We've just received word from multiple sources that the the police have "swept" homeless residents from another location in Vallejo. Many of these residents were already displaced from the homeless sweep earlier this month in the White Slough, and sought to find some form of refuge at this location.
We're awaiting confirmation and further details but again, all indications seem to point to another senseless homeless sweep in Vallejo. And we truly believe WE as a city are ALL responsible for this.
Please pray for our further displaced homeless residents who have no safe or warm place to lay their heads. Please email ServeOurVallejoHomeless@gmail.com if you want to be a part of the CHANGE.
Peace and Godspeed!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Governator to coordinate with Johnson, Sacramento
"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, left, and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson hold a news conference Wednesday outside the winter shelter at Cal Expo. Schwarzenegger said the mayor approached him at an event, and "that very same day we went out to the tent city."-Photo by BRIAN BAER/mailto:BAER/bbaer@sacbee.com
"The governor said he will try to find state money and suggested he would provide assistance for other cities struggling with chronic homeless problems." (SF Chronicle article linked below)
Good reads. Commendable that both the city mayor and state governor are working address short-term needs of "tent city" in Sacramento through temporary accommodations. But the question still remains of how communities (or a nation) can meaningfully alter systems and configurations that have led to such a moral and societal failure. It is, however, encouraging that some leaders and policymakers can publicly agree that WE CANNOT allow circumstances like of "tent city" to continue without a compassionate, coordinate, and sustainable response from ALL
of us.
=======================
Schwarzenegger, Johnson partner to address homeless issues
By Loretta Kalb lkalb@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2009 - 12:20 pm Last Modified: Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2009 - 5:30 pm
By Loretta Kalb lkalb@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2009 - 12:20 pm Last Modified: Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2009 - 5:30 pm
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson said today they are working together to address short-term public health and safety issues and long-term solutions for the city's growing homeless population.
"We cannot look away and pretend this is not happening. It is happening, and we must take action," Schwarzenegger said in a joint press conference at Cal Expo.
"We must do all we can to do right by these people, who are living in these difficult times."
Johnson said, with the governor's help, 50 new beds will be available at the winter shelter at Cal Expo. The operation, managed by Volunteers of American, will stay open until July 1.
Near Loaves and Fishes, 500 bins will be available for personal belongings and kennels for 20 pets.
Johnson and Schwarzenegger vowed to do address longstanding problems of homelessness.
"This was a problem when I came into office. I said we are not going to ignore it any longer," Johnson said. "The city has swept this under the rug, ignored it. We are no longer going to accept that in the city of Sacramento."
The governor said Johnson approached him at an event, saying "one more thing." That led to a breakfast meeting to talk about homelessness, and a tour of Sacramento's tent city encampment that same day.
Schwarzenegger said the campers didn't have drinking water, toilets or wash water. "People in America for years have tried to find answers" for dealing with this issue, he said. "Nobody has found the sweet spot."
Johnson said homeless people should be treated with dignity and compassion. He praised the combined efforts of government, business, nonprofit and homeless advocates in developing a program in two weeks, culminating in a unanimous City Council vote Tuesday night on a $1 million homeless program.
It will provide 150 additional beds in Sacramento as a first step in easing the plight of the homeless, whose numbers have been growing with the downturn in the economy.
The city allocated $880,000 in city and redevelopment agency funds for the program, which includes other area shelters and plans for long-term housing. Sacramento County may agree to provide another $150,000 early next month.
The program will enable closure of a tent city along the American River, which gained wide prominence when Oprah Winfrey featured it on her television show.
A county survey last year found 2,700 people are homeless in the county, including 1,200 who are living on the streets.
Call The Bee's Loretta Kalb, (916) 321-1073.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Washington state in the news
Empowered by a generous sum from the Gates Foundation, the entire state of Washington is ramping up its homelessness prevention and exit efforts. Their homeless advocacy has taken them to greater heights.
================================
Gates Foundation Commits Up to $60 Million to Address Homelessness in Washington State
The Washington Families Fund, a public-private partnership led by anti-homelessness nonprofit Building Changes, has announced a commitment of up to $60 million over the next ten years from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for an initiative designed to help end homelessness among families in the state.
As part of the initiative, the state of Washington; King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties; the cities of Seattle, Everett, and Tacoma; and several philanthropic and corporate partners have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in which they pledge to redouble their efforts to minimize shelter stays and provide critical ongoing support services for homeless families with children and families on the brink of homelessness. The signatories also agreed to streamline funding for family homelessness programs so that current resources can be used more efficiently and effectively while they tap new resources to address what is a growing problem.
The partners will employ five proven principles to guide future family homelessness investments: early intervention and homelessness prevention; coordinating access to support services; rapidly re-housing families; providing services tailored to meet each family's individual needs; and increasing economic opportunity through education and workforce services. Beginning this year, pilot projects will be launched in King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties. Lessons learned in those counties will be applied across communities statewide, with the goal of reducing homelessness among families with children by 50 percent in the next decade.
Other partners in the initiative include Boeing, Microsoft, the United Way of King County, the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, and the Ben B. Cheney Foundation.
"It saddens me that families with children make up nearly half of our state's homeless population. And unfortunately, the economic crisis may push even more families with children into homelessness," said Washington governor Christine Gregoire. "We must do more as a community to help families achieve and maintain stability. This Memorandum of Understanding is an important step at a critical time."
===================
"This short video is about the many reasons behind homelessness and focuses on the life of Tomey Smith. This video was produced for Building Changes by Linas Phillips and contains excerpts from his film, Great Speeches From A Dying World."
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The loss of a homeless resident
Tragically, one of our homeless residents passed away this week. Even more reason to work together for a better configuration. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family and friends.
===================
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/news/ci_11931180
Car hits, kills man with cart on dark street
Times-Herald staff report
Posted: 03/17/2009 02:02:22 AM PDT
A 49-year-old Vallejo man pushing a shopping cart was struck and killed by a car on Sonoma Boulevard early Monday morning, police said.
The man's identity has not been released as the Solano County Coroner's Office tried to contact his relatives, said Vallejo Police Department spokes-man Abel Tenorio.
It was Vallejo's first pedestrian fatality of the year.
The man, who police believe may have been homeless, was hit at 1:14 a.m. by a woman who was driving an older model BMW south on Sonoma, Tenorio said.
