Joe Comfort (New Haven)

Joe Comfort is a homeless man living in New Haven, Connecticut. He has been described as a "street legend".[1] He was featured in the Local Characters Trading Cards for New Haven, exhibited in 2005.[2] He earns money doing odd jobs including raking leaves, window washing, and repairs.[3] He has also worked for Yale fraternities, cleaning up after parties.[1]

Joe Comfort was at one point a carpenter for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and claimed to at one point be a licensed plumber. He attributes his lack of employment to potential employers' fear of having to pay workers compensation if his medical problems recur.[4] He has epilepsy and Capgras delusion.

Advocacy

Joe Comfort has spoken out at public hearings against welfare cuts in the state of Connecticut.[4] He has also spoken out against harassment of homeless people by the police.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Pat Hayden, "Cleaning House Fraternity brothers hire homeless help.", The New Journal Magazine at Yale, Vol. 40, No. 2, Oct. 2007.
  2. ↑ Local Characters Trading Cards for New Haven
  3. ↑ COLUMN: City government and business must help homeless - University Wire - HighBeam Research
  4. 1 2 Hartford Plan on Welfare Is Met With Tales of Woe - New York Times
  5. ↑ Yale Daily News - YHHAP dedicates candlelight vigil to the city's homeless
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