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WRAP

Western Regional Advocacy Project

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Becky Dennison

Becky Dennison

How did you meet Paul and get to know WRAP?/Why did LA CAN join WRAP?

I met Paul at a conference in Ventura. I can’t remember the conference, but I remember we were sitting on our patio at the hotel, and he was downloading his full vision for WRAP. Pitching LA CAN as a founding member. It was a no brainer for us. LA CAN was still relatively new at the time, but Pete and Paul had worked together for a long time. And when you work with Paul, he builds your trust – I don’t think there’s ever been one trust issue between WRAP and LA CAN, which is kind of unheard of in a 15 year partnership. But it was a no brainer because of WHO would be doing the work and the criteria for membership. LA CAN was founded on those principles, and remains the only organization in LA that is a membership organization primarily of unhoused and formerly unhoused people. Others have stepped up and in in some similar ways, but not in decision making, sustaining an organization, collective approach, etc. And then the unapologetic focus on housekeys not handcuffs, in all its slogans and forms, was key. Not enough people or orgs were doing that – still aren’t, but it was far worse then.

What in your opinion is the role/expertise WRAP plays in this moment after 40 years of modern-day houselessness and growing criminalization – but also the growing movement of radical organizations and people’s movements fighting for the world we want?

This one is hard to pin down for me. The expertise that WRAP brings is the critical combination of lived experience, data/research, and direct action that fuels movements and makes fundamental change. WRAP also brought groups together, and helped develop emerging groups, that otherwise could have been isolated in their regions and therefore less effective. Although not all LA organizations involved in the growing radical movement would meet WRAP member requirements, they have local orgs to connect with, by led by, and bring additional resources into the work. WRAP changed the conversation deeply through Without Housing – and gradually the charity viewpoint that homelessness was about individual choices and/or conditions changed. I mean, the bummer about the 40 years of work is that we don’t have nearly enough wins – but through Paul and WRAP members, we have far better defined the real solutions, systemic change needed to end homelessness and drug the mainstream our way at least a bit. And challenged, every day, the punitive, racist, inhumane criminalization and forced displacement efforts to erase people. Without that challenge, we know it would be much worse for people. And we will win. When, we don’t know – but that’s what’s core to WRAP also – we are in it, we aren’t accepting the status quo, we are going to be part of this huge, revolutionary win – even though we know it’s not now.

Paul has also been doing this for 40 years – Want to send a love message to Paul – about his impact on your work – and/or about his impact overall?

Paul is incredible. He talks the talk and walks the walk – without fail, without compromise, without traditional accolades or acknowledgment. And he leads with love – not just in concept, but in reality. He loves his colleagues and cares about the whole WRAP family in ways that I could never sustain – because it takes a lot out of you to give like that. He’s a brilliant, funny, hard-core, committed person, organizer, and activist. And it’s fun to smoke cigarettes and drink Bud with him too – work hard/play hard balance may be one of his superpowers.

Becky Dennison

Dennison began her tenure as Executive Director with Venice Community Housing in January of 2016. She has over 25 years of experience in non-profit management, organizational development, housing development, community organizing and housing policy to VCH. Prior to joining VCH, Becky was the Co-Executive Director of the Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA CAN) where she worked alongside low-income and homeless leaders in Downtown and South Los Angeles to promote social and racial justice through community organizing, civic participation, and public policy development. She held prior positions in other homeless services and advocacy organizations, and is a guest lecturer and instructor at numerous colleges and universities on topics such as housing policy, criminalization of poverty, and equitable development. Since her arrival at VCH, the organization has expanded its housing portfolio in operations from 196 to 280 units, and has an additional 300+ units in varying stages of the development pipeline. Both Venice Community Housing and LA CAN have been active in the fight for the human right to housing, as well as vehement opposition to criminalization and forced displacement of unhoused residents.

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FOR MORE INFORMARTION VISIT US AT: http://wraphome FOR MORE INFORMARTION VISIT US AT: http://wraphome.org/developmentdirector
WRAP is hiring a full-time Development Director with at least 2 years of non-profit fundraising management experience. WRAP supports our core members, allies, and others by providing organizing tools and research for each to use in their campaigns fighting the criminalization of houselessness and for affordable housing. We are helping to build a regional /national movement �together and strengthen �connections of WRAP’s priorities with broader anti- racism, classism, neo-liberal capitalism, and criminalization campaigns.
Register here tinyurl.com/Mumia-film for Thursday Register here tinyurl.com/Mumia-film for Thursday night’s online screening of this moving, informative, personal, important, and artfully-made film. Cast includes Cornel West, Angela Davis, Dick Gregory, Alice Walker, Ruben ‘Hurricane’ Carter, and Amy Goodman.
Forty years ago, the federal government slashed af Forty years ago, the federal government slashed affordable housing budgets of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), marking the beginning of the contemporary crisis of homelessness. https://conta.cc/3k4mDpA
Theatre of the POOR presents CRUSHING WHEELCHAIRS Theatre of the POOR presents CRUSHING WHEELCHAIRS 
Sunday 2/12/23 4pm San Francisco 2948 16th St.
Sunday 2/26/23 4pm Oakland 1540 Broadway 
For more information poormag@gmail.com
One of the questions we asked people we love about One of the questions we asked people we love about this continuing forty-year process of addressing the root causes of homelessness in America was recognizing that our comrade Paul has also been fighting this neoliberal bullshit for forty years. In earlier emails people spoke about the importance of WRAP. Here is what some of our friends had to say about Paul’s role over the last forty years. https://conta.cc/3vbUnUx
Next Thursday, the 22nd, at 11am we are having a p Next Thursday, the 22nd, at 11am we are having a press conference as the preliminary hearings begin and need all our allies to show up and call for justice! https://conta.cc/3FyNtgH
A lot of work done addressing oppressions across t A lot of work done addressing oppressions across the country takes place in courtrooms and legislative bodies. This work is not always successful due to the fact that the oppressors are the ones making the laws. But we know you can’t fight a system if you don’t know the ins and outs of how that system works.  https://conta.cc/3VQrVDl
Join the next Public Works Committee Meeting to re Join the next Public Works Committee Meeting to reject the “safe work zone” ordinance that aims to further criminalize unhoused people and their advocates during sweeps.
Monday, 12/12 at 10:30am
bit.ly/oakmtg-1212
Let's Celebrate Chucho Let's Celebrate Chucho
We are raising $40,000 for WRAP’s vital work at We are raising $40,000 for WRAP’s vital work at this 40-year mark, and all donations will be matched up to $20,000 in November and December! Contribute $40, $400, $4,000 to help make sure that mass homelessness is not around another 40 years. https://conta.cc/3VAWHQ8
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Some Push Back Against Tiny Homes for Homeless People Site in San Jose

www.nbcbayarea.com

California plans to build 1,200 small homes across the state to help house homeless people, but that has some people in San Jose pushing bac...
4 days ago
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