"A preliminary investigation indicates the driver doesn't appear to be in violation of any laws," Tenorio said. "It just seems the individual was trying to cross the roadway in the dark."
The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The accident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Vallejo Officer Justin Farrington at (707) 648-4329.
===================
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/news/ci_11931180
Car hits, kills man with cart on dark street
Times-Herald staff report
Posted: 03/17/2009 02:02:22 AM PDT
A 49-year-old Vallejo man pushing a shopping cart was struck and killed by a car on Sonoma Boulevard early Monday morning, police said.
The man's identity has not been released as the Solano County Coroner's Office tried to contact his relatives, said Vallejo Police Department spokes-man Abel Tenorio.
It was Vallejo's first pedestrian fatality of the year.
The man, who police believe may have been homeless, was hit at 1:14 a.m. by a woman who was driving an older model BMW south on Sonoma, Tenorio said.
"A preliminary investigation indicates the driver doesn't appear to be in violation of any laws," Tenorio said. "It just seems the individual was trying to cross the roadway in the dark."
The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The accident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Vallejo Officer Justin Farrington at (707) 648-4329.
"Tent City" in Sacramento
Not to detract from the seriousness of what's going on in Vallejo, but homelessless is burgeoning across the nation, especially in Sacramento where some say conditions are begin to mirror that of the Great Depression.
Email Us
Sorry for any lag on updates. We're still diligetly working to spread awareness, get people on board, and research strategies.
You can always email us at serveourvallejohomeless@gmail.com if you have questions, comments, or concerns.
Peace and Godspeed!
You can always email us at serveourvallejohomeless@gmail.com if you have questions, comments, or concerns.
Peace and Godspeed!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Resources and Models
Resources:
National Alliance to End Homelessness
http://www.endhomelessness.org/
National Coalition for the Homeless
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/
National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
http://www.nlchp.org/
National Resource Center on Homelessness
http://www.nrchmi.samhsa.gov/Default.aspx
http://www.hud.gov/homeless/index.cfm
The National Homeless Underground
http://homelessundergound.org/
Homeless Empowerment Organization
http://www.homelessunion.org/
Potential Models:
San Francisco Homeless Services Coalition
http://www.sfhsc.org/
Coalition on Homelessness, San Francisco
http://www.cohsf.org/eng/
Los Angeles Homeless Services Coalition
http://www.lahsc.org/
Sonoma County Task Force For the Homeless
http://www.sonomacountyhomeless.org/
San Diego Regional Task Force on the Homeless
http://www.rtfhsd.org/
Seattle/King County Coalition for the Homeless
http://www.homelessinfo.org/
Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless
http://www.mnhomelesscoalition.org/
Florida Coalition on the Homeless
http://www.fchonline.org/
Metro Atlanta Task Force For The Homeless
http://www.homelesstaskforce.org/
Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida
http://www.centralfloridahomeless.org/
Chattanooga Homeless Coalition
http://www.homelesscoalition.org/
Coalition for the Homeless (NYC)
http://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/
National Alliance to End Homelessness
http://www.endhomelessness.org/
National Coalition for the Homeless
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/
National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
http://www.nlchp.org/
National Resource Center on Homelessness
http://www.nrchmi.samhsa.gov/Default.aspx
- Best Practices: http://www.nrchmi.samhsa.gov/Channel/View.aspx?id=17
http://www.hud.gov/homeless/index.cfm
The National Homeless Underground
http://homelessundergound.org/
Homeless Empowerment Organization
http://www.homelessunion.org/
Potential Models:
San Francisco Homeless Services Coalition
http://www.sfhsc.org/
Coalition on Homelessness, San Francisco
http://www.cohsf.org/eng/
Los Angeles Homeless Services Coalition
http://www.lahsc.org/
Sonoma County Task Force For the Homeless
http://www.sonomacountyhomeless.org/
San Diego Regional Task Force on the Homeless
http://www.rtfhsd.org/
Seattle/King County Coalition for the Homeless
http://www.homelessinfo.org/
Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless
http://www.mnhomelesscoalition.org/
Florida Coalition on the Homeless
http://www.fchonline.org/
Metro Atlanta Task Force For The Homeless
http://www.homelesstaskforce.org/
Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida
http://www.centralfloridahomeless.org/
Chattanooga Homeless Coalition
http://www.homelesscoalition.org/
Coalition for the Homeless (NYC)
http://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
KQED Audio Forum
VERY INTRIGUING audio clip from KQED Radio this morning on homelessness. The issue is undoubtedly garnering national attention. The latter half of the clip has an insightful panel discussion with several experts and advocates. Prior to that, and more notably, Kevin Johnson, Mayor of Sacramento and former NBA star, shares about Sacramento's refreshing but challenging plans on dealing with homelessness not just in the city, but in the region. Like we've been saying, there are already models, either already in practice or are in process, in various cities and regions in the country that are leading the way to adequately address homelessness. We would only have to keep the wheel rolling.
"Homeless Families
A new report by The National Center on Family Homelessness says that one in 50 children in the U.S. will experience homelessness. In Sacramento, a growing number of people are living in tents along the American River. We talk with advocates about the growing number of homeless families."
"Homeless Families
A new report by The National Center on Family Homelessness says that one in 50 children in the U.S. will experience homelessness. In Sacramento, a growing number of people are living in tents along the American River. We talk with advocates about the growing number of homeless families."
Videos On Homelessness
Just sharing some video content we came across to add to the conversation.
Public Service Announcement from the Homeless Coalition of Tampa:
From May 2008, when then Sacramento mayor, Heather Fargo, and current mayor, Kevin Johnson, discuss cleaning up downtown Sacramento and improving the homeless situation. The two candidates faced off during a KCRA 3 debate.
Public Service Announcement from the Homeless Coalition of Tampa:
From May 2008, when then Sacramento mayor, Heather Fargo, and current mayor, Kevin Johnson, discuss cleaning up downtown Sacramento and improving the homeless situation. The two candidates faced off during a KCRA 3 debate.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Times Article: Homeless leave White Slough encampment; some vow to return
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/news/ci_11859721
============================
Homeless leave White Slough encampment; some vow to return
By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen/Times-Herald staff writer
Posted: 03/07/2009 01:01:34 AM PST
Chiqui, 51, looks at his home as packs up his belongings at the homeless encampment near White Slough. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)
The homeless of White Slough -- the few remaining after Friday's deadline to vacate the area -- have been granted a temporary reprieve, police and some homeless individuals said.
