-
National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day
http://www.nationalhomeless.or…
the event raises awareness about the high personal cost of homelessness with vigils in memory of those who have died while homeless.
Each year since 1990, on or near the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) has sponsored National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day to bring attention to the tragedy of homelessness and to remember our homeless friends who have paid the ultimate price for our nation's failure to end homelessness. This year, the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC) has joined us in co-sponsoring this event. In an effort to maximize the impact of the day, NCH and the NHCHC have encouraged local and statewide organizations to hold memorials of their own. Last year, over 100 cities across the nation, from Detroit to Seattle to Washington, DC, sponsored events to honor those who had died and to recommit to the task of ending homelessness. Photo from Matt from London's photostream at Flickr.http://www.flickr.com/photos/londonmatt/3031073681/
UNSAFE to be homeless in SANTA CRUZ, Ca.
12/20/09
by: HUFFSantaCruz
DECEMBER 22ND HUFF SING-OUT,
HOT SOUP, AND CHILLING MESSAGE
1:30pm Pacific Ave. near the Scribner Statue & Bookshop Santa Cruz
---HUFF caroling
---HOT nourishing free soup
---COLD, HARD FACTS for the public to ponder in the Christmas season
"UNSAFE TO BE HOMELESS in Santa Cruz"
Every year, the Homeless Persons Health Project issues
a report documenting those who have died on our streets while homeless.
Inclement weather, violence, suicide, overdose, and disease take
their toll each year. IN 2008, 20 homeless people died on our streets.
The DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION BACKED ordinances
which expand forbidden zones where one may sit, beg, play music for
donations, or set up a political table. Homeless people who are targeted
for enforcement, can neither afford the fines, nor fight the banishment
they represent. Ill health, depression, isolation and death are the result.
HUFF deplores that the City of Santa Cruz in conjunction with
the Downtown Association, has systematically destroyed the physical,
mental, emotional, and social health of homeless people by doing
the following:
The City has made it illegal:
--- to BE in a downtown parking lot or garage unless parking or
retrieving a car or bike.
--- to sit, beg, play music for tips, or set up a political table within 14"
of a statue. The City setup a for-profit art gallery on public property
with the intent to eliminate peaceful public assembly near these statues
--- to smoke anything on Pacific Ave, Beach St, the Municipal Wharf, and
the entire length of W. Cliff Drive. Homeless people report being cited selectively.
--- to park longer than 20 minutes in the 3-Trees Parking Lot on W. Cliff Dr
The City has used public funds to launch civil suits against homeless people
on behalf of anti-homeless downtown merchants
The City spent over $5000 needlessly to move the planter railing outward
in front of the New Leaf Market in order to prevent sitting
The City has removed bench after bench so that seniors are unable to find
a place to sit down on Pacific Ave.
The City Council has bypassed both the Downtown Commission and the
Parks and Rec Commission to jam these anti-homeless laws through with
little public scrutiny
STILL ILLEGAL AFTER ALL THESE YEARS:
--- to sleep at night anywhere out of doors or in a vehicle with few exceptions
--- to use a blanket between 11PM and 8:30AM out of doors
The political table HUFF will be setting up will be less than 14" from
The Tom Scribner Statue--but exempted due to the "free-speech" zone located there
For more information call: (831) 423-HUFF
Permalink | Comment Posted in: National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day