From 2001-2004, overflow of unrecovered homeless clients of Housing Assistance Corporation's NOAH Shelter routinely camped in abandoned trains at the Hyannis Transportation Center. Shelter staff occasionally sent the Outreach Team to monitor intoxicated, pregnant teens living in these abandoned trains insisting that one would not place a "value judgement" on young, impressionable youth living on the streets. Homeless outreach workers have been dismissed after failing to provide adequate services to this population. Martha MacKeon was abruptly fired after impropriety and influence peddling was first observed in 2003.
The executives continued to promote lavish and extravagant expansion projects at taxpayer expense. Cynthia Cole was summoned to urge Chief Finnegan to remove intoxicated homeless teens from the trains. Finnegan spent five months of the year in Florida. The Town of Barnstable had to pay him $315,000 severance to leave under the tenure of President Janet Swain Joakim.
Here is a copy of the letter to Cynthia Cole, Executive Director of the Business Improvement District:
Mary Clements
241D Stevens Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
April 26, 2004
Ms. Cynthia Cole
Business Improvement District
397 Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Dear Ms. Cole,
There are a number of photographs enclosed demonstrating conditions at or around the transportation center. As you know there has been an increased effort to provide funding and support services to Housing Assistance Corporation and Community Action Committee of Cape Cod and Islands. Despite the increased support of community leaders such as you, the homeless population continues to present a public health and safety hazard.
I have enclosed some documents that I have previously forwarded to attorneys and public officials involved with NOAH and the Dana’s Field Project. I might add that Alan Burt suggested that clients refuse to cooperate with local authorities and law enforcement during the dismantling of the makeshift camps and specifically in regard to the “trains”. He became perturbed at Susan Durham for speaking candidly and demonstrating concern for teenagers living in the trains. He criticized me at a client advocacy meeting for demonstrating concern for pregnant teenagers intoxicated and using narcotics in said trains. He implied that we were not very bright for speaking openly about camp areas in front of public officials and insinuated that “Roy” meaning Councilor Royden Richardson believed that we should resist the police action and refuse to cooperate with local authorities.
Please note that the camps appear to be reemerging despite the valiant efforts of the Barnstable Human Service Needs Committee. I have enclosed a newsletter established by an eloquent and well-educated former client. His experiences confirm difficulties documented by previous clients. It appears to be the general consensus among clients that the efforts of substandard shelter and clinic are indeed futile. It seems that the mission of NOAH is to insure reimbursement to service providers rather than to insure services to needy clients. Pleas review the tax forms and architectural plans designed for the 11.5 million dollar farm project to which the majority of NOAH clients are ineligible.
I have included photographs featuring clients described and documented previously. For instance, rapist Perry Bell is the narcotics addict freebasing in the backyard of 72 North Street. This particular crack house is located directly behind the Puritan’s Building. The Hyannis Transportation Center is responsible for the trains where homeless squatters have staked their ground. Unfortunately, Billy Bishop and Tim Griffin have been seen at the front of the transportation center intoxicated. Although Mr. Bishop has been known to make some rather suggestive comments, he is basically harmless even when intoxicated. This is not always true of Mr. Griffin. As I proceeded up to the main building to buy my ticket, unfortunately Jose Correira was lurking in front of the station. He has been described in previous documents and has a criminal history of child rape. His stalking, leering and criminal history was reported to the attendant.
Leon Quick not only worked as a handy man for NOAH/Duffy before he molested a child from the Sturgis Charter School, but has since been spotted and photographed leering at women in front of The Hooter’s Restaurant. He has sufficient time on his hands after he was fired from The Day’s Inn where “Kid’s Stay for Free”. The NOAH Employment Specialist and Rehabilitation Team placed him there. As you are well aware Mr. Rick Presbrey has referred to me publicly as irresponsible for suggesting that there is a concentration of criminal offenders at NOAH.
I have enclosed a series that several clients are working on titled “The Crack Houses of Hyannis”. The crack house to which I was banished after drinking soda that I donated is across from Maggie’s Ice Cream and adjacent to the children’s amusement rides on Main Street. I must state that I was warned and disciplined that I should be forced to attend “anger management” for speaking with law enforcement in regard to my experience in this drug den.
Lastly, I have also enclosed photographs of the physical plant at NOAH describing the proximity of the clinic to the room in the sober house where two decomposing dead bodies were consecutively found.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
Mary Clements
cc. Joseph Potzka
William Henchy, Esq.
Jason Talerman, Esq.
Chief John Finnegan
Paul Niedzwicki
Michael O’Keefe, Esq.
Gary Brown
