Homeless Advocates 'Appalled' After Attack on Homeless Woman in East Greenwich

The Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless condemned the alleged actions of a former East Greenwich School Committee member who was arrested Saturday for smashing a homeless window’s minivan window and screaming at her for sleeping in a local park-and-ride lot.

In a statement, Jim Ryczek, executive director of the coalition, said that “we are appalled and deeply saddened at the story coming out of East Greenwich of Jack Sommer, a former East Greenwich School Committee member, attacking a woman experiencing homelessness.”

Ryczek said that “we know his actions do not reflect the thinking of the vast majority of Rhode Islanders, who we believe find this incident as horrendous as we do.”

John “Jack” Sommer, 46, allegedly approached the woman as she slept in her van at the Frenchtown park and ride in the early morning hours and yelled “this is not a homeless shelter” before smashing her window with a hammer or wrench, according to police.

He was later stopped by police and charged with driving under the influence after police said he showed signs of being drunk and failed a field sobriety test.

The victim lives out of her minivan and is known by many residents who expressed shock and disgust after Sommer’s arrest was first reported by the Patch on Tuesday morning. The victim reportedly has refused monetary assistance from good Samaritans in the past.

Ryczek said that the incident underscores why Rhode Island became the first state in the country to pass a Homeless Bill of Rights in 2012 that formally bans discrimination against Rhode Islanders experiencing homelessness and reiterates that they deserve equal access to housing, employment and public services.

“The passage of the Homeless Bill of Rights sends a clear and important message that all Rhode Islanders, regardless of their housing status, will be treated with dignity and respect,” Ryczek said.

“Mr. Sommer’s actions, to attack the victim rather than grapple with the problems and systems that have led to the victim’s homelessness, are misguided and we encourage Mr. Sommer to educate himself about homelessness in Rhode Island,” Ryczek said. “We are more than willing to assist him in becoming part of the solution to homelessness and as we have learned over the many years working to end homelessness, that solution is housing!”

There were 4,067 people who experienced homelessness in Rhode Island in 2014. Though the number represents a decline over the previous year and progress has been made, “we are far from being done,” Ryczek said.

“This act of senseless violence against a person, whose only transgression was to be without a safe affordable place to call home, strengthens our commitment to the Zero: 2016 Campaign with the goal of ending chronic and veterans homelessness in Rhode Island by 2016. It also bolsters our resolve to fight for the dignity and safety for all those Rhode Islanders who are experiencing homelessness,” he said.

Below is the complete statement:

On behalf of the Coalition, our member agencies and the constituents we serve, we are appalled and deeply saddened at the story coming out of East Greenwich of Jack Sommer, a former East Greenwich School Committee member, attacking a woman experiencing homelessness.

We know his actions do not reflect the thinking of the vast majority of Rhode Islanders, who we believe find this incident as horrendous as we do. We are proud that Rhode Island, in 2012, became the first state in the country to enact a “Homeless Bill of Rights” formally banning discrimination against Rhode Islanders experiencing homelessness and affirming their equal access to housing, employment and public services. The passage of the Homeless Bill of Rights sends a clear and important message that all Rhode Islanders, regardless of their housing status, will be treated with dignity and respect.

Mr. Sommer’s actions, to attack the victim rather than grapple with the problems and systems that have led to the victim’s homelessness, are misguided and we encourage Mr. Sommer to educate himself about homelessness in Rhode Island. We are more than willing to assist him in becoming part of the solution to homelessness and as we have learned over the many years working to end homelessness, that solution is housing!

It is important to remember that people do not choose to be homeless. People become homeless due to unfortunate situations that happen to them – economic hardship, lack of affordable housing, mental health issues, substance abuse and addiction, loss of a job, catastrophic health issues, and more.

In 2014 there were 4,067 Rhode Islanders who experienced homelessness. While this number is a decline from the previous year and progress has been made to transition Rhode Island from a state that shelters its homeless to a state that houses those experiencing homelessness, we are far from being done. We know that the decline in the homeless numbers is a result of funding and programs focused on permanent supportive housing with services and we urge all Rhode Islanders to stay committed and focused on Opening Doors Rhode Island, the state’s plan to end homelessness and to make sure that it continues to be implemented and fully funded.

This act of senseless violence against a person, whose only transgression was to be without a safe affordable place to call home, strengthens our commitment to the Zero: 2016 Campaign with the goal of ending chronic and veterans homelessness in Rhode Island by 2016. It also bolsters our resolve to fight for the dignity and safety for all those Rhode Islanders who are experiencing homelessness.