"The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (Law Center) is the only national organization dedicated to using the power of the law to end and prevent homelessness. The Law Center works to expand access to affordable housing, meet the immediate and long-term needs of those who are homeless or at risk, and strengthen the social safety-net through policy advocacy, public education, impact litigation, and legal training and support.
The Law Center recognizes that communities struggle with difficult policy choices over how to reduce homelessness and often pursue a combination of good (constructive) and bad (destructive) policies. Rather than call out individual governments for being the best or worst, we have identified particularly bad policies and/or practices of certain governments to include in our Hall of Shame.
This year, the Law Center has identified seven especially harmful policies, enacted by: Ocala, Florida; Sacramento, California; Wilmington, Delaware; Kansas City, Missouri; Redding, California; the State of Texas; and the United States federal government"
This blog entry is a call to action , a call for compassionate revolution really...
Its time for the city of Redding to take a new approach to those folks homeless and living outdoors. One that strikes a balance between protecting the constitutional and civil rights of the homeless and legitimate public health and safety concerns.
Shutting off public bathrooms and water fountains is not only unacceptably cruel it degrades and reduces the humanity of those affected, those that implement the actions, and the Redding community as a whole.
Stopping churches from physically and spiritually feeding and ministering to homeless in parks is simply another way the city of Redding has grasped hatred as a weaponagainst the poor and homeless.
Its time for all good people to let their voice be heard, a call to action to those who realize hate can never win, that love is and always will be the answer.
That demonizing a group of people for what ever reason find themselves homeless and treated like trash that can be swept up and thrown away during continuous so called quality of life police homeless camp sweeps damages the homeless, and never answers the question,
Where can they go?
Would you be interested in giving your time and energy to such a revolution?
The Sweep Trash Not People Redding Facebook page is for those interested in advocating for a new approach to homelessness in Redding and Shasta County.
It wont be easy...
We need your talents, time and energy to fight such hatred that has permeated the entire community against the homeless. We must come together, for we have been silent for far to long and find the answer to what will it take City of Redding To Rip The Heart From Your Hate....?
At a recent city wide so called Safe City Project , with its leader April LaFrance , and interesting admonition was made, and Tweeted by a Redding Record Searchlight Reporter.
With the Good News Rescue Mission being the ONLY nightime rescue mission shelter in all of Redding and Shasta County California this fact, if reported... this crucial Tweet... if turned into a news story would rally the generous and caring community Redding has become, and positive steps surely would be taken that would change the dynamics of homelessness in our community, and quite possibly SAVE LIVES.
Not only that, If the facts and truth were released, to be ticketed by Redding Police Chief Robert Paoletti and his department for homeless sleeping now would be more than ever a very real violation of homeless persons civil and constitutional rights.
A situation here in Redding already determined to be cruel and unusual punishment in other California cities by a Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Needless to say, in those cities positive changes were made, services added, lives saved....
Indeed one would think the Record Searchlight / Redding.com as a whole would be interested in the health, safety, and well being of our local homeless families, children, and veterans.
With temperatures that can dip to single digits in the winter here you would like to believe there is a news reporter somehow, somewhere with the courage and compassion to report on this crucial Tweet information.
Tweet information that Redding California's desperate homeless have long been painfully aware...
Good News Rescue Mission turned away 500 people last year due to staffing and resource shortages. #SafeRedding
— Katie Gillespie (@KGillespie_RS) November 14, 2014
"Redding Good News Rescue Mission turned away 500 people last year." 14 Degree Wind chill 7 a.m.
Shocking news from the Good News Rescue Mission, Redding and Shasta Counties ONLY night time homeless shelter. Reported at a recent town hall safety meeting in a Tweet by Record Searchlight / Redding .com News Reporter Katie Gillespie
Good News Rescue Mission turned away 500 people last year due to staffing and resource shortages. #SafeRedding — Katie Gillespie (@KGillespie_RS) November 14, 2014
To be ticketed by Shasta County or Redding Police for homeless sleeping now seems more than ever a very real violation of homeless persons Civil and Constitutional rights 'They have no place': Rousted, relocated, Redding's homeless have few choices. "As the county's only shelter, the mission is scarcely equipped to handle its homeless population, said Community Relations Director Ken White. "We're feeling extraordinarily overwhelmed by the amount of services needed by people in the community," he said. "If the economy worsens, or even stays as it's been, that could be a very at-risk population as a community I don't feel like we're very prepared to service at this point." The mission has only about 120 beds, he said, but because staff members try to help everyone they can, up to 70 extra guests at a time often sleep on the chapel floor. "There's a huge need," he said. And the mission's 30-day time limit means it's hardly a solution to Redding's homelessness situation, he said". City Council member hears threats of baseball bats against homeless and their camps, Redding Police release map!
