The Men of Atalissa | The New York Times 

Tamarama you put that well. I’m bitter for them too

@@thethrowawaythatstayed7055 You sure you're not just hungry

Nabari z starving AND bitter.

@@thethrowawaythatstayed7055 that sucks

I'm not bitter. I'm justifiably outraged.

Karma will have fun with Kenneth

People who take advantage of people with mental disabilities, are usually only slightly more intelligent than their victims.

He basically accused them of making up the whole thing. Incredible.

we live in a world where the worst is committed in the name of your well-being...

@MissGuided Me sure! $$$$$ !!

Jolene Switzer ...WOW, that’s wonderful! Big thanks to the individuals and YOU that helped them. Wish there were more caring and compassionate people on this planet. 😎✌🏾

Thank you.

Jolene Switzer thank you for helping them ❤️😊

Please do an AMA on Reddit!

Jolene Switzer thank you for personally assisting these special men with integrating into a community. They have finally been rescued from slavery and the business owners estates should have to pay the full amount these men earned over 20 years.

bois

that guy is actually STILL trying to make people believe the company did some service for these people by "training" them in something useful (jobs no one would want for reduced income). So many years making people believe they were the good guys when anyone could have offered these workers legitimate training for a better life based on choice and aptitude.

@@dacealksne sorry, men... just repeating what he continued to say.

How much in kickbacks do you think he was getting?

The bunkhouse has finally been demolished.

Aro O In the early 70's minimum wage in Calif. was only $1.25/hr.

Cary Ulmer but in Iowa in 2009 when they were rescued, the minimum wage was $7.25. Their income didn’t change.

@@delaneyryan6399 This still occurs. As a medical professional, I get transfers from group homes ALL the time. They are most definitely taken advantage of, neglected, mistreated etc. It's common in fact. There are hundreds of thousands of private group homes. They are in every community. You probably have at least 1 in ur community. They are just regular houses converted to take as MANY MR/DD people as it can. The staff hired does not need any type of certification or license. There are people whos ❤'s are in the right place caring for them and there bad people caring for them. There will always be a bad apple, but no regulation of staff lets ALOT of bad apples in!!! The caregivers take them to the grocery store, and hold the residents $. I have heard a caregiver in front of me at the store tell a resident to buy her a pack of ciggs and she would "pay them back ". I confronted her and as expected was yelled at and told i know nothing of caring for MR/DD people. I politely told her my credentials, wrote her lic plate # and contacted APS😉

That's assuming they work the standard work. I bet they worked lots of overtime. Lots

Yes thank you. I hope Mr. Henery has nothing but pain and suffering if he's still alive each an everyday

Ralph Livingston agreed

You didn't know him and either did they so don't talk unless you know

It’s the horrifying attitude that came out of the middle of last century. These men would possibly have been locked up in an institution with even worse conditions for the rest of their lives and probably died much younger. At the time Henry started the program it was a kindness he was doing. Sending in those caretakers and never keeping up with social or federal norms is ultimately what he did wrong. I’m not absolving him of any blame but he thinks he did right by them even though he is living with the partially finished retirement building he said he was building for them. I just hope that when he dies all his money goes to the men because it sounds like they will never recieve it while he is alive.

Gateaux Q it doesn’t matter when it started what things were like culturally... this was going on up until 2009. He deserves nothing more than $65/month for the rest of his life.

@@maddiepace4593 someones actions are usually a pretty clear indication of their character...

Texas has a very dark history.

Slave labor extracted from prisoners is legal.

That’s why the 13th amendment needs to be amended to abolish slavery

Do you realize you are breaking privacy laws by naming a client?

@@debbieomi You know, i was thinking about that before i posted, but then realized they name him in the documentary, name the company that he's with and just generally give all the same information here that would seemingly violate HIPAA. I had typed a more vague version but realized in this case it was pointless. Also, just to clarify, i no longer work with him, the non profit organization or that field of work. I appreciate the concern though. After the information shared in this documentary, the information that he enjoys his hobbies did not seem to constitute concern.

Why are you calling me

Gracias❤

Love your response!

I'm trying to give benefit of the doubt. They notice the emptiness and loneliness, because these boys became members of the community. This loneliness then forces them to recognize the terrible crime that brought these boys to Atalissa.

Thank you I was thinking the same thing

Solitude in their decaying town and recrimination is what they deserve in Atalissa. Watch the documentary again, look into their manners and eyes.

DoraLee Mercurio no no, they were bystanders he was the architect, you have every right to feel how you feel but I don’t think they deserve a 100th the ire he does.

