"WE ACCUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT"

[Sapphire Blue]

"We Accuse the Federal Government for allowing thousands of people to live without homes
by Joanna Letz, POOR Magazine



(excerpt)

At noon on Tuesday November 14th, in front of the Federal Building a press conference was held as part of the release of the Western Regional Advocacy Project's (WRAP) report called, "Without Housing: Decades of Federal Housing Cutbacks, Massive Homelessness, and Policy Failures." In seven cities across the country similar press conferences were held, including ones in Seattle, Washington, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

(snip)

The report documents federal funding for affordable housing over the past twenty five years. Specifically the report looks at the cuts in funding toward the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as well as rural affordable housing administered by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The government, and the people of this country, who are in positions of power are benefiting from a system of myth-making. WRAP's report highlights some of these myths and the ways these myths are causing more homelessness. One of the myths the report calls out is the myth that poor people and homeless people are the ones to blame for their situations.

The report says, "..public policy debates and media representations rarely address the systemic causes of homelessness; instead they often portray homelessness as a problem with homeless individuals.." It is a systematic problem that is forcing more and more people onto the streets. WRAP's report says, "..we focus primarily on what we consider to be one of the most important-- if not the most important-- factor in explaining why so many families, single adults, and youth are homeless in the United States today: the cutbacks to and eventual near elimination of the federal government's commitment to building, maintaining, and subsidizing affordable housing."

"The report should be re-titled, I accuse the federal government," Terry Messman, editor of Street Spirit began to speak to the crowd, " I indite this nation.. Gilbert Estrada died on the street less than three weeks ago. I indite this country for leaving Gilbert Estrada.. and for leaving children and elders on the street. I accuse the federal government for allowing thousands of people to live homeless. There is massive homelessness. It is a direct act of theft..This government lets people die on the streets. Homelessness and deaths will continue until we get affordable housing. I accuse."

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/11/17/18330686.php

[nam78_two]

1. K&R

Thanks for posting as always SB :).

[Sapphire Blue]

2. Thanks, nam78_two!

:hi:

[Jcrowley]

3. K & R n/t

[Sapphire Blue]

4. Thank you, Jcrowley!

:hi:

[EFerrari]

5. Wow, I want to find out who this group is!

Thanks so much for posting!

K&R

[Sapphire Blue]

6. Western Regional Advocacy Project (WRAP)

Western Regional Advocacy Project (WRAP): http://wraphome.org/

WRAP Members:

Building Opportunities for Self Sufficiency (B.O.S.S.), Berkeley, CA
Coalition on Homelessness, San Francisco (COHSF)
Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA CAN)
Real Change, Seattle, WA
Sisters Of The Road, Portland, OR
Street Spirit, Oakland, CA

History and Mission

Founded in Spring, 2005, the Western Regional Advocacy Project (WRAP) is an innovative organization determined to make ending homelessness a national priority. By ensuring that legislators in Washington, DC receive a constant, consistent, constituent-informed message from the west coast, WRAP strives to shape public policies that address the systemic causes of poverty, ensure adherence to human rights, and are also grounded in the experiences of those who live with and work on homeless issues every day.

The foundation for WRAP’s work has been developing over the past twenty years. When Federal funding for affordable housing and for health care, education and employment initiatives to prevent and eliminate homelessness has been drastically cut, the number of homeless people has risen to unprecedented proportions. WRAP recognizes that the time to organize and demand protection of our human rights and dignity has surely come.

More @ http://wraphome.org/about.php

[EFerrari]

9. Thanks. I looked at the press kit and there are some

great people on that contact list. Cool! We're MOVING!

[bridgit]

7. k&r'd, and again thanks for the pm heads up, Sapphire Blue...

please feel free anytime :hi: :kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

8. Thanks & you're welcome.

:hi:

[Sapphire Blue]

10. kick

:kick:

[bobbolink]

11. I love that picture so much! Why can't poor folk like him have Al Gore

or someone of that stature as an advocate for us, and make a big hit documentary, and get people all worked up about saving lives???

Why are we so damned invisible???