Activist to Spend Week Homeless in Grand Central Terminal

Activist to Spend Week Homeless in Grand Central Terminal

August 5, 2011 8:05am | By Jill Colvin, DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

click to see all pictures (5 photos)

Yusef Ramelize will spend a week living in and around Grand Central Terminal to raise money and awareness. (Courtesy of Yusef Ramelize)

MIDTOWN — A graphic designer plans to spend a week living and sleeping in and around Grand Central Terminal in a bid to raise money and awareness about homelessness in the city.

Queens resident Yusef Ramelize, 34, plans to move into the landmark building around the corner from his office on Aug 21. for a seven-day stay in what he has dubbed his annual "Homeless for One Week” campaign.

The idea began to be formed three years ago when Ramelize spent a week living in the subway system and sleeping on trains during a winter freeze.

“With the recession, I just felt like homelessness in New York City was growing and there were so many misconceptions about them,” said Ramelize this week, sitting in the building that he’ll soon be calling home.

With so many big corporations cutting back on their non-profit giving, he said the role for private citizens had also grown.

“It’s kind of our turn to step up," he said.

Read more: http://www.dnainfo.com/20110805/midtown/activist-spend-week-homeless-grand-central-terminal?utm_content=blackcotton212%40gmail.com&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Activist%20to%20Spend%20Week%20Homeless%20in%20Grand%20Central%20Terminal&utm_campaign=NYPD%20Owes%20%241M%20in%20Unpaid%20Tickets%20%E2%80%94%20And%20Can%27t%20Register%20Scofflaw%20Carscontent#ixzz1UBtc4jmZ