Most of the nearly 50 squatters living -- some for years -- along the water behind Vallejo's Carl's Jr. and Smart & Final, had already left by Friday afternoon.
One of those was Chiqui, a 51-year-old former bus driver who said he's lived in the homeless encampment for about seven months. Chiqui, who declined to provide his last name, said he feared he was going to jail when he saw police in the encampment Friday.
"I told them, 'I'm packing up, I'm leaving, officers, don't worry,' but they said not to be afraid, they weren't there to take me to jail," he said.
Last week, police distributed fliers warning the homeless living along White Slough to be out by Friday, or face arrest. But despite that notice, police would not force them to leave Friday, Vallejo Police Department spokesman Lt. Lee Horton said.
But, "the time has expired as of (Friday) and enforcement will be forthcoming if the problem is not resolved in a timely manner," Horton said.
Another White Slough resident said he planned to "lay low while they do their thing, and then come back," though that likely will be made more difficult by the new fence that workers were installing Friday.
Most of the homeless who had already left the area did so unhappily, while some understood the reasoning, Vallejo environmentalist and homeless advocate Doug Darling said.
"One or two went to stay with family members temporarily, but others have nowhere to go and are looking for some place to pitch a tent," he said.
Chiqui is like that. He said he lost his license to drive handicapped children because he couldn't afford the $1,000 renewal fee, couldn't find a job and was evicted. He has no family, he said.
"I have no place to go. I'll probably live in the street," he said. "I have no record, I'm a good citizen."
Randy Spering, who owns a building abutting the White Slough encampment, said he's sympathetic to the plight of the homeless. But his property has suffered copper thefts, public urination and most recently, some threatening graffiti, which he said he attributes to the homeless.
"It says stuff like 'your building is next,' and 'F the owner' and 'F the police,' " he said. "If you had a homeless encampment behind your house, would you like it?"
But Darling and Mark Mora, who identified himself as "an ordinary citizen," said they're sympathetic to all sides of the issue and are forming a coalition of concerned community members to address the root causes of homelessness.
"We need to stop scapegoating and trying to do quick fixes. It's in the best interest of the city, and the homeless folks, to really address the issue," Mora said. "It's just unjust to make them pick up and go, to become somebody else's problem."
Contact the coalition at ServeOurVallejoHomeless.blogspot.com or at serveourvallejohomeless@gmail.com.
Contact staff writer Rachel Raskin-Zrihen at (707) 553-6824 or RachelZ@thnewsnet.com
============================
Homeless leave White Slough encampment; some vow to return
By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen/Times-Herald staff writer
Posted: 03/07/2009 01:01:34 AM PST
Chiqui, 51, looks at his home as packs up his belongings at the homeless encampment near White Slough. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)
The homeless of White Slough -- the few remaining after Friday's deadline to vacate the area -- have been granted a temporary reprieve, police and some homeless individuals said.
Most of the nearly 50 squatters living -- some for years -- along the water behind Vallejo's Carl's Jr. and Smart & Final, had already left by Friday afternoon.
One of those was Chiqui, a 51-year-old former bus driver who said he's lived in the homeless encampment for about seven months. Chiqui, who declined to provide his last name, said he feared he was going to jail when he saw police in the encampment Friday.
"I told them, 'I'm packing up, I'm leaving, officers, don't worry,' but they said not to be afraid, they weren't there to take me to jail," he said.
Last week, police distributed fliers warning the homeless living along White Slough to be out by Friday, or face arrest. But despite that notice, police would not force them to leave Friday, Vallejo Police Department spokesman Lt. Lee Horton said.
But, "the time has expired as of (Friday) and enforcement will be forthcoming if the problem is not resolved in a timely manner," Horton said.
Another White Slough resident said he planned to "lay low while they do their thing, and then come back," though that likely will be made more difficult by the new fence that workers were installing Friday.
Most of the homeless who had already left the area did so unhappily, while some understood the reasoning, Vallejo environmentalist and homeless advocate Doug Darling said.
"One or two went to stay with family members temporarily, but others have nowhere to go and are looking for some place to pitch a tent," he said.
Chiqui is like that. He said he lost his license to drive handicapped children because he couldn't afford the $1,000 renewal fee, couldn't find a job and was evicted. He has no family, he said.
"I have no place to go. I'll probably live in the street," he said. "I have no record, I'm a good citizen."
Randy Spering, who owns a building abutting the White Slough encampment, said he's sympathetic to the plight of the homeless. But his property has suffered copper thefts, public urination and most recently, some threatening graffiti, which he said he attributes to the homeless.
"It says stuff like 'your building is next,' and 'F the owner' and 'F the police,' " he said. "If you had a homeless encampment behind your house, would you like it?"
But Darling and Mark Mora, who identified himself as "an ordinary citizen," said they're sympathetic to all sides of the issue and are forming a coalition of concerned community members to address the root causes of homelessness.
"We need to stop scapegoating and trying to do quick fixes. It's in the best interest of the city, and the homeless folks, to really address the issue," Mora said. "It's just unjust to make them pick up and go, to become somebody else's problem."
Contact the coalition at ServeOurVallejoHomeless.blogspot.com or at serveourvallejohomeless@gmail.com.
Contact staff writer Rachel Raskin-Zrihen at (707) 553-6824 or RachelZ@thnewsnet.com
Friday, March 6, 2009
**Video Interviews w/ White Slough Residents**
We feel that it's absolutely essential to hear from the residents themselves. We need to hear their stories because they are a part of our larger community story.
Marc Garman of Vallejo Independent Bulletin and community volunteer Doug Darling did some great work capturing sentiments shared by the some of the White Slough residents. But the real work was done by the homeless residents who resiliently continue to endure. Special thanks to those who graciously shared their stories with the public. Footage was shot on 3/4/09 and can be found at http://ibvallejo.com/ or http://vimeo.com/3497529.
We hope this adds a deeper human dimension to the oversimplified "issue" of homelessness in Vallejo.
