Panelists discuss plight of city's homeless

Leon "Chicago" Richards and Catherine Engle walked into the Castle's main lobby wearing identical shirts. "Empty the shelters. Fill the homes," their t-shirts proclaimed. Richards and Engle work for the Kensington Welfare Rights Union, an organization developed and coordinated by poor and homeless people from the Philadelphia area. "We fight for the rights which we're entitled to," Richards said. The two participated in a panel discussion about homelessness last night as part of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. The panel discussed last weekend's sweep of the subway concourse surrounding City Hall which forced homeless people out of the concourse. According to Gloria Casarez, a member of Empty the Shelters – a group started in 1990 by about 40 University graduates – only 300 shelter beds were set aside for the 500 individuals that had been residing in the concourse. Casarez condemned the sweep and its goal to "beautify the area." "I'd like to take [Mayor Ed] Rendell by the throat and tell him what I think," Engle said. The panel also discussed problems of the shelter system. "The shelter system isn't doing what it's supposed to be doing," explained College sophomore Cynthia Mason, a member of Empty the Shelters. "Shelters treat you like shit, like children," Richards added. "[They] are also keeping poverty going." Richards, vice president of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union, said an automobile accident left him unable to work. He said he lost his home and began using drugs until he found out about the welfare rights group. "I wanted to get help so I got involved with this organization," he said. "It strengthens me and keeps me clean." Though still homeless, Richards has been a recovering addict for 10 and a half months, he said. After leaving an abusive relationship, Engle said she worked in Wildwood, N.J. for 13 years. While working, she suffered two heart attacks and decided to return to Philadelphia to be with her family. "We ended up on welfare," she said. "But eventually we ended up homeless." The welfare rights union recently helped Engle to find a home for her and her family. Kathleen Sullivan, the final panelist, graduated from the College last spring and now works for Empty the Shelters. "We support and work with organizations like KWRU," she said. "Groups with poor people struggling for their own survival are the groups that can make a difference." Sullivan explained that welfare only supplies enough money for monthly rent, without providing money for food, clothing or other necessities. She said people often become homeless because they do not receive enough money from welfare. Engle and Richards urged University students to "get involved." "As long as the system is the way it is, homelessness will always be there," Engle said. "We've got to do something." Students who attended the program called it very informative. "It really gave me a new perspective," Nursing freshman Jennifer Barthmaier said. "The news and the media portray [the concourse sweep] in a totally different way." "I hope this opened people's eyes to the problems of the homeless," said College senior Laura Yens said, vice president of the Penn Volunteer Network. "It is everyone's problem and it could happen to anyone."