Daniela Brighenti Photo
Wednesday might have been just another day on the job for barber Darryl Pervis.
The only difference? Instead of giving haircuts at his Hamden shop, Godly Cuts, Pervis worked right from the grass at the New Haven Green. For free.
For about the fifth year in a row, local stylists volunteered their time and skills to give nearly 80 homeless residents free haircuts. The event was organized primarily by Karaine Smith-Holness and Jesse Hardy, who runs a nonprofit called Jesse’s Homeless Outreach Project (J‑HOP).
When asked for a comment on Wednesday’s impromptu barbershop on the Green, Hardy shied away from the spotlight, and chose to focus instead on the four local stylists who were present at the eventt.
“This is about them out there today,” Hardy said, pointing towards the quartet, who had their styling chairs up on a makeshift stage. “They’re the ones making it all possible here.”
Johnson gives a haircut.
The four stylists included Dexter Jones from Dexter’s Barbershop, Omar Sangster from Sangster Barber and Salon, Patrice Johnson from Hair’s Kay Beauty Salon and Pervis. Homeless residents sat down in a waiting area to receive their free haircuts from one of the four.
For Pervis, this was his third year participating in the event. He runs his own service organization, called Faith Inspired Servants Helping Everyone Reach Services (F.I.S.H.E.R.S). He said he sees great value in giving back to his community.
“I do this completely out of love,” Pervis said. “I’ve been [giving back] for many, many years. This isn’t anything new to us.”
According to Smith-Holness, the homeless population on the Green looks forward to this annual event. “Oh, they know when we’re coming,” she said, looking around at the crowded waiting area.
That is exactly how Warren Freeman, who’s homeless, came to find the event.
Freeman waits for his haircut.
“I saw a big crowd gathered, and I figured it must be haircutting day,” Freeman said. He was number 16 in line.
Freeman has been living in New Haven for most of his life. He said he is thankful for the opportunity to have access to something so basic: “You know, we just want a haircut.”
Such seemingly routine events can make a difference for someone without a home, Hardy noted. He was homeless himself for a period of time, and his experiences influence the programs he develops today. In addition to the annual haircut event, Hardy runs free-food markets and flea markets and offers occasional meals on the Green.
“I wanted people to do this sort of thing for me,” Hardy said. “I just couldn’t get a break [back then]. It would have been nice to have things like this.”
The next idea he has cooking is a shower bus, which would drive up to the Green and allow homeless people to shower in warm water. He said he has a potential backer for the idea.
“It warms my heart, seeing it,” State Representative Robyn Porter said of the annual haircutting event, which she attended. “They stand up a little differently after the haircut. The change is tangible.”
A van arrived nearly 20 pizza boxes for the homeless nearing the end of the two-hour event.