Vera House, Inc., Syracuse NY

I called to get help she told me that I was demanding s*** and I wasn't I was just asking to get out of here she didn't help me got the s*** beat out of me she told me to call 211

Four stars for my amazing trauma informed therapy sessions. Zero stars for my stay at Vera House's shelter. Staff constantly breeched client confidentiality, constantly talking to clients in open hallways. The cleaning person knew client information. The cleaning person fratenized with certain clients. Staff were repeatedly verbally abusive to more than one client. I complained about a worker and the next day I heard her say to staff, "If she comes up missing, don't bother looking for her, because um that one". Then multiple staff erupted into laughter. That staff person turned out to be the cleaning person. Multiple staff talked badly about certain clients almost daily. Staff had favorites. They had two to three residents who had been there for over a year. One had a job and housing in place. Yet they did not let people seeking shelter and were in danger in. They would give certain clients rides often, and would tell others to walk or catch the bus, some had babies. Several staff almost bumped into me. A staff member threw away my food and gave away my food bin to another client without explanation. They replaced my food, but did not tell me what they threw out. I wanted to make sure I did not ask for too much or too little. One replacement item was so visibly damaged, that I had them replace that. Too many times to count, staff did not speak to me. They would complain that I don't speak to them. I avoided staff for my emotional safety. They were petty, cruel, and had a bully, mob type daily behavior. Two to three weeks before I left some staff attempted to strike up conversation with me. But it was too little, too late. Staff were extremely unprofessional. The common areas were not cleaned properly or cleaned enough. There were dangers not tended to by staff, uncovered windows, water spills, greasy stove tops. A staff person was walking around spraying lysol for literally two to three minutes near an open flame, while a client was cooking. The flame turned yellow. A client in the dining area said she can taste the lysol. Despite an inspector stating that they must be saving the best for last, and that my room was the cleanest he'd seen, staff stored most of my belongings in an outdoor shed. The shed had mice, so some of my belongings were filled with mice droppings. I did not give my address to any staff upon moving. I do not trust or have respect for the Vera House Shelter staff that worked during my two and a half month stay. The mission of The Vera House Shelter is greatly needed! The implementation of that mission by the staff working from October 1,2022 - December 19,2023 was dysfunctional, dangerous, and disgraceful.

Oh yes this place. The staff here are abusive. Not only do you get to clean up other peoples messes plus your own but if you are seen with your phone they yell at you to go to your room.second If you need to go shopping or appointments or even job interviews don't ask they will just tell you no. Its going on a month since I have been here no phone no actual help to get one.so I cant really go get work or do the things I need to because of that. They give you a voucher but don't expect them do anything like give you a ride or nothing.with no cellphone and a crazy abuser on the streets how do I call them for help?
they lied to get me in here they get all this money but not a penny to help you. I have to rely on a bus to go do my important stuff. I cant enjoy my stay here because I don't feel its safe.not only that but you can ask until your blue in the face they don't care. This deserves a fraud check. Sara King

A very disgusting, incompetent, unprofessional let down to myself and the community.
The new executive director doesn't help things unfortunately. A waste of a building in the community. Their reputation speaks for itself.

They Wouldn'tHelp meBecause I was getting verbally and mentally abused not physically. I was threatened to be killed. A judge issued an order of protection and the cops told me I was not in a safe. The DA wanted me to get help from Vera house and i told him that I was turned away and would NEVER go there for anything!

I was assaulted in 2019 & 2020 and refer to Vera House by the court. Every month a new person is assign to help me working with the office of OVS and none of the assigned persons never get back to me and it’s now 2022 and I get no counselling, help or nothing. Sad, I was under the impression they help domestic victims in some situations.

Just saw a news story Thursday August 10th.

I am so proud of the action your agency took in 2020 and your stance since.

Do not be bullied into continuing the CULTURE of any formers.
The formers posses the undeniable knowledge and experience that make peer supports possible.

