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National Press Advisory – Denver’s Right To Survive, Measure 300 ballot initiative

April 29, 2019 by Jonathan Leave a Comment

National Press Advisory – Denver’s Right To Survive, Measure 300 ballot initiative
April 27, 2019

Contacts:
Terese Howard, Denver Homeless Out Loud Co-founder, terese@denverhomelessoutloud.org;
(415) 517-5603. www.denverhomelessoutloud.org
Raffi Mecuri – Measure 300 Campaign Organizer, raffi.mercuri@gmail.com, (720) 755-3647.  www.denverrighttosurvive.org
National contact: Paul Boden, pboden@wraphome.org (415) 430-7358

Denver, Colorado:  Homeless people and their allies are taking their fight to the voters of Denver Colorado. Truly a first in the nation, Denver’s Measure 300, the Right to Survive Initiative, is before the voters of Denver and will be voted on this May 7th.If being homeless is not a crime, why are people with no homes being criminalized and having their belongings confiscated when they attempt to sleep?  Since homelessness first re-appeared in mass, during the early 1980’s, local governments have used police departments and city public work’s crews to remove homeless people from sight – and from the homeless person’s perspective, from their communities.
 
Denver Homeless Out Loud (DHOL) led a petition drive and collected almost 10,000 signatures, more than enough to ensure this important civil rights measure will be on the ballot and considered by the community. DHOL’s mission is to work with and for people who experience homelessness to help protect and advocate for dignity, rights, and choices for people experiencing homelessness.
 
While major corporate interest groups have raised a record breaking $1.5 million, $200,000 from the Downtown Denver Partnership, to defeat Measure 300, the outcome of the May 7th election is still too close to call. One poll undertaken by Denver business groups had a 56% approval for the initiative.

The right for people, housed and unhoused, to live free of Police harassment is a fundamental issue for all people. Thanks to groups such as DHOL and the Western Regional Advocacy Project (www.wraphome.org), as well as new research, investigative journalism and public records requests, an increasing number of the general public are learning about this rapidly growing and ubiquitous human rights issue as cities throughout the US criminalize unhoused neighbors for activities we all perform every day. Sitting, standing still and sleeping protected from the elements in a non-obstructive manner is at the forefront of today’s civil rights struggles.

Homeless people didn’t decimate federal funding for affordable housing, the Federal Government did.  And now, for the first time anywhere, the people of Denver Colorado have an opportunity to demand their city stop criminalizing unhoused neighbors for the fact that homelessness exists.

After 35 years of asking politicians for help and litigation in the courts to defend our rights, The Right To Survive Initiative – Measure 300, puts the issue front and center to the voters.
 

Filed Under: #right2rest, Homelessness, National Allies, Press Releases

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Nationally, evictions from public housing have sur Nationally, evictions from public housing have surged since late 2021, when the federal government lifted an eviction moratorium put in place to protect renters during the pandemic, according to Peter Hepburn, associate director of Princeton University’s Eviction Lab.  https://conta.cc/3WJco9B
WRAP members and allies always tell us the vital i WRAP members and allies always tell us the vital importance of feeling connected to each other- sharing stories from our own communities, learning from past campaigns, and having artwork that we can share (and wear!) that affirms the life-saving message that we are in this together - we are not alone! 
https://conta.cc/3Wfb5Pw
Join the Coalition On Homelessness San Francisco T Join the Coalition On Homelessness San Francisco Thursday May 11 at 12 noon steps of City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
We are thrilled to announce that yesterday the fin We are thrilled to announce that yesterday the final two Aloft residents, Juilo and Alberto who we asked for the community’s support in advocating for, got a commitment from the State for housing vouchers and the City agreed to bridge them in a hotel like everyone else!! This means that NO Aloft resident was kicked to the shelters or streets due to the closure!! This is a huge testament to what is possible when everyone comes together toward a housing goal and puts their resources toward housing! 
https://conta.cc/3LYOumD
Instagram post 17977559687207330 Instagram post 17977559687207330
Of course, in a time when the poor people are demo Of course, in a time when the poor people are demonized for being poor and homeless people are increasingly seen more as something to fear rather than human beings, it’s unfortunately not all that surprising.
https://conta.cc/3HxZpkV
https://conta.cc/3HwGcQq
We are thrilled to announce that yesterday the fin We are thrilled to announce that yesterday the final two Aloft residents, Juilo and Alberto who we asked for the community’s support in advocating for, got a commitment from the State for housing vouchers and the City agreed to bridge them in a hotel like everyone else!! This means that NO Aloft resident was kicked to the shelters or streets due to the closure!! This is a huge testament to what is possible when everyone comes together toward a housing goal and puts their resources toward housing! 
https://conta.cc/3HsVsOn
Unhoused people are most often prosecuted for "cri Unhoused people are most often prosecuted for "crimes of survival," like sitting, lying down, or sleeping in public space. In order to protect people from discriminatory enforcement of laws that were created deny people their right to exist where they happen to live The Right To Rest Act was created in 2015 and is still being fought for today!!!! 
The Right 2 Rest Act did not meet the threshold to be voted out of committee this term, but this informational hearing will ensure legislators know this bill is necessary to protect our human rights to public space! 
https://conta.cc/3KSclTn
Join us to discuss the specifics of the Right to R Join us to discuss the specifics of the Right to Rest Act, HB3501:  What it is, why we need it and how we make it happen in Oregon.  https://conta.cc/3ZOeMvA
WRAP Round Up & Job Announcement. Hello amazing en WRAP Round Up & Job Announcement.
Hello amazing endorsers and coalition members! First off, thank you for all of your enduring support for the Right to Rest Act. This legislative session is confusing and convoluted, and your faith in the positive impact of this bill makes the struggle worth it. 

We face numerous obstacles such as a delayed bill number and committee assignment, as well as losing a couple co-sponsors from 2021. However, Rep. Chaichi (Chief Sponsor) and Rep. Pham (Co-Sponsor) continue to move this bill forward and advocate on our behalf. 
https://conta.cc/3zl8SHO
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And the hits (sweeps) just keep on coming!!!

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Nationally, evictions from public housing have surged since late 2021, when the federal government lifted an eviction moratorium put in plac...
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