DeCRIMINALIZE HOMELESSNESS

Victimizing Victims is a Civil Rights Violation!

Greetings, ALL citizen"s "Representatives"

There’s a difference between
doing something about the Homeless,
- and doing something FOR the Homeless!!
Consider, maybe, doing something about
the causes of the - INCREASE in Homelessness!?

First, you struggle to save enough for a down payment to buy, and to acquire affordable payments. If you’re fortunate to be exclusive from lost job security or downsizing, wage decreases, or personal type problems in family like credit, medical, rent or other expense increases doesn't disrupt the financial plans (?), you endeavor to struggle. By moving to a smaller location (temporarily of course) expecting it to cost less, then you’ll probably need to store some of your "stuff” (hopefully somewhat non-essentials) in a min-storage. This common method (attempt) merely becomes the first step in losing your “stuff” - of course, then the upside is - you will have less “stuff” to worry about.
You expect that by exerting yourself for a few months with a second job or put in overtime will reach the goal. This usually enhances stress levels (especially if others in the family are also “pushing the envelope” to help), contributing to frustration and all the other wholesome ingredients that affect the harmony in relationships as we increasingly hear about, (just to make it all worthwhile)!? The national figures show the record breaking results of these ingredients and somehow it is still never quite enough. If your job does downsize (and/or no longer needs your field of expertise – you’ll notice that just "any-kind-of-job" won't maintain even moderate expenses. Particularly when you don't live somewhere, even those jobs become less accessible. Ultimately, as the epiphany is revealed - you are no longer trying to get ahead - it’s even become futile to just try to stay afloat ! Sound familiar yet?? Of course, not everyone is that unfortunate - some have had it - worse !?

Some folks actually (finally) get into a place, fix up some customized preferences, after which unexpected events happen like - rise in interest rates, closing costs, balloon payments, weather damages and previously unforeseen repairs, etc. Then, any one of the additional surprises: job downsizing, babies, illnesses, accidents, unexpected repairs on the house or vehicles and ultimately the extremities of fatigue and well being collectively will sabotage foresight and means to facilitate corrective resources. After the next step (down), like the over 3 million citizens who became homeless during the couple years prior to Katrina, let alone the over 2 million - since then , many who have escaped the elements by resorting to living in vehicles etc. These circumstances don’t do much for appearance much less esteem when applying for even that “any-kind-of-job”, then inevitably either a break-down, repo, or registration & insurance problems occur. After that happens, a shopping cart with your remaining “stuff” being taken away from you will be easier to accept. Oh yes! While looking for that "any-kind-of-job" that won’t even cover housing costs (let alone move in expenses) you will only keep the stuff you can carry with you, since you will lose everything else when the cops raid your camp. Who would you think these folks were / are ?? AND who will the NEXT 2 million be !?

To now - “create” a crime for homeless citizens - that try to live within their means while recovering, is victimizing the victims of deliberate economic imbalances - AGAIN!! Speak up - now - to rescind these laws that skirt around the abolishment of former vagrancy laws! . . . In April, 2006 the U.S. 9th District Appeals Court ruled that making it a crime to be homeless by charging them with a crime is in violation of the 8th Amendment.

(Now, as of 2010, FOUR years after that Federal Court ruling... ) Some areas in California (Sonoma County, L.A., and San Francisco are included) if not stupid... are so arrogant as to continue to violate Civil Rights in this manner! The 8th Amendment needs to be enforced and NEEDS ADDRESSING!

I am A. John Doe Homeless
and STILL
On Strike against unfair Housing Costs!
http://www.homelessreality.org/


Posted June 30, 1994
Revised Nov 30, 2005
Revised Dec 15, 2010

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