Redding California Police release map of known homeless camps at a city wide Redding Convention Center safety meeting ( #SafeRedding ) after Redding city council person Missy McArthur receives messages from vigilantes wanting to go out into the homeless camps and send them a message with baseball bats. Im getting calls, emails, and on – the street comments about this No.1 issue. Things like : “Let’s take some bats and show transients we don’t want them here.” Redding California's Councilwoman Missy McArthur’s “Speak Your Piece" Meeting map tweet from Record Searchlight / Redding.com reporter at meeting Alayna Shulman
Seems a police and city official created dynamic hardly conducive to the health, safety, and well being of our local homeless men and women, as well as the growing numbers of our homeless families, children, and veterans.
"Redding Good News Rescue Mission turned away 500 people last year."
14 Degree Wind chill 7 a.m.
Does the answer to Redding California's homeless problem require that we cut down beautiful mature trees in creeks and greenbelts all over town where homeless take refuge within the city ?
While filming this Redding California Homeless blog I was harassed and accosted.
"I chose to work, retire, buy a home and pay taxes. I for one am very tired of homeless advocates like Chris Solberg — whom I’ve personally confronted when the police were removing a huge homeless camp on the corner of Court Street and Riverside Drive — who say being homeless isn’t a crime. I disagree. When these folks abuse city land and beautiful areas with their garbage, it is a crime — a crime upon the good hard-working people without addictions. When I questioned Mr. Solberg as to just how many homeless he has taken in, he replied “none.” I asked how many homeless has your church taken in, again the reply was “none.” I asked if Mr. Solberg owns a home or rents. He replied rents. Well, Mr. Solberg, you’re not paying property taxes like I am to live in Redding. I have to pay for water, sewer and garbage pickup."
Interestingly through the advent of social media, I am not alone in experiencing hatred and animosity for my homeless advocacy endeavors. From Eureka to Red Bluff, Sacramento to Fresno and beyond , other homeless advocates experience the same hatred and attacks.
It seems like this fellow was talking about my video documented incident printed in the Record Searchlight
Recently to my delight I discovered while reviewing American civil and constitutional pioneers in the early struggle of civil rights and equality a rather now video favorite of mine.
"One person can change the World, and everybody SHOULD try."
Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?"
In a recent Record Searchlight article "( Homeless )Day center talks in works" the "Rev" Ann Corrin was quoted as saying " You should not have to presume to take on someone's beliefs to get a bowl of soup." One must ask, in what charitable religious establishment in Redding California does this occur?
Is this a requirement of the Good News Rescue Mission ? .... No... Living Hope Compassion Ministry...No.... Was it a shot across the bow of conservative Christianity ? or spiritually is there even more ??
Do we hear today the same complaints from Ann Corrin as those who came back the next day after Jesus Christ fed the 5000 so long ago who just wanted to be fed again with no regard for the provider or what He had to say?
Of course this project should include and welcome all faith beliefs and NOT exclude Jesus Christ.
Why must Christians give up their autonomy for this future Day Center ? And why does the City of Redding feel it can dictate what the vision of this future homeless day center will be without dedicating any money or resources ?
Although secular is great for receiving government grants and funding, secular also equals government control and will not be in the best interest of the homeless nor the developers civil and constitutional rights.
Is this another Redding City Council dog and pony show for homeless advocates to put in time and effort such as the case recently of a homeless campground only to be shot down again by city staff and council as interest wanes?
Finally one must ask why has Ann Corrin taken the liberty of what this homeless day center can and cannot be without input from the community ?
It has been said that Redding City Council memberMissy McArthur attends"Rev" Ann Corrin's churchbut as far as constructing a homeless day center...
"Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it."
4 Redding California police officers surround a homeless man as he sits in back of city hall.
The eagerly awaited and compassionately long overdue California "Homeless Person's Bill of Rights and Fairness Act" passed its first hurdle in the Assembly Judiciary Committee on a 7-2 party line vote.
InLos Angeles the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that a city law prohibiting sleeping, sitting or lying on public byways constituted "cruel and unusual punishment," because the city has so few shelter beds its street people have nowhere else to stay.
The same is true in Redding California.
Many California cities like Redding criminalize homelessness, giving tickets for camping (sleeping) and sitting, often taking their necessary survival gear (tents, sleeping bags ) telling them to leave town and violate them for what you and I may very well take for granted... everyday living and life-sustaining activities.
