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!