Archive for April 14th, 2009
Forwarded text from Greg Bunker of Francis House:
Sacramento Tent City Alert
Wednesday, 4-15-09
10 am
We are calling on all Homeless Advocates to bear witness and stand in solidarity with our homeless guests who are being forced to move from Tent City with no safe and legal place to sleep at night!
There are over 1,200 homeless folks sleeping on the streets any given night, according to the Sac Co. Homeless Count 2009. St. John’s Shelter is still turning away over 200 women each night. The 100 folks who are still sleeping at Tent City have become “VISIBLE” due to the national media attention. They represent a bigger societal and systemic problem. Are we going to allow them to be scattered and hidden once again?
The City Police will be at Tent City most likely on Wednesday to enforce that folks leave the private property so that “fencing” may be done to keep them off. Those who refuse to leave will be either “cited” or physically removed most likely starting on Thursday.
We would like to “bear witness” starting on Wednesday.
Come to Tent City located behind Blue Diamond.
Take 160 N (16th St.)
Go past Big Al’s Furniture on the right
Turn Right on Dreyer St. ( Before The Casino Café)
Go to the end of the Street and Park
Walk up the bike Trail and meet on the Levy
For those who are moved to participate in a nonviolent Civil Disobedience, please read attached purpose, information and guidelines. Even if you choose NOT to do Civil Disobedience, we need your support and presence!
Midmo just received breaking news regarding the progress happening at Sacramento’s now, internationally known tent city.
First this news from Greg Bunker of Francis House Sacramento:
Dear Friends;
As you know, Francis House joined with Loaves&Fishes; and SHOC in a lawsuit over the confiscation of the belongings of the homeless and their mistreatment by our local governments. It is a long journey but as the suit winds it’s way through the courts, Tent City has been the focus of an international media blitz started by a piece done by the Oprah show. It spurred the Mayor to create a task force to address the issues of the homeless that includes me and Sister Libby and members of SHOC and at least one very articulate resident of tent city. The ideas and initiatives generated so far are unprecedented and very positive but we are woefully short of the number of beds we need just to accommodate the two hundred or so at Tent city much less the larger estimate of homeless of 1,200 men women and children. St John’s Shelter is still turning away more than 200 women and children per night. We have a long way to go to create Safe Ground for everyone.
In the next several days, starting tomorrow morning, we are calling on everyone we can reach, to hold a vigil at tent city and to bear witness to what the city police will do to dissolve Tent City.
Check out the attached info and join us if you can.
Feel free to broadcast this message out to the universe.
Greg Bunker, Executive Director
Francis House of Sacramento
“francishouse.info”
Here’s more info on how you can show your support:
Tent City Alert
Thursday, 4-16-09
Time to Be Announced!
We are calling on all Homeless Advocates to bear witness and stand in solidarity with our homeless guests who are being forced to move from Tent City with no safe and legal place to sleep at night!
Starting Thursday come to Tent City located behind Blue Diamond.
Take 160 N (16th St.)
Go past Big Al’s Furniture on the right
Turn Right on Dreyer St. ( Before The Casino Café)
Go to the end of the Street and Park
Walk up the bike Trail and meet on the Levy
Even if you choose NOT to do Civil Disobedience, we need your support and presence!
Thank you! The Safe Ground Team:
Loaves & Fishes, Sister Libby Fernandez, (916) 879-5581
Francis House, Greg Bunker, (916) 204-8688
SHOC, Paula Lomazzi, (916) 425-6708
Mark Merin Law Firm, Mark Merin, (916) 443-6911
Purpose:
The City and County of Sacramento has opened up 50 more temporary shelter beds but will leave behind 150 homeless people here at Tent City with another 1,000 homeless folks outside throughout the City and County without shelter. We are willing to be arrested on behalf of our homeless folks rather than see them be moved or be threatened with an “arrest” if they do not move when they have NO SAFE PLACE to go!!!!