marmotface:

The Homeless Bill of Rights, AB 5, passed the judicial committee.  Next it will go to the appropriations committee. Thank you for anyone who called, or emailed, or even paid attention. I will keep you updated on what happens next and what you can do.

Sorry I spend so much time not blogging about poverty. I will try to update this blog more frequently, especially because right now I am working with some amazing people on trying to get the Homeless Bill of Rights passed. I’m working pretty much exclusively with the California Bill, but there is a bill in Oregon and bills in several other states around the country that are all trying to get passed right now.

If you have any questions about the Bill itself or how you can help get it passed shoot me an ask.

Things like this Bill and the rights it will protect are the reason I started this blog. I work with the homeless community, a community that is almost totally disenfranchised and forgotten about. If this Bill passes it will be major, and hopefully we will begin to see a turn around in quality of life for homeless people, and maybe even see a change in homelessness as a whole.

Thank you all again for following this blog and having a passion for people and the betterment of the earth. I love you all.

In Solidarity

-Rita

rightsandhumanity:

Let the judiciary commitee members who are voting to decide if this bill gets to go on any further that they should VOTE YES ON AB5!

♦Bob Wieckowski, Chair (D, Alameda, Santa Clara) phone: 916-319-2025.  fax: 916 319-2125.  kevin.baker@asm.ca.gov
♦ Donald P. Wagner – Vice Chair (R, Orange) phone: 916-319-2068.  fax: 916-319-2168.   matt.hedges@asm.ca.gov
♦ Luis A. Alejo (D, Monterey, Santa Clara) phone: 916-319-2039. fax: 916-319-2130.  tyler.bluckney@asm.ca.gov
♦ Ed Chau(D, LA) phone: 916-319-2049.  fax: 916-319-2149.  edmond.cheung@asm.ca.gov
♦ Roger Dickinson  (D, Sacramento, Yolo) phone: 916-319-2007.  fax: 916-319-2109.  elliot.cavnaugh@asm.ca.gov
♦ Cristina Garcia(D, LA) phone: 916-319-2058.  fax: 916-319-2158.  tim.reardon@asm.ca.gov
♦ Jeff Gorell, (R, Ventura County, LA County) phone: 916-319-2044. fax: 916-319-2144. samuel.chung@asm.ca.gov
♦ Brian Maienschein (R, San Diego) phone: 916-319-2077.  fax: 916-319-2177.  matthew.easley@asm.ca.gov
♦ Al Muratsuchi (D, LA) phone: 916-319-2066.  fax: 916-319-2166.  brett.williams@asm.ca.gov
♦ Mark Stone (D, Santa Cruz, Monterey) phone: 916-319-2029.  fax: 916-319-2129. rebecca.marcus@asm.ca.gov



For any other information or inquiries about The Homeless Bill of Rights AB5 please check out:  http://wraphome.org/ or check out their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Western-Regional-Advocacy-Project/167378429021?ref=ts&fref=ts

Thank you. Let’s get this Bill passed!

What is AB5:

AB5 is a Homeless Bill of Rights that is being worked on in California.
Numerous laws infringe on poor people’s ability to exist in public space, to acquire housing, employment, and basic services, and to equal protection under the law. The California Homeless Bill of Rights is a response that can help alleviate poverty and and homelessness while protecting homeless people from discrimination and ensuring their right to privacy and to their personal property

What does AB5 do:

The Following rights of homeless people are enumerated in the bill:

• The right to move freely in public spaces
• Rest in public spaces
• Have personal property in public space, and restitution for any property taken or destroyed
• Share food in Public Spaces
• Protection by law enforcement
• Seek and income, including through recycling
• Pray in public
• Turn down offers of services based on one’s own judgment
• Sleep in one’s car
• Equal access to education for homeless schoolchildren and youth
• Confidentiality in social service record

The law creates a right to sufficient health and hygiene centers available 24 hours a day, including bathrooms and showers

lt forbids law enforcement from enforcing laws that prohibit sleeping, sitting, lying down, standing, eating, panhandling, or sharing food in public spaces (or in one’s car in a public space) unless that area:

For any other information or inquiries about The Homeless Bill of Rights AB5 please check out:  http://wraphome.org/

Thank you. Let’s get this Bill passed!

aiusamidatlantic:

Amnesty International and Witness Against Torture protest torture and Guantanamo at the Washington DC premiere of Zero Dark Thirty (January 8, 2013 at the Newseum)

current:

The bad news is we still have an estimated 60,000 homeless vets remaining. The Associated Press says veterans make up about 14 percent of the homeless population in America, while vets in general are only about 10 percent of the United States adult population.

Back in 2009, Secretary Shinseki promised to end homelessness among veterans by 2015. It’s a laudable goal. But solutions are not cheap. They involve tackling some of the most vexing problems in the population at large – including mental illness, drug and alcohol addiction, unemployment and poverty.

But 20 percent fewer homeless vets means some of our efforts are working out – and decency requires we continue forward. These men and women took care of this country on the front lines. It is our duty – and our privilege – to take care of them.