes. We have quote — new policies — that are dealing with this.' Am I to believe that?" Rather asked Grassley. "I've been told that they were going to do that. They've told me that. I haven’t seen the changes I ought to see. But if I don’t see it very, very soon, we’ll probably be doing some legislating in that area," the senator replied. Sen. Grassley is considering legislation that would require hospitals to do better by the uninsured. But while government and the health care industry wrestle with the problem, people like Scott and Lisa Starbuck just want to find a way out of their own personal crisis. "I feel like I do owe money. And I do want to pay it. And I’m not looking for charity, not trying to get indigent care or anything like that. I just want to work out a reasonable payment," says Scott. "And pay a reasonable price. That’s the main thing," Lisa added. After Rather interviewed the Starbucks and the Ferlinis, 60 Minutes called the hospitals where they were treated and they re-examined both cases. UT Medical Center has now reduced Scott Starbuck’s $41,000 bill by 25 percent. St. Joseph’s Hospital, which billed Carlos Ferlini $246,000, now says Ferlini qualifies for the hospital's Charity Care Program, which would pay for his hospitalization. By Michael Rosenbaum © MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. -CBS