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…That’s when Paul stepped forward with a concept paper for WRAP and said “let’s do this”.

November 30, 2015 by Jonathan Leave a Comment

boona cheema was the Executive Director for Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), where she served for 42 years, 38 as the Executive Director . She is currently on the Board of Directors of WRAP and Causa Justa/Just Cause, She has also served on the boards of Oxfam America, Seva Foundation, Food First, Eureka Communities and Encampment for Citizenship.

Tell us about the beginning of WRAP?5a8e22e4-507b-48d2-a26c-bf62995e7bd5

I had been part of California Homeless Coalition, and then California Homeless and Housing Coalition and then Housing California. Through that whole time many of us thought the voice of the constituency was weak. We did our share of direct action and then a few of us would do political action while folks were doing their policy work in Sacramento. In terms of having legitimacy, between BOSS, LA CAN and the San Francisco Coalition, there was a core group that felt all along that policy was not informed by the voice of the people who were most impacted. And we fought for that. Before WRAP we were identified as the rabble rousers, obstructionists, all kinds of names.

We started talking about that we needed to start something of our own. That’s when Paul stepped forward with a concept paper for WRAP and said “let’s do this”. We met for the first time as WRAP in the BOSS offices in 2005. The core members were first from Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, East Bay (Oakland and Berkeley) and Los Angeles. The commitment was so high and the work that’s been done in 10-years shows how much we have really accomplished. Not big headlines but slow and steady progress toward a particular goal. All done without losing integrity. WRAP always reflects and asks “is this in line with our core goals?” We’ve not wandered off because something else seemed easier to do or for any reason. People really hung in here. And slowly we have had big impact. The anti-criminalization work coming out of the DOJ and HUD would probably not have happened without WRAP’s research and hard work. The tiny window has opened.

Why is WRAP so important?

Taking it to the state level, doing the multi-state work is important. But in the long term, the impact shows itself in the “Without Housing handbook,” all the research and educational materials. This is very important. It changes the dialogue about poverty and homelessness. Letting the art show the work. We’ve captured through art what have been the toughest issues for our people. I don’t always agree with all the art but I agree with the practice. The people attracted to WRAP have a sense of sincerity. People have really gotten to know each other across the areas. Its expanded the community of who we are- revolutionaries, together. How else does one say it? We’ve committed our lives. Something better has to happen. Looking at these needs as rights is our strategy to both protect people and point out the violence of the system.

What would be different if WRAP did not exist?

Because WRAP exists the mainstream folks have had to pay attention to what WRAP is saying and had to be more aligned with that because it’s research-based. Without WRAP the “housing industry” would just keep doing what it’s doing and taking the money. WRAP has been a reminder that they do not represent the voice of the people. Now, in part because of WRAP, there are so many folks who are homeless and formerly homeless across the system. It is getting voiced. It may not be as authentic as it should be, but it’s happening and it’s creating real change because it’s powerful.

When you look to the future, what is your hope for WRAP for the next 10 years?

We haven’t yet really had the kind of victory that we are hoping. I do see that happening. I don’t know what state it will be. But the message we have and the information that housing is more important than wars, of course, just makes sense. If we stay with what we are committed to doing, it will happen. That’s just my belief system. Once you put something in motion that’s that powerful, once the dialogue is changing, then it will happen. We just have to stand strong and we also need to fight the “we will always have homeless people.” WRAP’s role is to keep people from being delusional. Just keep calling on the truths, calling out the delusion. It has to happen. And then we will have a really big party.

 

 

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Saturday AUGUST 27 — 9 am to 4pm Sunday AUGUST 2 Saturday AUGUST 27 — 9 am to 4pm
Sunday AUGUST 28 — 12:30pm to 4pm

Westminster Presbyterian Church
1300 N Street, Sacramento

https://wraphome.org/2022/08/02/sacramento-ca-advocates-community-summit-on-homelessness-august-27-28th/
California. (S)Care Court Hearing Tomorrow 8/3 Las California. (S)Care Court Hearing Tomorrow 8/3 Last Hearing before floor Vote
https://conta.cc/3vzRoWo
Part 11 ... California’s “anti-Okie” laws of Part 11 ...
California’s “anti-Okie” laws of the 1930s and the South’s Jim Crow laws in effect from the late 1800s to the 1950s are examples of the kinds of local laws overturned in previous generations. Yet, modern “quality of life” legislation and enforcement targeting homeless people can be found in communities across the nation.
The City Council postponed their vote on the 41.18 The City Council postponed their vote on the 41.18 expansion to August 2nd. If passed, this motion will add approximately 1,900 additional sites–a 376% increase in exclusionary zones across the city. 41.18 would then cover at least 88 sq miles (that’s 20% of the entire city).

