New Haven Family Court Judges Force Disabled Man To Be Homeless.

In the midst of a divorce, child custody, and support issues, a disabled man is being forced into homelessness by the New Haven Family court system.

Uriah Norman,  also known as Stizz, who is a physically disabled man, was forced by the Family court to take his name off the lease,  give up his Section 8 housing, and relinquish all rights to his apartment.

After adopting his wife’s daughter from a previous relationship, Mr. Norman applied for Section 8, and waited four years to be accepted, in order to provide a stable home for his family of 5.

Section 8 granted his application in 2012 based solely on his employment wages and his federal SSDI income. His wife, Joanne Norman, had no income to report. They moved into a newly constructed home in the Westville section of New Haven.

A year later, before the new lease was to be signed, Mr. Norman was informed by his wife that she felt the need to divorce and told him to leave.  Mr. Norman left his home to stay with a relative. After realizing there would be no reconciliation, he filed for divorce.

During the first divorce court hearing, both Mr. Norman and his wife represented themselves.

Judge Bernadette Conway presided in the matter.  Judge Conway allowed Joanne Norman to speak. Mrs. Norman deliberately told many untruths about abuse by her husband and other untrue allegations. When Mr. Norman would try to speak in his defense, Mrs. Norman would interrupt, and Judge Conway would silence Mr. Norman and allow Mrs. Norman to continue with the allegations. Upon hearing Mrs. Norman and without giving Mr. Norman a fair chance to defend the allegations, Judge Conway ordered Mr. Norman to sign his name off the lease, turn over his Section 8 Voucher to his wife, and relinquish all rights to his apartment. 

By the time of a third divorce hearing, Mr. Norman had legal representation.

Mr. Norman was ordered to pay weekly amounts of $50 for child support and was given  visitation 3 days a week.

Mr. Norman complied without remorse.

During the course of the divorce, Mr. Norman was offered a two bedroom apartment for $900 per month. Mr. Norman chose to accept the two bedroom apartment for the sake of having enough room for his children to visit comfortably.

Mr. Norman’s income of $811 from work related wages, and  $904.00 from Federal  SSDI income allowed him to manage the apartment, food, lights, and gas, which are essential for his children when they are at his home 3 days a week, sometimes four.   His other essential bills are child support , his telephone and internet access, transportation to work (he works in Old Saybrook) and clothing for the children.

More recently, after hiring an attorney, Mrs. Norman motioned the court to grant child support payments of $215 per week from Mr. Norman.

Mr. Norman opposed the motion due to minimum income stating that if $215 was granted, it would leave him no means to support his apartment to provide shelter and food for his children’s visits, and that if he was ordered to pay the amount Mrs. Norman demanded, it would force him into homelessness. 

On April 9, 2014, it was explained to Family Court  Judge, Linda Morgan, that the amount would be too excessive for Mr. Norman, due to the relinquishing of Mr. Norman’s Section 8 voucher, Mrs. Norman pays only $89 per month for rent and receives the total sum of $750 in food stamps. She also reported weekly work related income of $270 per week. ($1080 per month)  Mrs. Norman stated to the court that sometimes she has to add $80 to the $750 food stamp grant in order to have enough food for her, and her 4 young children.

The major dilemma Mr. Norman now faces is… He cannot pay $215 in child support without losing his shelter. If he does not pay, he will go to jail.

Mr. Norman, who has osteomotisis of the upper extremities, (short arms and minimal digits) is limited in the type of work that he can perform. He works part time as a customer service rep at a flower company. He's been employed there for five years.  

His current income profile is noted.  

The judge, Linda Morgan, who presided over the child support issue ordered Mr. Norman to pay $215 per week ( $ 860 per month ) for child support. Sometimes there are 5 weeks in a month. ( $1075 per month )

Mr. Norman receives  $904 for SSDI – and has take home pay from his part time employ of $411 every two weeks. ( $822 ) total monthly sum of $1726.

His rent is $900.00 per month.

After paying child support, Mr. Norman will have $866 to live on, and in the months where there are 5 weeks, $651 to live on ( which will not cover his rent, lights, gas, food and transportation to work).

The court also ordered visitation for 3 days of the week in which he will have to buy food, for the children.

If anyone can help it is greatly appreciated.   This is very excessive, especially for a disabled man who has always insured that his family was well provided for, gave his wife everything she ever asked for, and made every possible provision for his family. The Judge has not taken into account how inequitable this is.  The support orders do not take into account Mr. Norman’s situation.  Forcing a disabled man into homelessness should have been one of the priorities the Judge should have considered but failed to do so.  With the fire that the family courts have come under in recent months, the decisions are seriously perplexing.

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