Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. - Barack Obama
Where’s our change?
January 20, 2010 marks the one-year anniversary of the Obama Administration. He came to power through a powerful grassroots campaign movement. That movement – driven by hope and change – has foundered on business-as-usual politics in DC.
We do know that change can come quick, just look at the +700 billion in taxpayers’ dollars that bailed out Wall Street. What did those most in need get? $1.5 billion in Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing funds!
House Keys Not Handcuffs
What are the consequences of these priorities? 39.8 million people living below the poverty line (17 million people in “deep poverty”), a 26-year high unemployment rate, 46.3 million uninsured people, and 49 million people facing food insecurity. Homelessness is up 12 percent in cities across the country.
In response to this growing crisis, many local governments and business improvement districts have created programs that force growing numbers of poor people out of gentrifying or neglected neighborhoods and into jails.
From anti-homeless loitering, sitting, and sleeping laws to immigration checks at health programs and public schools to arrest histories in public housing and employment, we must stop this pattern of oppression and demand our human rights. It’s quite simple: organize or die!
We are the Change!
On January 19 and 20, 2010, communities from up and down the West Coast will converge in San Francisco to demonstrate our immense energy and BE THE CHANGE this administration needs to do what is right. Shoulder to shoulder we will take the necessary steps to win affordable housing and civil rights for everyone! For two days we will organize, dance, and grow the movement for social justice.
The rhetoric of change will no longer suffice. We demand a people’s bailout, given just as fast as what was given to the banks!
ON HOUSING
1) Immediately restore All Federal Government affordable housing program funding to comparable 1978 allocation levels. With an emphasis on HUD’s Public Housing and Project-based Sect 8, USDA new unit construction and the National Housing Trust Fund program.
2) Enact a moratorium on the demolition, conversion or destruction of ANY publicly funded units until federal law guarantees one for one replacement at existing affordability rates.
3) Ensure adequate funding for operations of public housing to prevent unit loss, high vacancy rates, and substandard living conditions.
ON CIVIL RIGHTS
1) Stop police and business improvement zone programs that enforce “nuisance” or “quality of life” crimes. These programs criminalize and remove homeless, poor, people of color, and disabled members of our communities.
2) Call for DOJ to respond to LA community request for investigation of discriminatory police enforcement under the Safer Cities Initiative that targets homeless, poor, people of color and disabled community residents.
3) Ensure that the more than 914,000 homeless children in our public schools are able to stay at their “home school,” are fully integrated with their housed peers, and are provided the support they need to learn and thrive.
4) Stop any and all questions regarding a person’s immigration status when they are requesting housing, healthcare, emergency shelter or services.
To endorse, donate, or volunteer at this action, contact Western Regional Advocacy Project:
415-621-2533
wrap@wraphome.org
www.wraphome.org
