• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
WRAP

WRAP

Western Regional Advocacy Project

  • Donate Now
  • Get Email Updates
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About
    • 40 Years of Fighting
    • History
    • Mission
    • Strategy
    • Members
    • Board / Staff
  • Campaigns
    • Business Improvement Districts
    • House Keys Not Sweeps
    • Homeless Bill of Rights
    • Oregon Right To Rest
    • Without Housing
    • Street Outreach
  • Organizing Tools
    • Without Housing Organizing Toolkit
    • Homeless Bill of Rights Campaign Manual
    • WRAP Organizers Manual
    • WRAP Artwork
  • Resources
    • Art in Action Power Point Slide Show
    • Hobos to Street People
    • House Keys Book
    • Political Education
    • Legal Research
  • Media
    • Newsletters
    • Blog
    • Hobos to Street People Art Show
    • Street Newspapers
    • Sweeps Gallery Videos
    • Videos
  • Support Us
    • Donate
    • Become a Monthly Sustainer
    • Volunteer
    • Support WRAP
    • WRAP Newsletters & Updates Sign Up

Jackie Jenks


1. How did you meet Paul and get acquainted with WRAP?

I met Paul during his days at the Coalition on Homelessness, when I was a young and impressionable newbie at Hospitality House. Paul’s journey had started at Hospitality House, first as a shelter resident and then as a shelter worker back when modern-day homelessness as we know it was just beginning. I believe the Coalition – and then WRAP – were born out of his experiences at the House and his determination to fight the systems that he knew were broken. If only the powers-that-be in DC would have listened to Paul, Joe Wilson, and their contemporaries back in the 80s, we wouldn’t be in the seemingly intractable mess we’re in today.

2. 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?

I believe Paul’s lived experiences and kickass leadership at Hospitality House and the Coalition on Homelessness compelled and prepared him to lead the nationally-focused advocacy and policy work of WRAP. Paul has never, ever forgotten where he came from and what his experiences were living on the streets, and he since then has essentially watched the federal government fail time and time again to listen to the people who know what it takes to end homelessness. He somehow never gives up. He never says “fuck this, I’m out.” (Well, he does say “fuck” quite a lot – like every other sentence – but he never says the “I’m out” part 🙂

WRAP is the only nationally-focused collaborative organization I know of that is advocating for homelessness policies that come directly from people experiencing homelessness. It focuses not only on the need for real housing as a solution, but also on calling out the criminalization of people experiencing homelessness that is plaguing our communities. WRAP brings together powerful, dynamic people; centers people most impacted by the problems we are facing; and advocates for bold solutions in the face of relentless roadblocks and power grabs. WRAP and its member organizations have the trust of community and people experiencing homelessness over the long haul, and that is something to be incredibly proud of an energize by.

3. 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?

Do I want to send a love message to Paul? Absolutely, I do!

To my mentor and friend Paul Boden:

When I recently did the math, I realized that I met you about 13 years into your work with Hospitality House and then the Coalition. This was a bit surprising. At the time, it seemed to me you had been doing it forever. You were one of the first people I met in San Francisco who was a do or die advocate. You had lived it, and you were not messing around. The first time I met you was when you were a guest speaker at a Hospitality House all-staff meeting. You had just come from an all-nighter at Golden Gate Park, where the mayor had ordered sweeps. You were tired from being up all night, had on a rad sweatshirt (that was kind of dirty), and you swore like a sailor. I had never experienced a guest speaker quite like you before! You had real truths to tell, and you were going to tell them, for fuck’s sake! I knew then that Hospitality House was the real deal — if I was ever meant to do anything meaningful in this work, this was where it was going to be. And I was going to be held to the highest accountability while doing it.

Little did I know how hard that would be. I met you in 1995, and the next 22 years would prove to be a test of my commitment and fortitude.

I have had Paul Boden on my shoulder whispering in my ear for 27 years and counting and am all the better for it.

Love you big, Paul!

Jackie

Footer

Instagram Feed

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
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Facebook Icon

Facebook Feed

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
Link thumbnail

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
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Twitter Icon

Twitter Feed

Unable to load Tweets

Follow

YouTube icon

Youtube Code

Our Channel

Copyright © 2023 Western Regional Advocacy Project WRAP · Log in