I'm with DoraLee on this. Those "boys" were active members of the church, it should have been normal to drop by their place with cookies or some-such.

It seems like trouble easily starts when housing is also supplied by the employer. Seems like there is a lack of checks and balances in such situations.

@@Immorpher I hear HORRORS exist in Florida's migrant tomato farming, the migrants are brought here - and then the company makes a profit on every thing they supply them - withholding their pay to cover it - so it become pretty much free labor. going on today - its why I don't eat fake tomatoes out of season!

@@Immorpher Just like old coal mining towns where you were housed by the company and bought your food at the company store. Everything was the company. Eventually things like the Matewan shootout happen. Well, used to happen when men had spines.

@@spiritpath6177 for real

Obviously not comparable to the corruption and tragedies discussed in the video or comments.... But I live in a large for here (240 apartments) appartment complex thats considered the poor place in town. A year after I moved in it was bought by a large company with a pos owner, he's a multi millionaire through his investments. (No problem with his wealth) but the easy he treats the occupants and properties, all about money, we are $ signs to him not people. When I questioned an addendum to my lease for taking back initial agreements when I moved in under the previous owners. I was told "sign it or get out" of my home I have lived in for almost 10 years. Because I cant afford to get a lawyer and it would cost more anyways, I lose $400. I am unable to leave so easily. TRUST ME, I HAVE TRIED. Ot is a crap place to live, especially after the rent has increased over $500 since they bought it but my appartment. I have a 60 lb dog which is not approved of by many places, and the housing issues make it so rent is insane. Again does not compare to the hardships and atrocities others have gone through.

I'm a believer but do not celebrate holidays. Some don't

Exactly. Typical small town BS. Do the least and act like it's the most.

Work program was in Texas no?

Thank you for saying what I was thinking! Henry should be in prison but everyone in that town should feel very ashamed that they did nothing!

Less than 110,000 people have seen this documentary … community is becoming a foreign concept in the USA, our people are too immerse in themselves … if 3 people have their lives changed by listening to these gentle souls, then we have a triumph, we cannot expect much any longer.

Not to mention retirement homes and elder abuse in US as well. It’s horrifying, all of it.

It probably is considering that it's legal in almost every state to pay disabled people slave wages like they were paid 🤷‍♂️

Yup - current law allows employers to pay as little as $1 per hour, or less, to workers with disabilities if they can't perform a job as well as a person who is not disabled.

People in Texas are just plain stupid as they will always vote for republicans against their own self interests.

@@indigoesagain And employers will often do everything they can to make a case that a disabled employee can't work as well as an abled one.

@@mksabourinable of course!

@@latintrader Yep.

Shawna Varganyi Their not employees or boys. Modern day slaves and gentlemen!

Completely and utterly agreed and also make him do the work that these guys did

Beth, I agree. I find myself falling on the sides of employers during most labor disputes, but physically abusing mentally less abled individuals is one of the most disgusting behaviors that can be perpetrated.

Lebo leigh Leigh She was in support of these men.

Again and again we are reminded that morality is not derived from god.

@@joelonsdale Perfectly and succinctly stated. It’s a pathetic myth that you can only be moral if you are religious. It’s BS.

@Lebo leigh Leigh Instead of being self-righteous, how about you suggest something useful?

I agree. Turn over is extremely high in the industry. Working with develpmentally challenged people is incredibly difficult and it truly is a special person who can do it especially for many years.

Agreed. that’s why strict oversight is so important, a good situation can rapidly devolve into something ugly when no one is watching to make sure the rules are followed

FWAJR The argument was that it gives them purpose and the employers were helping them, and that's why they got the break, I think. Truth being that it's inhumane, and causes financial stress. I would love to work w these fellas.

I appreciate the nonprofits that pay workers with disabilities at least minimum wage.

As a former employee Of Goodwill and working as a direct care staff, people do not understand the extent of care/staff/documentation it takes to oversight their work. Many people with disabilities have one on one staff as well as a care taker. They receive a low wage, but they also have their health care and government funding to house them and take care of their needs. This particular story is very sad, but I wouldn’t lump Goodwill and other organizations into this category

The man that is the head of Goodwill makes an astronomical annual imcome. It is obscene! I do not donate to Goodwill or buy from them, and I have convinced others to follow suit. People have no idea and then when they are enlightened they are angered and stop benefitting Goodwill. Its shameful how Goodwill resells things donated to them, then treat their challenged employees like yesterdays trash.

m norton buswell In theory, it sounds great to just allow a person with disabilities to pick who they want to work with. In real life, it’s a lot more complicated. Extensive background checks have to be done to minimize sexual and physical abuse from people taking advantage of them. Goodwill has rules, regulations, and are required to make sure safety of each person is a top priority. Look at the statistics of abuse of disabled people. So while options maybe limited in who “helps” you, at least you can be comforted in the fact that the likelihood of abuse is decreased. Ps...rights are taken seriously and if a new caretaker is requested by the client or guardian, by law they must abide by the request.