White Slough Homeless Encampment--3/4/09 from Marc Garman on Vimeo.
Peace and Godspeed!
Marc Garman of Vallejo Independent Bulletin and community volunteer Doug Darling did some great work capturing sentiments shared by the some of the White Slough residents. But the real work was done by the homeless residents who resiliently continue to endure. Special thanks to those who graciously shared their stories with the public. Footage was shot on 3/4/09 and can be found at http://ibvallejo.com/ or http://vimeo.com/3497529.
We hope this adds a deeper human dimension to the oversimplified "issue" of homelessness in Vallejo.
White Slough Homeless Encampment--3/4/09 from Marc Garman on Vimeo.
Peace and Godspeed!
Stay Tuned
We're in the process of convening a community meeting.
Look out for that.
Peace and Godspeed!
Look out for that.
Peace and Godspeed!
White Slough Eviction Day
Even though we decided to cancel the rally, some of us ventured out to the White Slough area earlier today to see what had resulted from Eviction Day.
Upon arrival to Carls Jr., we scanned the scene. We noticed a news crew from NBC already combing the area and doing some filming. Some workers, more than likely sent by the owner, were at the main entrance inbetween Carls Jr. and Smart & Final putting up chain-link fencing to close the opening. We greeted the workers and kindly skirted past them into the muddy, weedy terrain of the White Slough.
It was a ghost town. Marching through the mud, we could readily see evidence of life: tents, tarps, wooden enclosures, personal belongings, trash, stuff - a whole lot of stuff, really - but no people. Nearly all of the residents had vanished. From what we know, thankfully, the police did not arrest anyone. Where the residents went, we not know exactly. Maybe the residents will return at some point, but we don't know that for sure either. What we do know is that this isn't right. Apart from the "stuff" left behind, the White Slough is - for the time being - an uninhabited space.
Our advocacy efforts MUST and WILL continue.
Most, if not all, of the residents of the White Slough are now former residents. And life will go on for them. After White Slough Eviction Day, life will go on for the rest of us as well. But while we sit in our climate-controlled vehicles and insulated homes, the problem of homelessness is still very real to the now former residents of the White Slough, and for all of our homeless residents in Vallejo. But now, many of them have been forced to attempt making "home" elsewhere.
Please don't think for a second that this issue is over. Arguably, the issue has now been worsened by their displacement devoid of alternatives. This is definitely NOT the fault of our police or our city officials or our basic needs service providers. WE did it. ALL of us. Citizens of Vallejo, we have a decision to make. Because of the White Slough eviction, homelessness is now in the public eye. The conversation has already started. That's great. It's a start. A humble beginning. But the question still remains.
How will we respond?
Today and everyday after that, we have a choice to make. Either we ignore our own, fellow human beings, or we work together as citizens of our city so no one has to ever resort to calling the White Slough, or any other inhumane dwelling, home.
Our hearts go out to our fellow Vallejoans who don't have a warm place to sleep tonight. We will continue to humbly and compassionately work towards making our city a better and more just place to live for and with you, which in turn, does so for all of Vallejo.
Won't you please consider joining our cause. Email ServeOurVallejoHomeless@gmail.com.
Peace and Godspeed!
Upon arrival to Carls Jr., we scanned the scene. We noticed a news crew from NBC already combing the area and doing some filming. Some workers, more than likely sent by the owner, were at the main entrance inbetween Carls Jr. and Smart & Final putting up chain-link fencing to close the opening. We greeted the workers and kindly skirted past them into the muddy, weedy terrain of the White Slough.
It was a ghost town. Marching through the mud, we could readily see evidence of life: tents, tarps, wooden enclosures, personal belongings, trash, stuff - a whole lot of stuff, really - but no people. Nearly all of the residents had vanished. From what we know, thankfully, the police did not arrest anyone. Where the residents went, we not know exactly. Maybe the residents will return at some point, but we don't know that for sure either. What we do know is that this isn't right. Apart from the "stuff" left behind, the White Slough is - for the time being - an uninhabited space.
Our advocacy efforts MUST and WILL continue.
Most, if not all, of the residents of the White Slough are now former residents. And life will go on for them. After White Slough Eviction Day, life will go on for the rest of us as well. But while we sit in our climate-controlled vehicles and insulated homes, the problem of homelessness is still very real to the now former residents of the White Slough, and for all of our homeless residents in Vallejo. But now, many of them have been forced to attempt making "home" elsewhere.
Please don't think for a second that this issue is over. Arguably, the issue has now been worsened by their displacement devoid of alternatives. This is definitely NOT the fault of our police or our city officials or our basic needs service providers. WE did it. ALL of us. Citizens of Vallejo, we have a decision to make. Because of the White Slough eviction, homelessness is now in the public eye. The conversation has already started. That's great. It's a start. A humble beginning. But the question still remains.
How will we respond?
Today and everyday after that, we have a choice to make. Either we ignore our own, fellow human beings, or we work together as citizens of our city so no one has to ever resort to calling the White Slough, or any other inhumane dwelling, home.
Our hearts go out to our fellow Vallejoans who don't have a warm place to sleep tonight. We will continue to humbly and compassionately work towards making our city a better and more just place to live for and with you, which in turn, does so for all of Vallejo.
Won't you please consider joining our cause. Email ServeOurVallejoHomeless@gmail.com.
Peace and Godspeed!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
**Peaceful Gathering/Rally CANCELED!!**
Hey Friends,
Sorry for such late notice but after talking to some of the homeless residents from the White Slough, the PEACEFUL GATHERING/RALLY that was originally scheduled for tomorrow (Fri) at 6am is CANCELED.
We apologize for any inconvenience and we greatly appreciate all the work you all have done to help in this effort. But remember, THE WORK IS FAR FROM OVER!
WHY CANCEL?
We were definitely excited about the rally but there were a number of factors that led us to the last minute decision to cancel. What we can share right now is that a group of us spoke to some of the remaining homeless residents of the White Slough and learned that many have already left or are making accommodations to leave. Also, the ones that are considering staying have expressed that they prefer that we not draw anymore attention to them. Despite our obvious desire to advocate for them via the rally, and despite our anticipation of the of the rally being a potential springboard for others to join the homeless advocacy movement, we have unanimously decided to respect the wishes of the residents and cancel the gathering/rally.
SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
This means that most of the homeless residents of the White Slough have found other places to stay, not necessarily safe or permanent living situations, but as you know, people who are homeless can be incredibly resilient. Whether or not the police actually sweep the area tomorrow (Friday), most, if not all, will have left the White Slough which has been a home to many of them for years. Canceling the gathering/rally means people are still going to be homeless tomorrow, the same way that people were homeless yesterday. Life goes on and the city moves forward...or does it?? Because of all the press and public attention to this issue, homelessness is now on our city's radar and we intend to keep it there until we all do something to resolve it.
WHAT DOES THIS NOT MEAN?
This does NOT mean the end of the road. This is NOT the end of homelessness in Vallejo so this does NOT, by any means, indicate that our advocacy efforts should stop here. There is far too much work to do catalyze the community to work together. And WE NEED YOUR HELP. Like we've been saying, this eviction issue was just the tip of the iceberg and now we have to maintain and use this momentum and energy for real change.
We'll be initiating a community forum/meeting soon, so stay tuned. In the meantime, you can always talk to our city officials about this issue and continue to think up strategies for further action. We especially suggest researching how other cities/regions went about finding a solution. You can always check for updates on ServeOurVallejoHomeless.blogspot.com or email ServeOurVallejoHomeless@gmail.com.
Peace and Godspeed!
Sorry for such late notice but after talking to some of the homeless residents from the White Slough, the PEACEFUL GATHERING/RALLY that was originally scheduled for tomorrow (Fri) at 6am is CANCELED.
We apologize for any inconvenience and we greatly appreciate all the work you all have done to help in this effort. But remember, THE WORK IS FAR FROM OVER!
WHY CANCEL?
We were definitely excited about the rally but there were a number of factors that led us to the last minute decision to cancel. What we can share right now is that a group of us spoke to some of the remaining homeless residents of the White Slough and learned that many have already left or are making accommodations to leave. Also, the ones that are considering staying have expressed that they prefer that we not draw anymore attention to them. Despite our obvious desire to advocate for them via the rally, and despite our anticipation of the of the rally being a potential springboard for others to join the homeless advocacy movement, we have unanimously decided to respect the wishes of the residents and cancel the gathering/rally.
SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
This means that most of the homeless residents of the White Slough have found other places to stay, not necessarily safe or permanent living situations, but as you know, people who are homeless can be incredibly resilient. Whether or not the police actually sweep the area tomorrow (Friday), most, if not all, will have left the White Slough which has been a home to many of them for years. Canceling the gathering/rally means people are still going to be homeless tomorrow, the same way that people were homeless yesterday. Life goes on and the city moves forward...or does it?? Because of all the press and public attention to this issue, homelessness is now on our city's radar and we intend to keep it there until we all do something to resolve it.
WHAT DOES THIS NOT MEAN?
This does NOT mean the end of the road. This is NOT the end of homelessness in Vallejo so this does NOT, by any means, indicate that our advocacy efforts should stop here. There is far too much work to do catalyze the community to work together. And WE NEED YOUR HELP. Like we've been saying, this eviction issue was just the tip of the iceberg and now we have to maintain and use this momentum and energy for real change.
We'll be initiating a community forum/meeting soon, so stay tuned. In the meantime, you can always talk to our city officials about this issue and continue to think up strategies for further action. We especially suggest researching how other cities/regions went about finding a solution. You can always check for updates on ServeOurVallejoHomeless.blogspot.com or email ServeOurVallejoHomeless@gmail.com.
Peace and Godspeed!
Peaceful Gathering - Friday
Here's some tentative info for what's going down tomorrow (Friday). It's tentative because anything can happen before then but we're confident that gathering tomorrow will still be powerful regardless of the circumstance.
WHAT: PEACEFUL Gathering in the White Slough
WHY: To support our homeless citizens who are being threatened by eviction and to push everyone in our city to take a serious look at how we can find real workable and sustainable solutions to homelessness in Vallejo. Our purpose is not to condone law breaking or blame the city/police but to bring attention to an issue we feel everyone needs to actively address together.
WHEN: Friday, March 6 @ 6AM SHARP
WHERE: Corner of Sereno Dr. and Sonoma Blvd. (in front of the chain link fence inbetween Carls Jr. and Smart & Final)
WARNING: We also want want folks to know that there is a chance that participants can get arrested or incur a fine. We highly doubt that but we want you to be prepared. Again this is a peaceful and compassionate gathering but if at any point you feel uncomfortable, you are free to leave at anytime and we'll completely understand. The point is not to be "rebels without a cause" but to demonstrate love, support, and solidarity. This could be a potentially powerful and profound message to send to our city, but it definitely won't be the only way that you can help or take part. There's much work to do after Friday.
INFO: Please park along the street or in the Mervyn's parking lot since they're out of business. Please do not park in the parking lots of active businesses. Please dress warmly and you may want to bring some snacks for yourself or to share. Some of us are willing stay for a significant amount of time but you are free to come and go as you please. Please be flexible too since we won't know some aspects until we're there.
CONTACT: Email ServeOurVallejoHomeless@gmail.com
Please don't blast all this info out to everyone because we don't want it to fall into the wrong hands. But you can definitely share this with people you know that are seriously interested in coming. We still need A LOT more people to verbally COMMITT to coming tomorrow. So if you talk to folks, try and ask them for a firm committment and even to commit to bringing a minimum number of people with them. Even if folks can only come for a couple hours it would be beneficial. Email so we can add to the head count.
Thanks and Godspeed!
WHAT: PEACEFUL Gathering in the White Slough
WHY: To support our homeless citizens who are being threatened by eviction and to push everyone in our city to take a serious look at how we can find real workable and sustainable solutions to homelessness in Vallejo. Our purpose is not to condone law breaking or blame the city/police but to bring attention to an issue we feel everyone needs to actively address together.
WHEN: Friday, March 6 @ 6AM SHARP
WHERE: Corner of Sereno Dr. and Sonoma Blvd. (in front of the chain link fence inbetween Carls Jr. and Smart & Final)
WARNING: We also want want folks to know that there is a chance that participants can get arrested or incur a fine. We highly doubt that but we want you to be prepared. Again this is a peaceful and compassionate gathering but if at any point you feel uncomfortable, you are free to leave at anytime and we'll completely understand. The point is not to be "rebels without a cause" but to demonstrate love, support, and solidarity. This could be a potentially powerful and profound message to send to our city, but it definitely won't be the only way that you can help or take part. There's much work to do after Friday.
