At the end of September, a homeless encampment near the Lowe’s store in Milford, Connecticut, was pelted with rocks, fireworks and hateful graffiti. Police identified three suspects but have not yet made arrests. A similar assault occurred in a Bridgeport park, where a 22‑year‑old man was struck in the head with a rock and remains in critical but stable condition.
Local residents respond
Mark Greenawalt, a longtime resident who has helped build the Milford camp over the past two decades, described the incident as a stark break from the peace he and his neighbors once enjoyed. “It was nice and peaceful until this happened,” he said. Greenawalt, who recently secured a housing choice voucher to move to an apartment in the New Haven area, plans to relocate soon but says he will return to the camp that has become his home.
Isaiah Peck, who spends hours at the camp entrance keeping watch, echoed Greenawalt’s concerns. “We just want to live without fear of being attacked,” he said.
Advocates call for compassion
On Tuesday, a coalition of homeless service providers gathered in Bridgeport for a press conference. Sarah Fox, chief executive of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, warned that the attacks reflect a broader national trend of dehumanizing rhetoric toward people experiencing homelessness. “At the federal level we are seeing increased attacks on people experiencing homelessness, both through words and policies that criminalize poverty,” she said.
Representatives from both parties in the state legislature also weighed in, urging unity and kindness. Rep. Antonio Felipe (D‑Bridgeport) noted, “Hate has a cost, and we are seeing that now here in Bridgeport and Milford.” Rep. Tony Scott (R‑Monroe) added, “We can do this ourselves – screw D.C.,” emphasizing a bipartisan approach to local solutions.
Policy backdrop
The National Coalition for the Homeless has documented a rise in serial attacks on unhoused individuals, linking the surge to recent legislation in several states that criminalizes sleeping outdoors. The coalition also cited a 2024 U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld the legality of arresting people for activities such as sleeping in public spaces.
Connecticut lawmakers have introduced bills in the past two sessions to prohibit arrests or fines for sleeping outdoors, but the measures have stalled in both the House and Senate. Local officials argue that the ability to clear camps is necessary for health and safety reasons.
Federal perspective
President Donald Trump’s administration has advocated a shift toward placing individuals experiencing homelessness in specialized institutions for mental‑health and substance‑abuse treatment, rather than relying solely on the housing‑first model that has dominated the past decade. Administration officials argue that this approach addresses underlying issues and promotes long‑term recovery, offering a more sustainable path out of chronic homelessness.
Community impact
Beyond the attacks, the Milford encampment has endured other tragedies, including a deliberately set fire last year that claimed the life of longtime resident Joe Kane. Greenawalt, who rescued Kane from the blaze, bears physical scars from the incident and continues to care for the camp’s small wildlife, including a groundhog named Freddy.
Despite the recent violence, Greenawalt remains hopeful. “I’m excited to move to an apartment where I can feel at peace and secure,” he said, while affirming his intention to return to the community that has supported him for years.
Looking ahead
State officials and advocacy groups say the focus now must be on increasing funding for supportive services, pursuing legislative reforms that protect unhoused individuals from criminal penalties, and fostering a community response rooted in compassion rather than fear.
Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.