Sounds like there were no outward signs. Have you checked on all the people in your neighborhood to see that no one is being abused?

There were signs. They chose to ignore them. These guys were not locked up in a cage, they were part of the community. They shopped in the stores, went to the churches. Why did no one ever wonder why they never had any money to spend considering they all knew they were working long hours? They all knew they were intellectually disabled, why didn't they question why their hygiene was so poor? The book goes into this extensively. They knew.

So true. The bunkhouse people were failed by their own congregation.

@Brenda Shaver Maybe you should live and work with them, talk to them, and read the actual book. They had money for chips or a soda, but nothing else and never had new clothes. Local people bought them second hand clothes. This was a local story for ya good while before the NY Times covered it.

@Brenda Shaver Sorry if I sounded harsh. But these guys really did deserve better and my son is developmentally disabled, and I could see how this could happen to him once I'm gone.

Sooo surprising how close im close to its right up the street from my house

Do remember what part? I think I have a feeling which one ur speaking of (Catonsville plant?)

Do you eat meat? because that's what meat supports.

Did you report what you saw heard smelled to anyone at anytime?

Where is this? Report it.

They didn't need help

Maddie Pace ...WTF??? Are you serious??? Please elaborate. We would love to find out your excuse and deflection of the disabled men being mistreated and mislead. 🤨

From West Liberty, even went to the Christmas parties there when I was a kid in the late 70s, early to mid 80s. What is largely missing from this video and report is an important fact: Reports of abuse, financial mismanagement, and other irregularities WERE REPORTED back then, beginning in the 70s, and constantly to the State of Iowa to the regulatory body charged with (and their employees' salaries paid for) watching over the situation of these men. Their constant, more than annual reports, were ignored. Terry Branstad was the governor. He received some campaign contributions from a Texas company. Don't let your emotions take over your ability to think, great thinkers and enlightened men and women of the East Coast. This was known by the agency up to the Governor, and nothing was done. Changes started with a change in administration and a change in the company's legal status when it went from "Louis Rich" to "West Liberty Foods" (a completely new organization with new ownership) around 2000-2010. WLF should be applauded for taking action and opening everything they could see from the records that remained as soon as they could. As for being incredulous that others in a town of less than 500 people wouldn't notice, you would need to know that the old schoolhouse is at the edge of town with a lot of space around it. Haven't there been stories of COUNTLESS criminals (enough to be an industry) holding women and children for human trafficking in CITIES, where after discovered, neighbors were shocked? It is the same reports of, "I had no idea." Why don't some of these people get the same understanding? Not the bad actors, but do you really think their pastor and congregation would allow this if they knew? Please, think rationally. Privacy is seen as a commodity in many places. It was a convergence of bad corporate actors causing tragedy and a husband and wife that acted without conscience as independent contractors for the Texas entity as the people on the ground in Iowa. Do you really think the people of this town would not have stood firm with a group of men they lived with, and many were Brothers in Christ, if they knew about their being financially and physically injured that severely? People from Atalissa did not make money off of this. People in Texas did. As for the term "boys", it started in the 70s when they arrived, where terms like "boys of summer" existed and, more to the point, many generations of a family living in a small area around here can lead to the term "the (insert family last name here) Boys" for the men in the family. Not pejorative. You would be one of the family boys in this area for a lifetime - it is a rural thing because it included the older men and male children, the norm for doing farm work back then. Not right or wrong - that's just how it was and still is. 99% of the people being called "boys" are white men under and around 40 or 45 years of age around here. I'm no apologist. Just adding facts responsibly. Look it up and investigate it yourself - you shouldn't believe everything you hear without doing your own investigation. But that would require time, whereas just a nasty comment on social media makes so many lost people satisfied. No one will read this, although factual, if it doesn't state that the viewpoint agrees with their preconceptions within the first two sentences. If you actually read this far, please either like it or dislike it - doesn't matter - but it will give reassurance that some people out there still have an attention span. Thank you to those - you will be our hope for the future.

@@renneedwards9826 don't worry Maddie is just trolling you. These people live to upset those on tree internet because and they're real life they lack the attention that they so desperately crave.