INFO: Please park along the street or in the Mervyn's parking lot since they're out of business. Please do not park in the parking lots of active businesses. Please dress warmly and you may want to bring some snacks for yourself or to share. Some of us are willing stay for a significant amount of time but you are free to come and go as you please. Please be flexible too since we won't know some aspects until we're there.
CONTACT: Email ServeOurVallejoHomeless@gmail.com
Please don't blast all this info out to everyone because we don't want it to fall into the wrong hands. But you can definitely share this with people you know that are seriously interested in coming. We still need A LOT more people to verbally COMMITT to coming tomorrow. So if you talk to folks, try and ask them for a firm committment and even to commit to bringing a minimum number of people with them. Even if folks can only come for a couple hours it would be beneficial. Email so we can add to the head count.
Thanks and Godspeed!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
City of Vallejo Contacts
*We apologize that it's just a screen shot. All of this is public information so if you can't view the document or you want more info visit: http://www.ci.vallejo.ca.us/
=========================
=========================
Letter Template
*See past entry entitled "ACTION Recommendations" for some suggestions on how to complete this.
============================
Subject: Eviction of Vallejo homeless citizens in the White Slough
To: Mayor Davis
CC: Councilmembers, Mr. Tanner, Police Chief Nichelini and the Vallejo Police Department
Message:
A recently published Vallejo Times Herald article entitled “Pack Up, Move On” (http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_11832718 ) along with coverage from Bay Area news radio station, KCBS (http://podcast.kcbs.com/kcbs/1614756.mp3), has alerted the public about an impending eviction of the homeless squatters in the marshland area off of Sonoma Blvd., otherwise known as the White Slough. According to the Times article, on Thursday, February 26, Vallejo Police distributed notices to the homeless in this area informing them that they are to vacate by Friday, March 6 or face arrest. There appears to be no plan for alternatives or aid, while homeless shelters in Vallejo and Fairfield remain at full capacity as they have been for some time now. The homeless citizens facing eviction have nowhere to go and our weather as of late threatens to further exacerbate their hardships. This shouldn’t be an approach to dealing with this situation.
Yes, the issue of homelessness in our city needs to be addressed. Yes, the resulting deterioration of the quality of life needs to be addressed. And yes, trespassing on private property is a serious issue that needs to be addressed as well. But, Mayor Davis, I believe a far more serious injustice would be to obligate homeless citizens to desert their dwellings without providing sound and tangible alternatives.
Evictions, or "homeless sweeps," and subsequent jailings are NOT solutions to homelessness—they have never been. They don't address how or why people are homeless. They only serve to shuttle the problem to other parts of the city creating further quality of life issues elsewhere. Worst of all, what message would that approach send about our perception of the most vulnerable citizens in our community? That they're second-class citizens? Or, dare I say, animals? How would this effect our city’s already suffering image? Being poor or homeless is NOT a crime, nor is it deserving of criminalization. Like the rest of us in Vallejo, they are citizens, and more importantly, human beings. They deserve our respect, support, and compassion.
Mayor Davis, I URGE you to do everything in your power to completely halt the pending eviction of our homeless citizens. We acknowledge that neither you nor city officials were initiators of this action but regardless, we, as a city, need to act on the behalf of our homeless residents. Please seriously consider contacting the property owner of that land to negotiate either a withdrawal of his/her eviction request, or at least to produce an adequate time extension that allows the city and its basic need providers an opportunity to work towards offering alternatives for these citizens.
Furthermore, I URGE you to take the lead in publicly acknowledging that homelessness is a serious issue in our city that needs to be addressed. I urge that the city initiate a task force or committee to begin seriously assessing this issue as well as our city's capacity and infrastructure to effectively resolve it. There are many organizations and concerned citizens, like myself, who are willing work WITH our city leaders to collectively find effective, sustainable, and just solutions.
The entire city of Vallejo, leaders AND citizens, have long ignored the plight of the homeless in our city. This current situation should make it painstakingly clear that homelessness in our city needs to be prioritized and carefully addressed. It cannot continue to be viewed as an arbitrary problem that can be fixed by a simple or quick response. The causes and impacts of homelessness are not simple so neither is the solution, and we should treat it as such. It won't be an easy task, but it's the right thing to do for these citizens and for our beloved city.
Mayor Davis, on the City of Vallejo website you greeted visitors by writing, "For those now a part of our community, we hope to provide you with important information to improve your quality of living in our city of Vallejo, a city in which we take 'Pride in Serving'"! I hope you, most of all, would reflect on these meaningful words. Please examine if WE, as an entire city, are truly improving the quality of living for ALL, including our homeless citizens – and if not, may each one of us have the moral fortitude and humanity to align ourselves with what’s right.
I hope and I pray that you, the leaders of our city, will exhibit moral leadership and compassion by halting this plan to evict the homeless in the White Slough and by pursuing a prudent and purposeful analysis of homelessness in Vallejo together WITH local organizations and citizens.
Sincerely,
John Doe of Vallejo
Affiliations (if any)
Address
Contact Number
============================
Subject: Eviction of Vallejo homeless citizens in the White Slough
To: Mayor Davis
CC: Councilmembers, Mr. Tanner, Police Chief Nichelini and the Vallejo Police Department
Message:
A recently published Vallejo Times Herald article entitled “Pack Up, Move On” (http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_11832718 ) along with coverage from Bay Area news radio station, KCBS (http://podcast.kcbs.com/kcbs/1614756.mp3), has alerted the public about an impending eviction of the homeless squatters in the marshland area off of Sonoma Blvd., otherwise known as the White Slough. According to the Times article, on Thursday, February 26, Vallejo Police distributed notices to the homeless in this area informing them that they are to vacate by Friday, March 6 or face arrest. There appears to be no plan for alternatives or aid, while homeless shelters in Vallejo and Fairfield remain at full capacity as they have been for some time now. The homeless citizens facing eviction have nowhere to go and our weather as of late threatens to further exacerbate their hardships. This shouldn’t be an approach to dealing with this situation.