Some experience is unnerving. But don't let my past become your stubbing block.

The spoke person sounds VERY SULKEN.as she described "when she was in that position, or if she had that position".

Sometimes you really have to comprehend the underlying reference.

I hope your now abusing this issue, to encourage a hostile take over.

Holding true to what it looks like to go with experience instead of the optics. Your clients should not know so much about the person there talking with unless.

Self disclose (is not telling a story).
Somebody gossiong from internal

Now I'm a client looking for a safety net, and I see you on TV having this discussion.

Well is my privilege to privacy that lackluster as well?

currently experiencing the bias based attitudes, not just from the private sector but from federally funded service organization that should KNOW BETTER and the correct hiring practices.

Congratulations and you are the module for success.

They keep playing phone tag in just doing the intake process. As a person that has endured a lot and in need of counseling they have postponed me over 4months now. I have been trying to start counseling since January after a very disturbing event. I literally was on the phone waiting for their call and saw I had a missed call from an unknown number during our appointment time. It didn’t even ring more than once.

I called them a few mins afterwards and it went straight to receptionist that directed me to the person and went straight to VM. Very questionable of their service being reliable if they are dodging a person in need.

What you do have a potential and does ilhelp a lot of people but, can also hurt the situation. What kind of corrupt place would take somebody who’s not even in a bad situation just doesn’t wanna be a parent and help her run from her kids and the rest of her family while she’s pregnant? And then not even pass anything along to her when people call with urgent messages. Then to go as far as to play dumb and say she wasn’t there when it was already confirmed that she is! I completely understand getting somebody out of a bad situation however what you guys do is an extreme it’s not always a good choice.

I survivor.

I had Child Protective Services concern with refugees that I work with?

I wanted to ask for assistance?

I had some assistance with Prolonged Exposure Therapy before?

I continued to have same Child Protective concerns for same minors under 13 @ same address?

I want to ask what would appropriate response be?

I am not sure what appropriate response if I was told the mother Miss Lily Chin Chung Lee is 7/8/9th generation Korean refugee?

I reached out to Syracuse Cultural Workers on their behalf?

("Call 911 and call Child Protective Services? ")

I want to access the public education system as well?

I want to request assistance they usually would be in school and the police are always here where I live close by?

I babysit them outside?

I wanted to be respectful of cultural competency/ I was told it was an international adoption as well?

I want to ask more information?

I tried to ask for assistance w/ mandated reporter @ Vera House

I noticed 2nd time when I mentioned there names an advocate gasping since 2016?

I don't like calling/ narcing I think someone from Vera House who took the call took Child Protective Services report a few years ago?

I need assistance for myself as well?

I tried to request assistance and I received some assistance, but after a while I received no assistance at all?

I want to ask for assistance with culturally competency issue?

I am not sure what appropriate response with Child Protective Services concern with Warrior Atu paw, Inteliegente Caw and Fuerte Enimoo?

I am concerned what would appropriate response be with ESL/significant cultural competency issue in the public health crisis?

I had concern since 2016-2017?

I want to be respectful and mindful of cultural competency?

I do volunteer work with refugees and tutor in math and algebra?

I have zero support?

May I request assistance on their behalf?

I am not exactly sure what to say?

I am safe.

Vera house give me a choice and guide me back to life. I was living there around 5 months my best time in past 10 years. Can’t believe the people can be so nice so helpful so Compassionate, and caring…, It’s hard to believe it. All The best people of the world in one place. They wake me up from my nightmare. I was so Lucky they took me in - Thank you Michael- They give me LIFE, happiness and HOPE for my future, and now I have a Future. I got everything I can wish for. They are still there for me Every day - I feel so lucky -and it’s keeping me going forward. Thank you all I will never forget

I would like to thank vera house for the abuse to my child! Thanks to you my child suffers now an has to go to therapy 3 times a week. It's disgusting seeing you use kids an then you play victim when confronted!