[GPSCC-chat] Homeless Lives Matter - Eviction is not the Solution to Homelessness

[perrysandy at aol.com]

HOMELESS LIVES MATTER -EVICTION IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS
We call on all allies and people of conscience to come tothe so-called “Jungle” encampment at 6:30 am on this Thursday morning, December4, to stand in solidarity with the homeless who are threatened with arrest forthe “crime” of having nowhere to go. The City’s planned eviction of homelessresidents is not the answer to San Jose’s homelessness problem. Simplyarresting or dispersing people will not make them go away.
We applaud the City’s efforts that have so far housed some144 encampment residents in the past 18 months. However, many more than that numberBECAME homeless during the same time period, due to the City’s misguidedjobs-housing imbalance and its lax rent control laws. Residents who have movedout of the “Jungle” into housing have been replaced by new homeless peoplemoving in.
The City should concentrate on housing the homeless, notmoving them around from place to place. Moving them from one creek to anotherdoes not protect the environment. According to its own survey, 96% of encampmentresidents would move into affordable housing immediately if it becameavailable.

To say that one of the richest cities in America does nothave the resources to house its people is immoral and deceitful. The CityCouncil has the opportunity to show the courage and vision to claim theresources that are there. Silicon Valley corporations have over $500 billion incash reserves. To continue saying there is nothing we can do while our peopleare dying is a disservice to the fine and compassionate people of San Jose.

Robert Aguirre, H.O.M.E.L.E.S.S.                               915-471-8674
Pastor Scott Wagers, CHAM Deliverance Ministry
Sandy Perry, Affordable Housing Network
 

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