Yes, the issue of homelessness in our city needs to be addressed. Yes, the resulting deterioration of the quality of life needs to be addressed. And yes, trespassing on private property is a serious issue that needs to be addressed as well. But, Mayor Davis, I believe a far more serious injustice would be to obligate homeless citizens to desert their dwellings without providing sound and tangible alternatives.
Evictions, or "homeless sweeps," and subsequent jailings are NOT solutions to homelessness—they have never been. They don't address how or why people are homeless. They only serve to shuttle the problem to other parts of the city creating further quality of life issues elsewhere. Worst of all, what message would that approach send about our perception of the most vulnerable citizens in our community? That they're second-class citizens? Or, dare I say, animals? How would this effect our city’s already suffering image? Being poor or homeless is NOT a crime, nor is it deserving of criminalization. Like the rest of us in Vallejo, they are citizens, and more importantly, human beings. They deserve our respect, support, and compassion.
Mayor Davis, I URGE you to do everything in your power to completely halt the pending eviction of our homeless citizens. We acknowledge that neither you nor city officials were initiators of this action but regardless, we, as a city, need to act on the behalf of our homeless residents. Please seriously consider contacting the property owner of that land to negotiate either a withdrawal of his/her eviction request, or at least to produce an adequate time extension that allows the city and its basic need providers an opportunity to work towards offering alternatives for these citizens.
Furthermore, I URGE you to take the lead in publicly acknowledging that homelessness is a serious issue in our city that needs to be addressed. I urge that the city initiate a task force or committee to begin seriously assessing this issue as well as our city's capacity and infrastructure to effectively resolve it. There are many organizations and concerned citizens, like myself, who are willing work WITH our city leaders to collectively find effective, sustainable, and just solutions.
The entire city of Vallejo, leaders AND citizens, have long ignored the plight of the homeless in our city. This current situation should make it painstakingly clear that homelessness in our city needs to be prioritized and carefully addressed. It cannot continue to be viewed as an arbitrary problem that can be fixed by a simple or quick response. The causes and impacts of homelessness are not simple so neither is the solution, and we should treat it as such. It won't be an easy task, but it's the right thing to do for these citizens and for our beloved city.
Mayor Davis, on the City of Vallejo website you greeted visitors by writing, "For those now a part of our community, we hope to provide you with important information to improve your quality of living in our city of Vallejo, a city in which we take 'Pride in Serving'"! I hope you, most of all, would reflect on these meaningful words. Please examine if WE, as an entire city, are truly improving the quality of living for ALL, including our homeless citizens – and if not, may each one of us have the moral fortitude and humanity to align ourselves with what’s right.
I hope and I pray that you, the leaders of our city, will exhibit moral leadership and compassion by halting this plan to evict the homeless in the White Slough and by pursuing a prudent and purposeful analysis of homelessness in Vallejo together WITH local organizations and citizens.
Sincerely,
John Doe of Vallejo
Affiliations (if any)
Address
Contact Number
ACTION Recommendations
Dear Friends,
We are less than two days from Eviction Day. We have ONE DAY to do this right. Let’s mobilize.
Sorry for the delay. We know many of you have been waiting on some concrete ways to TAKE ACTION. If you’re still down, please consider undertaking one or more of these ACTION recommendations:
1) YOU can write a Letter of Concern and email it to our city officials.
Attached is a “Letter Template” that you can use as a model for your own Letter of Concern. You may use it exactly the way it is and simply fill out your name and info. Or you could edit and tweak it as you see fit. Or finally, you can use it as a guide for you to create a completely unique letter. A good rule of thumb is that personalization is always preferred but we do appreciate whichever option you choose. Bear in mind that we tend to operate on the perspective that ALL of us are responsible for homelessness in our city and that we all need to take ownership. Therefore, we hope that you powerfully communicate your point of view without excessively playing the “blame-game.” Also, please try to practice respect, clarity, love, and partnership in your letters. Please remember to include your personal contact information (which won’t be distributed) so they know that you are indeed a resident of Vallejo. We’ve attached a “City of Vallejo Contact List” that provides email addresses and phone number of our Mayor, Councilmembers, City Manager, and Police Department. Please send your letter to Mayor Davis and be sure to CC all the councilmembers. If you do send some emails, as a courtesy, we’d appreciate if you send a quick email to ServeOurVallejoHomeless@gmail.com indicating the date, time, and person you contacted so we can document it.
2) YOU can call our city officials.
City officials love to hear from their constituency. We didn’t have enough time to create a “talking points” sheet but we’re sure that if you needed to, you could glean at least a couple main points to talk about from the attached “Letter Template.” Remember that the “City of Vallejo Contact List” is there for you. More than likely you’ll have to leave a voice message. Make it quick and concise so they know exactly what you’re calling about. Again, please try to practice respect, clarity, love, and partnership in your calls. If you do make some calls, as a courtesy, we’d appreciate if you send a quick email to ServeOurVallejoHomeless@gmail.com indicating the date, time and person you contacted so that we can document it.
3) YOU can spread the word and inform people about this issue.
It’s understandable it cannot spare any free time in the next two days. Do us a favor and email blast this out to all your contacts. We’ve also attached a mock “Eviction Notice Flyer.” You could also make phone calls, post flyers, briefly mention this issue at a meeting, or just make it a point to season it into your conversations with people throughout the day. You could even think up your own creative way to get the word out. Feel free to use any documents we’ve created so long as they’re not used for evil (haha). Note that we have an email (ServeOurVallejoHomeless@gmail.com) and blog (ServeOurVallejoHomeless@blogspot.com) that you can refer people to.
4) YOU can join some of us as we venture out to the White Slough with Northbay Covenant Church's Hearts for the Homeless ministry tomorrow (Thurs) at 4pm.
Northbay has been doing outreaches with homeless for sometime now. They have made friendships with many of the people they serve and the White Slough is among the areas that they regularly visit. They typically prepare food, hand out donated items, converse, and pray for folks. Whether you’re Christian or not, if you feel led to join us please email ServeOurVallejoHomeless@gmail.com
BY NOON tomorrow and include your name and number, noting “Northbay Outreach” in the subject line. We need to inform Catherine, the ministry leader, of how many people we will be bringing. We’ll be meeting at 4pm tomorrow at the flagpoles near JFK Library downtown.