I live in atalissa and new the guy that suposbaly "abused" them

I knew about it because I have a son who used EPI services in Waterloo, where the men are now and some of them come to the center. The book, Boys in the Bunkhouse is excellent.

supposedly

Exactly. A big hole is missing in this story. Considering the state of the farmhouse, how could their clothes have clean?

Why does everyone ignore the whole "making it right" part of an apology?

@@avamasquerade he still claims they made it up...he has no shame or sympathy

There are enslaved people in a lot of places you wouldn't expect...even now today

@Me Too it is still crazy to realize the duration of it. They aren't wrong in their statement.

Nightbird it's been 3 years, u ready to see it now, pussyboy?

inability to stomach a sad story is precisely what allows them to happen.

phosda Shut up. You don’t know what Nightbird has to deal with. I was visiting Chicago and wanted to go to the Holocaust Museum, but I knew it wasn’t a good time, because I was having a bad time with my depression. I am not the type of person to turn a blind eye. When it comes to protecting people, there is never a time you can let it slide regardless of how you fell, but when it comes to watching a documentary of people whose situation I can’t change because it’s in the past, it my obligation to myself to put my mental health first. And you have no right to say anything about it.

Since I can remember, communities are made up of people that look and think like "us" … We are an "Equal, but Happily Separate" set of communities, in the USA. Voting is not enough … I have no answers, I just know we are more selfish and insulated from each other, until there is a holiday or major tragedy … remember, gaining lots of money is an addiction.

Donald Trump fits this description.

I gave it a thumbs down

Our communities have been made up of people that look and act like "us" … It is the way we have been for since I have memory … I have no answers how to change this mindset.

The mayor knew, as the idea was to replace the migrant workers that they no longer were getting to exploit so they needed a new group to exploit.

Uhg😡 I've worked in a few different group homes....I'm sure worse has happened than what you described. One of the group homes I worked a staff member had s*x with a very impaired resident & all she got was fired. Most of the homes I worked in where old,dirty and broken and nobody cared.😞 I couldn't stomach the way things where done so I can't work in that line of work anymore.

They just illustrate how average Americans can cruise through their lives insulated from the suffering of others.

Katherine Nelson why are YOU like that?

Since I can remember, communities are made up of people that look and think like "us" … We are an "Equal, but Happily Separate" set of communities, in the USA.

💅🏾

Yeah all after the fact they are involved. Broken promises lead to profit motivated nursing homes only to get their retirement benefits. Taken advantage of all their life. Now are in nursing homes. Institutions sheriffs government failed these residents working for Henry's. Probably gave money to politicians to look the other way, good old boy mentality.

Exactly . it rips my soul apart those poor souls . that town should burn alive in fire .

It was 44¢ an hour, $65 a month. Just as bad as Goodwill pays some of it's disabled contracted employees. smh

+perli beau The Salvation Army doesn't pay their people at all. But I've yet to hear them complain about it. They feed them well, give them a place to sleep and they give them nice clothes. I know the one in Chicago on Clyborn has several vacancies. I was told some guys leave because of things like not being allowed to have a cell phone right away, and they tend to go back. I do think I'd the goal is independence for them, then they should help them financially. Once they can get a job outside, I hear the rentals are about 800 a month, I seem to remember.

Michelle M​ The Salvation Army shelter in Tucson, AZ was very basic. I was lucky to even get in. They offered very little back in the late 1990's. It was a place to "sh*t, shower and sleep". They didn't have much to offer back then. I was lucky to get outta there quickly because I had a car, but I had to go to different agencies for gas help, clothes and toiletries. The only thing they helped with was a deposit on an unfurnished apartment and I was grateful. There are always waiting list here no matter the shelter, no matter the season. We have a large transient, homeless SMI and undocumented persons population in the AZ so many people in need of help. Tucson is a nice city, but it can be hard to make a living and our city government caters to retirees, UofA community and resort lifestyles. I wish the snowbird/retiree population wasn't so big, but they bring in money. Just don't like their bigoted attitudes or Midwest politics they constantly preach or try to put on the ballot. Truly hope Salvation Army and other orgs. help homeless and disadvantage better than when I was in need. Heaven help us all. 

Chuck Boris That’ll happen.

I've lived in atalissa my whole life

Everyone turns a blind eye until the story comes out. Then they all want to talk about how disgusted they are. Exactly like all the Hollywood actresses and actors in the me too scandal.

It was after the new caretakers took over that they would punish the men by withholding going to those places or doing things like watching tv. Some still got to go or do.