Services Not Sweeps is urging EVERYONE to come to City Hall at 9:00am on August 2 and tell City Council that 41.18 is BAD POLICY and should be repealed.

When we fight, we win. 
But this fight isn’t over.

The community flooded City Hall inside and out on Wednesday to protest the expansion of 41.18 but the fight is not over. It’s clear that President Nury Martinez and friends weren’t prepared for our numbers and realized they were unable to rally their (few but loud) 41.18 supporters. Council delayed the vote to Tuesday August 2nd in an attempt to erode our momentum and stifle our voices. 
 
We won’t let that happen. The fight now is to keep the pressure on and show up next week!! See you next Tuesday 9am. Bring a friend.
 
WHO: You and your friends!
WHERE: City Hall, 200 N Spring St 
WHEN: Tuesday August 2nd at 9:00am
HOW: Read more details on our toolkit.
AGENDA ITEM 14 https://lacity.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=102513
Part 10... In fact, however, enforcement is very m Part 10...
In fact, however, enforcement is very much impacted by both skin color and appearance. Local governments cannot legally discriminate against people strictly because they do not have housing. Federal protections prohibit local and state governments from removing people from their communities due to the color of their skin or economic/employment status.
Part 9... This nationwide pattern has escaped Civi Part 9... This nationwide pattern has escaped Civil Rights protections because on their face, these programs are not clearly discriminatory. Local laws are often drafted in such a way as to appear to apply equally to all people in a community.
Part 8... While certain communities highlight diff Part 8...
While certain communities highlight different controls at different times, often depending upon the outcome of local elections and legislative and court efforts, all have one primary common goal: to remove the presence and resulting impact of people without housing from local communities. As the Mayor of Las Vegas stated when she outlawed feeding people in city parks: “If we stop feeding them, they will leave.”
Part 7... This type of ticket is not uncommon. The Part 7...
This type of ticket is not uncommon. The most common public space and activity restrictions are those aimed at camping, sitting, lying, or trespassing on either public or private land, panhandling, sleeping, blocking the sidewalk and possessing “stolen property,” such as shopping carts and milk crates—to name just a few. Furthermore, these restrictions are often implemented in conjunction with the closure of public parks and the outlawing of free food and clothing distribution.
SAVE THE DATE. Day of Action Against Care Court – Monday August 1. For more information: https://wraphome.org/2022/07/21/save-the-date-day-of-action-against-care-court-monday-august-1/
Part 6... According to the non-profit organization Part 6...
According to the non-profit organization Religious Witness with Homeless People, (RWHP) homeless individuals face anxiety, degradation, and frustration as a result of the aggressive enforcement of “quality of life” ordinances. This anxiety is expressed by one homeless individual in one of nearly 200 interviews 50 Case Studies Analysis conducted by RWHP: “You’re always on edge out here already because it’s dangerous. I can’t go to the cops now because they’ll probably just arrest me because of the (camping) tickets.”
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2 Aug 1554448737400983554

NEW EPISODE of Fixing Our City. Houston set out to end chronic homelessness. It cut its homeless population by more than half in a decade, according to PIT counts. This week's fix: how do San Francisco’s initiatives compare with Houston's success story?
http://www.sfchronicle.com/podcasts/article/Listen-Houston-s-homelessness-strategy-could-17343410.php

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6 Aug 1555712854959046661

Trust first - https://mailchi.mp/hospitalityhouse.org/trust-first “I had to build a rapport so they trusted me.” Read about Hospitality House's experimental approach to housing in The Frisc and the SF Chronicle podcast Fixing Our City.

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Moving SF’s Homeless to Permanent Homes Hasn’t Been Easy. One Nonprofit Tried Something New by Kristi Coale

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Moving SF‘s Homeless to Permanent Homes Hasn‘t Been Easy. One Nonprofit Tried Something New

Luck and a lot of work let a large cohort all move together. This ‘experiment‘ could spur other efforts...

thefrisc.com

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4 Aug 1555250996741189632

#Berkeley mayor cancels meeting which was to propose lifting the ban on tear-gas against protesters. https://twitter.com/JesseArreguin/status/1555243449040793605

Jesse Arreguin #GetVaccinated @JesseArreguin

@bedwardstiek I’m canceling the meeting. Our policy stands and shame on the Sheriff for threatening to not provide emergency support to Berkeley.

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4 Aug 1555249613858168832

URGENT: at 8:15 tonight Aug 4th Berkeley City Council plans to temporarily lift ban on chemical weapons such as teargas and pepper spray for the purpose of using them on People’s Park protestors.

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Where do we go Berkeley. URGENT - WRAP

URGENT: at 8:15 tonight Aug 4th Berkeley City Council plans to temporarily lift ban on chemical weapons such as ...

wraphome.org

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