homelessness | Enem Insights

**Empowering Women in Midtown Manhattan: The Mission of Bottomless Closet**

For over 25 years, Bottomless Closet has been a beacon of hope for New York City women striving to land their next job. Located in Midtown Manhattan, this organization does more than offer career advice and a new outfit—it creates a supportive sisterhood of women across the city who are committed to helping one another succeed.

For Executive Director Melissa Norden, Bottomless Closet’s mission is deeply personal. “Before I came here, I lost my job. I always found I was pretty confident, but having gone through that experience, it knocked me down pretty quickly,” Norden shared.

Bottomless Closet welcomes all women, regardless of the challenges they have faced. “People have gone through homelessness, substance abuse, prison. We’ve all faced something that’s led us to Bottomless Closet’s doorstep,” Norden explained.

The organization offers a comprehensive range of services, including styling sessions, mock interviews, and clothing donations—all designed to reignite a woman’s spark. But the clothes are more than just outfits; they serve as a powerful vehicle for confidence, helping women envision themselves thriving in the professional environments they aspire to join.

“It felt warm walking in, and everyone was so kind. You put the hard work in, you do the time, and now you get the paycheck,” said Kamari Tuitt, a Bottomless Closet client who landed a job after her very first visit.

Through personalized, one-on-one attention, Bottomless Closet equips women with the tools and resources they need to get back on their feet and succeed in their careers.

If you or someone you know could benefit from Bottomless Closet’s support, this remarkable community is ready to welcome you with open arms.
https://abc7.com/videoClip/bottomless-closet-clothes-women-unemployment/17966660/

Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has emphasized the need for a courageous and independent voice as she spoke at a conference promoting Irish unity. The left-wing independent addressed a Sinn Féin event in Dublin alongside the party’s leader, Mary Lou McDonald, discussing a united Ireland and the desire to stand together to shape a different republic.

Ms. McDonald, who previously announced Sinn Féin’s backing for Ms. Connolly, described the clinical psychologist from Galway as a formidable, fearless, and brilliant woman.

Ms. Connolly expressed her gratitude for the support, saying, “I want to say I really treasure that support, because for the first time in the history of Ireland, we’re coming together to unite for something that’s much bigger than ourselves, bigger than me, and bigger than the differences between parties. I stand here before you humbly to say we are at a crucial point in our history where we must decide to stand together.”

She spoke passionately about improving Ireland’s public services, highlighting issues such as homelessness and the environment. Backed by other opposition parties as well, Ms. Connolly added:

“I’m not going to list out all the things that horrify you, and I know it horrifies you. We have to place it on the record that none of this is inevitable, and so we must stand together against the narrative that tells us over 16,000 people homeless is collateral damage to a successful market strategy. That is completely unacceptable to all.”

She went on to thank the various parties and courageous individuals, including TDs and senators, who have supported her candidacy. “Not because they agree with everything I say, or indeed agree with everything you say or believe in, but because we believe in core values that we must express over and over as loudly as we can against that destructive narrative. That narrative has placed the price of everything and the value of nothing one day.”

Ms. Connolly concluded with a call for fundamental rights and accountability:

“We must have housing for all our people as a basic human right, not a market product. We must have a public health system that’s accessible to everybody. We must have an integrated public transport system, and we must recognise the existential threat posed by climate change—not by naming the poorest on the ground, but by recognising that the big polluters have never, never been brought to any sense of accountability.”
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/catherine-connolly-highlights-need-for-courageous-and-independent-voice-1811929.html