Sunday, August 18, 2013

Redding California Homeless - Searching for SAFE GROUND



On October 17, 2006 the Redding California Police Chief, the Fire Chief , and Dave Honey of the Good News Rescue Mission all spoke in favor of at the City of Redding Council meeting amending Redding Municipal Code Chapter 10-40 Unlawful Camping making it a possible misdemeanor punishable by up to a 1000 dollar fine and/or 6 months in jail for the homeless crime of sleeping or keeping warm by a campfire anywhere in the city limits effectively criminalizing homelessness.

 Why do homeless need SAFE GROUND ?


Sacramento Attorney Mark Merin advocates for "safe ground" and the human right to a safe place to sleep.

Fast forward to 8/17/2013  to a Record Searchlight article "Homeless encampments, natural features create perfect storm for Market Street fires" and we know now that due to the criminalization of homelessness and the dynamics of fear created homeless are camping and hiding   not only deeper in the steep canyons and brush behind Market St.  BUT IN ALL brush and canyons surrounding most of Redding due to short sighted past local government management.





But what is SAFE GROUND ?




Filmmaker Costa Mantis moved into tent city and lived in a tent to give the homeless people of Sacramento California a voice.

We at the Redding Coalition for the Homeless also are against practices and laws that unfairly single out homeless people and criminalize them for everyday living and life-sustaining activities and quite possibly violate their civil and constitutional rights. California needs safe “legalized” campgrounds with clean water, bathrooms, and trash services until Redding, Shasta County, and the State of California is willing and able to provide adequate shelters and affordable housing for the growing numbers of homeless folks free of homeless camping tickets, criminalization and evictions.


Safe Ground Rally California State Capital

April 22, 2009



Loaves & Fishes, Francis House, SHOC, Homeless Advocates, and the homeless rallied at the California State Capital to urge the City, County, and State to create a Safe Ground where the homeless can camp at night.



SEARCHING FOR SAFE GROUND
is ready for it's West Coast World Premiere at the AOF IX International Film Festival on Thursday August 22nd 2013 at 8PM at the Krikorian Theatre on 410 South Myrtle Ave. in Monrovia.

Safe Ground Sacramento - "Protecting the human rights of homeless people."



5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'd be in favor of safe “legalized” campgrounds with clean water, bathrooms, and trash services. If I ended up homeless, I'd sure be hoping for that opportunity to see me through that period of time where nothing else was coming together.

Anonymous said...

Multitudes of Homeless all over California and America are "Searching for Safe Ground."

From Red Bluff and Redding Shasta County homeless advocates to Eureka homeless advocates in Humboldt County to Chico advocates in Butte County California... ALL are calling for SAFE GROUND !

Earl Allen Boek, Dinar Dawg, Karat Dawg, Kraut Dawg said...

A SAFE GROUND solution is long past due.
I pray those able to affect this solution
are given the judgement and wisdom
to get something positive accomplished.

Anonymous said...

ha! some cities don't even have bathrooms in their city parks, though they should. Just having some SAFE GROUND available is a reasonable start, and long delayed. This would not have even been considered if not for the unprecedented transfer of wealth to the wealthiest that continues today.
That is the problem. It needs to be addressed.

Sheila shive said...

Im homeless due to one income .I can not aford to move into appartment with first and a deposit. I only get $845 a month. When u are homeless $845 dont last with bills u hade before comming homeless. My wife and i continue to ne harase by the law. Homeless need to be close to stores and a place to use a bathroom. Thier are some homeless that ruin campsite buy dumping garbage. Im against that. For a safe place.