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LOCAL
CHAMPION!
Aug. 4 -10, 2016 • Page 9A
Homeless
but not
hopeless
Sisters seeking
work, refuge in
DeKalb County
by Horace Holloman
horace @dekalbchamp.com
S isters Cylinthia and
Camille Fitchett
aren’t what some
think of as “typical”
homeless women. The pair
said they aren’t on drugs,
nor are they lazy or suffer
from alcoholism.
But despite efforts to
find work, or a house, the
sisters remain homeless.
After a mid-July rain left
them drenched while
sleeping under the
carport driveway of an
now-abandoned church,
Cylinthia said she and
her sister are “at our wits’
end.”
Cylinthia and
Camille are currently
spending most of their
time at Rhema Christian
Fellowship Church on
Candler Road in Decatur.
The church provided a
safe place, until it was
relocated to Conyers,
Cylinthia said.
Because of safety and
county code enforcement
concerns, Cylinthia said
she fears their time may
be running out on finding a
place to stay or a job.
“At this point we’re
so tired. Physically and
emotionally we’re just
exhausted. We’re not
settled enough to get out,
get around and do what’s
needed. Any time we’ve
talked to an agency or
church, all we’ve asked is
that they provide us with a
place to stay for 30 days
because it gives you some
rest and you’re able to sit
and think,” Cylinthia said.
During the day, the
sisters take turns watching
after their dog Bailey—a
full-grown Beagle. While
one watches Bailey, the
other goes to the local
library to apply for jobs or
conduct research.
Not only has the
emotional toll become
arduous for the Flitchett
sisters, the physical toll
has become nearly too
much to bear, Cylinthia
said.
“We have slept outside
in the cold, snow, ice,
and now heat. We are
experiencing leg spasms
backaches all from
sleeping outside,” Cylinthia
said. “It is also difficult to
eat properly we are unable
to cook or store food. So
our meals consist of a lot
sandwiches and packaged
food not very healthy.”
Cylinthia and Camille
have been homeless since
2009 after losing their
jobs, bouncing around
from house to house. For
six months the pair lived
in Cylinthia’s 1995 Volvo,
until it died.
Cylinthia, who
graduated from William
Paterson University of New
Jersey with a bachelor’s
degree in psychology,
worked for 20 years as a
human services specialist.
Camille worked for 16
years in customer service.
Despite being unable
to find work, with years of
experience, Camille said
she still finds strength in
God and her big sister.
“What keeps me going
is my faith in God. It can
get me down, but God got
me. It’s been a struggle
and there were times
where I wanted to give up,
but I didn’t,” Camille said.
“People always say don’t
give up, but it’s just hard
sometimes. [Cylinthia]
reads her Bible every day
and whatever she reads I
learn from her. She keeps
me going.”
Cylinthia and Camille Fitchett stand side by side under the abandoned Rhema Christian Fellowship
Church. The sisters have been homeless since 2009.
Cylinthia and Camille Fitchett, along with their dog Bailey, talk with DeKalb County Southern Christian
Leadership Conference President Nathan Knight.
Camille said one of
the hardest issues with
being homeless is the lack
of transportation. Camille
had a job interview a few
months ago, but didn’t
receive a call back, she
said.
“It’s tough because you
spend money to get on the
bus and get a [bus ticket]
and to travel so far and not
get the job, it’s just really
hard,” Camille said.
The money the sisters
receive in donations is
generally spent on food or
hygiene products, Cylinthia
See Homeless on Page 11A
