VERNON, Conn. — War on the other side of the globe is impacting Israeli-Americans right here in Connecticut in a very real way. One Jewish man says he’s struggling to keep a roof over his head.
For at least Friday night, Joel Leyden is staying at the Red Roof Inn in Vernon with little more than a television to watch the images of a war.
“I might be out of this hotel in the next hour because I haven’t found somebody that would help me,” said Leyden.
His face may look familiar. Leyden is the man who used to help others find a COVID-19 vaccine at the height of the pandemic. He ran a social media community called Vaccine Angels. He’s now struggling to find himself a home.
“There’s only one word. And the word is devastating,” said Leyden. “This is war. This is war. And I’m not embarrassed to say I’m a war victim.”
Leyden is a reserve officer of the Israeli Defense Force. He says his funds are frozen in the Holy Land.
“How does it affect me directly? I do business with Israel. It’s where I get my retainers. All was frozen on Oct 7th. So now I’m at a point where I have exhausted all my money and right now I am facing homelessness,” said Leyden.
FOX61 sat down with Leyden in the lobby of the Red Roof Inn in Vernon where the hotel’s general manager knows the plight of immigrants.
“We are the people. Immigrant people who work seven days a week, 24 hours sometimes,” said Hafiza Naheed, the GM of the Red Roof Inn.
In search of a better life, Naheed came to the U.S. from Pakistan in 1993. According to the Anti-Defamation League instances of Islamophobia and Antisemitism are both on the rise.
“They use the B word,” said Naheed. “They used cursing language and they said, 'Go back to your country. What are you doing here?'”
Leyden added, “Recently. I was called 'Jew boy' at a nearby bar, and there were two motels and hotels that I approached before coming here, and they refused to take me because I was Jewish.”
Leyden and Naheed are two Middle East immigrants with very different backgrounds, and one is offering a hand out.
“We should have peace, love and care for every human being,” said Naheed.
The other needing a hand up.
“What I would suggest to anyone facing homelessness is do not accept it,” said Leyden.
Due to permanent residency restrictions, Leyden can only stay at the hotel 28 days at a time. Each day, he’s funding the majority of his stay through the kindness of strangers and social service agencies. Naheed says she’s happy to help when she can, but she also has to run a business, not a shelter.
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Matt Caron is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at mcaron@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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