5) YOU can donate items to the Hearts for the Homeless Ministry like tarps, sleeping bags, blankets, jackets, socks, etc.
They are always looking for items that they can give away during their outreaches. You can contact ministry leader Catherine Littleton at 707-704-8016 or imprayn247@comcast.net.
6) YOU can research models for change in other areas and/or seek guidance from folks experienced with homeless advocacy.
The impending eviction is just the tip of the iceberg. We readily acknowledge that if our city seeks to find effective and sustainable solutions to homelessness then it requires a long-haul push for assessment, organization, and collaboration. We also acknowledge that we can’t do this alone. We don’t seek to reinvent the wheel or even make up our own wheel, we want to learn from other similar movements and build local elements into their wisdom. Go online, read some books, talk to friends or contacts who have experience in issues like this and help build capacity for this movement.
7) YOU can literally STAND with our homeless citizens in the White Slough on Friday, March 6.
Yes, it seems pretty crazy and radical but hear us out. If no action is taken by the city or police to stop this eviction then we humbly invite you take part in a visible and very personal sign of support. Some of us are willing to literally stand PEACEFULLY with our homeless evictees on Friday to send the message that we do not support this. We don’t believe that arrest or criminalization is fair, especially if there are currently no alternatives in place. They are citizens as we are citizens and everyone needs a home. Time and place of meeting will be emailed out tomorrow (Thursday). We understand that this may easily be an uncomfortable option for most but if you are interested, do email ServeOurVallejoHomeless@gmail.com so we can give you more info and get a head count. We will take lengthy efforts to ensure that this is a SAFE, PEACEFUL, and SYMBOLIC demonstration.
8) YOU can pray. Please do this one.
In our opinion, this is one of the most important ACTIONS that you can take to advocate for our homeless citizens and the success of our cause.
9) YOU can creatively devise your own ways to help.
But please do share so we can all support you in that endeavor =)
The main issue is time and numbers. We have ONE DAY to build POWER IN NUMBERS. It’s definitely possible but it’ll require your participation in MANY of these actions.
Thanks folks and Godspeed!
Times Article - Homeless Camp Defended
Homeless camp defended
By Tony Burchyns/Times-Herald staff writer
Posted: 03/04/2009 01:02:18 AM PST
Area homeless advocates Tuesday questioned the Vallejo Police Department's decision to clear out a homeless camp despite a lack of help available to the squatters.
Police acted alone, without contacting service agencies, threatening to arrest dozens of illegal campers for trespassing near the White Slough -- an approach some advocates called "irresponsible."
"There's nowhere for them to go," said George Dix, manager of Vallejo's only emergency shelter, the 65-bed Christian Help Center at 2166 Sacramento St.
"We turn away anywhere from five to 10 people every day."
The number of homeless people living in the camp is estimated at about 50. They were told last week to clear out by Friday.
"As far as what is going to happen to them, that is not a police department function to shelter those people," Vallejo Police Lt. Abel Tenorio said, adding police are not coordinating with groups or churches to place the illegal campers in shelters.
David Grabill, a Sonoma County attorney and housing advocate, said cities that have tried to remove homeless people have lost lawsuits for not providing enough of a safety net.
"If there are adequate shelters available, then I don't think you could fault the city for insisting that homeless people use those shelter beds," Grabill said. "In cities where there aren't enough shelters, when the police do raids on homeless camps, they create more misery on misery."
P.J. Davis, executive director of Community Action Partnership Solano, said she hopes Vallejo and other Solano County cities can do more to devise law-enforcement strategies to deal with homeless people. She said most suffer from mental illness or drug addiction -- or both.
"If all things worked well, as police break up these camps, they would be handing them information on where to go to get help," Davis said.
Some cities, like Santa Rosa, have already taken steps to try to place illegal campers in shelters before booking them into jail.
"It is not a perfect solution, but it is better than nothing," said Georgia Berland, executive director of the Sonoma County Task Force for the Homeless. "The sad thing is, homeless people form communities ... to disrupt them is disrupting a mutual support system. "I don't want to make the police sound bad, but there are ways to do it that are less disrupting to the people and their neighbors as well."
In September, Berland and others met with Santa Rosa city officials, including police, to talk about developing new outreach methods. Now, when police are required to raid a homeless camp, they call Berland's group first.
That kind of coordination is what Davis is pushing for in Solano County. She said she's already worked with Fairfield city officials to devise strategies similar to those in other communities.
"We don't have the answers yet, but we are moving in the right direction," Davis said. "Bring in the police departments ... bridges gaps."
On any given night, Davis said there probably are between 300 and 400 homeless people without shelter in Solano County. Yet there are just 160 emergency shelter beds.
"There are people turned away each day in the winter," Davis said.
Some relief may be on the horizon. Two county shelters, including Vallejo's, got grants to add more beds.
"It looks to me like the numbers of homeless people are rising," Davis said, alluding to the bad economy.
Contact staff writer Tony Burchyns at 553-6831 or tburchyns@thnewsnet.com.
Our Eviction Notice (Simple Format)
Eviction Notice
You have 7 days to vacate the premises or you will be subject to police arrest!
(Please take all of your belongings and move, even if you have nowhere to go. Good luck and be careful - it’s really cold and wet outside.)
Imagine for a moment that one day you received a notice just like this stating that you had but 7 days to pick up your belongings and leave your home. Take a moment to think about that. Seriously, think about it. How would you react? What would you do? Where would you go? How would you move your things? Who would you ask for help? Would you survive?
Now imagine receiving this notice when you are ALREADY homeless. All the shelters are full and you have no one you can turn to. Now, what do you do?
This is the impending plight of some of our homeless citizens of Vallejo.
An eviction notice was distributed to homeless residents of the White Slough area in the marshlands off of Sonoma Blvd. on Thursday, February 26. They have until Friday, March 6 to leave. Granted, they are trespassing, but they have been there for years and they have nowhere else to go. The city has not made alternative accommodations and there has been no mention of any plans for aid or support.
If you think this is wrong, please speak up and be heard.
You’re fellow Vallejo citizens need your help NOW.
For more info on how to help:
Email: ServeOurVallejoHomeless@gmail.com
Visit: ServeOurVallejoHomeless.blogspot.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)