📢 Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and to have a place to call home
How we treat others says a lot about who we are.
Greed should not be used as a weapon to incarcerate anyone
Friendly reminder, People Power United was at the Supreme Court last month advocating for people experiencing homelessness.1 We joined other activists and other organizations to be a voice for the unhoused and those who have experienced cruel and unusual punishments like the litigants in the Johnson v. Grants Pass case.
The Johnson v. Grants Pass is a class-action court case originally filed in 2018, when Grants Pass, Oregon began issuing tickets to people for sleeping on public property, even when there was no shelter available. A group of homeless individuals sued the city for criminalizing their state of homelessness, and the courts decided that it is cruel and unusual punishment to fine or arrest people for sleeping outside when they have nowhere else to go. 2
Now, Grants Pass is trying to have that ruling overturned, giving them the power to punish people for simply trying to survive. In other words, they want the Supreme Court to sanction cruel and unusual punishment while they offer no solutions for the unhoused.
Grants Pass, like many cities in America, is thousands of housing units short of what is needed. That shortfall will not be solved by putting more people in jail or issuing more tickets.
Ineffectiveness of Arrests and Fines
Arrests and fines do not address the underlying causes of homelessness. According to the National Housing Conference3, these punitive measures are counterproductive. They waste public resources and often lead to a cycle of incarceration and debt that makes it even harder for individuals to escape homelessness. Criminalizing homelessness punishes people for their poverty, creating a legal barrier that hinders their ability to find employment and secure stable housing. Our community can do better!
Real Solutions to Homelessness
Affordable Housing: One of the primary solutions to homelessness is increasing the availability of affordable housing. This New Republic article4 highlights how financial speculation and Wall Street's influence on the housing market have exacerbated the housing crisis. Addressing these systemic issues and investing in affordable housing can provide stable homes for those experiencing homelessness.
Support Services: Comprehensive support services, including mental health care, addiction treatment, and job training, are crucial. Many homeless individuals struggle with mental health issues or substance abuse, and without proper support, they cannot break the cycle of homelessness. Providing these services helps individuals regain stability and integrate back into society.
Veteran Support: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has made significant strides in addressing veteran homelessness, housing more than 46,000 homeless veterans in 2023. This success demonstrates that targeted, well-funded programs can effectively reduce homelessness. Expanding such programs to include all homeless populations can replicate this success on a broader scale.
Impact on Children: Homelessness has severe implications on child health and development. The National League of Cities reports that homeless children face higher risks of physical and mental health issues, developmental delays, and educational setbacks. Providing stable housing and support for families can mitigate these adverse effects and ensure better futures for these children.
I would argue that these families, individuals, veterans, and children are ours. They are not someone else problem; they are our community members, and it is on us to advocate for solutions to help our fellow community members.
No matter our race, gender, age, or income, everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and to have a place to call home.
Yet, homelessness is on the rise nationwide as more households struggle to make ends meet. High rent prices, corporate price gouging, rising healthcare costs, and decades of ineffective housing policies have exacerbated the crisis.Â
Every single one of us is one emergency away from being unhoused.Â
Who in our community is experiencing homelessness?
18 out of every 10,000 people are homeless 5
28% are familiesÂ
22 percent are chronically homeless individuals (people with disabilities who have experienced long-term or repeated incidents of homelessness)
6 percent are veteransÂ
5 percent are unaccompanied youth under 25 (considered vulnerable due to their age)
Supporting real solutions to homelessness is both a moral imperative and a practical one. Arresting and fining homeless individuals only perpetuates the problem and wastes valuable resources. By focusing on affordable housing, comprehensive support services, and targeted programs for vulnerable populations, we can address the root causes of homelessness and create lasting change.Â
The Grants Pass Supreme Court case serves as a critical reminder that humane and effective solutions are within our reach if we prioritize them.
Can you take 1 (one) minute and call your your member of Congress to support real solutions to homelessness?
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People Power United Updates
Our group is growing by leaps and bounds! Folks understand that with love in our hearts and hard work, we will reclaim our nation from cruelty, chaos, and confusion. We are having fun making impactful changes in our community! In case you missed it, this past week was busy:
People Power United became a best seller on Substack! Power to the people! You did this! Thanks so much for your support!
Trump is a Russian asset and a clear and present danger to our rights and freedoms
Judge Aileen Cannon is incompetent and on her way to becoming an asset for Putin
People Power United sent a letter to Department of Education to provide student debt relief to borrowers facing hardship
People Power United sent a letter to Congress to oppose H.R. 7109, the Equal Representation Act, and any future efforts to ask about citizenship status on the decennial census
People Power United sent a letter urging leadership in Congress to denounce anti-Black violence and white supremacist conspiracy theories which continue to permeate our public discourse.
Updates can be found here.
Everyone deserves to vote and thrive,
Laurie Woodward Garcia (paid with hugs and kisses, not bought by special interests)
People Power United | In this community, we will always speak out against racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, misogyny, sexism, ageism, ableism, sizeism, elitism, transphobia, misogynoir, and bigotry! Check out our 2023 recap post to see how impactful our scrappy People Power United group is!​
People Power United is a group of community members that champions progressive values and power for the people. The 2024 election depends on us, and we are attempting to persuade people to vote for Freedom over Fascism. If you wish to support our efforts, please consider becoming a paid subscriber.
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Additional Resources
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2023-AHAR-Part-1.pdf
https://www.cbpp.org/blog/final-appropriations-package-will-need-additional-funding-to-avoid-rental-assistance-cuts
https://www.cbpp.org/research/housing/long-waitlists-for-housing-vouchers-show-pressing-unmet-need-for-assistance
https://apnews.com/article/grants-pass-oregon-supreme-court-homeless-encampments-a8dcddb518bd76b11d409666c06701b8
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/03/19/fact-sheet-in-nevada-president-biden-to-double-down-on-plan-to-lower-housing-costs-and-increase-housing-supply-for-american-families/
https://johnsonvgrantspass.com/
https://homelesslaw.org/
https://indd.adobe.com/view/882e0f4e-5473-4937-9f41-b4f5798ed1d4
https://newrepublic.com/article/180857/housing-homelessness-crisis-wall-street-real-culprit
https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-homelessness/
https://johnsonvgrantspass.com/rally
https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2024-04-18/supreme-court-and-homeless-encampment
https://nhc.org/
https://newrepublic.com/article/180857/housing-homelessness-crisis-wall-street-real-culprit
https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-homelessness/