"The solution to homelessness is not citations or jail time, Democratic Assemblyman Tom Ammiano said. He called it a narrow bill to provide "a few basic protections" that would ensure California does not criminalize homelessness. Proponents compare current laws targeting the behavior of homeless people to past Jim Crow and "Anti-Okie" laws that were designed to segregate or remove people deemed undesirable."
Redding, with a city council who believes the poor , homeless and marginalized do not fall under their governing jurisdiction along with the middle and upper class of our community, as well as a "Handouts Don't Help" campaign created by hotelier Ed Rullman and the Redding Business Merchantshave noticeably increasedhomeless hatred in our community as well as a sense of homeless being a second class citizenry and promoting an entitlement mentality for the violation of their constitutional and civil rights.
The bill insures homeless have the right to "move freely, rest, solicit donations, pray, meditate, or practice religion, and to eat, share, accept, or give food and water in public spaces without being subject to criminal or civil sanctions, harassment or arrest.
Homeless people in California would have the right to rest in public spaces, including sidewalks, without the threat of arrest, and local governments would have to provide access to bathrooms and showers."
A.B. 5 is sure to receive a flood of opposition from League of California Cities, the Chamber of Commerce, and other business groups as it heads next to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations.
Here is how YOU can help...!
* For those of you in favor of Homeless Person's Bill of Rights and Fairness Act we have made it easy tocontact Redding's Assembly Member Brian Dahleonline, or reach him at (530) 223-6300 to let him know you wish him to support the California "Homeless Person's Bill of Rights and Fairness Act" and vote YES !
Outside of Redding contacts for California State Assembly can be found here.
* Letters of support needed for the California Homeless Bill of Rights (AB 5).
If you are a California resident, please take a moment to send a letter of support to Assembly Member Ammiano's office. You may fax the letter to (916) 319-2117 or you may mail the letter to: Honorable Tom Ammiano, California State Assembly, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814.
* Make a difference - Use social media to spread the Word !
Pass and share this page link around on Facebook, Tweet it , Google + , Blogs and Forums, etc...
Please take the time to fight for our less fortunate brothers and sisters and the American concept that the nation founded on the principle that all men are created equal will not tolerate practices and laws that unfairly single out homeless people and criminalize them for everyday living and life-sustaining activities.
******* UPDATE: "At a meeting in Sacramento last week, we learned that the California State Assembly’s Appropriations Committee has killed all proposed legislations which were heard and then placed onto ‘suspense’ status during the last session. AB5 (Homeless Person’s Bill of Rights and Fairness Act) is one of those legislations. Our bill is officially dead.
More than a 100 social-justice based organizations have worked together to bring this piece of civil rights legislation to where it got. Over the next six months, we will organize more vigorously and reach out to a broader base. In 2014, we will be back with our Bill and will work to get it passed by the State’s Assembly, and moved on to the Senate. We will win this fight! Local ordinances that criminalize sitting or sleeping in public spaces across the country are not the answer to homelessness."
Redding Olympic hopeful Ryan Hall's Bethel Church and Redding California Police join forces to destroy homeless camps, "cut high grass and low hanging branches" to drive them out of hiding.
Please listen to the Redding California police chief on KCNR Radio (starting about 1:10 minutes in)...about Bethel church, homeless encampments, and their civil and constitutional rights.
It is shocking.
Shocking for the fact that a huge Christian Church is joining forces to help destroy homeless camp areas that they find refuge in. Why are we seeing so many homeless in the downtown area? because this new police chief Robert Paoletti from Stocktonhas no compassion for the homeless and is forcing them out of their camps and into the streets, with many reports of their survival and personal possesions illegally thrown away.. If every city in California took his approach, where would the homeless go?
"Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?"
James Chapter 2
Please Call Bethel Church and register your complaint today !! (530) 246-6000
UPDATE - 7/18/2012 - I just received a return call about my complaint from a representative of Bethel Church saying that to join forces with Redding police and destroy homeless camps, "cut high grass and low hanging branches" to drive them out of hiding is "doing their civic duty".
UPDATE : 7/26/2012 - Most folks come to Bethel Church and School of "Supernatural" Ministry from other Continents and Countries.
Do we really need foreigners coming into our country and community from New Zealand, Australia, Saudi Arabia, etc... driving out American homeless and destroying their camps and basic survival shelters in our town?
Especially when Veterans make up one in four homeless people in the United States !!
Shame on local media for not bringing this to light.
Shame on Bethel, for what they are doing is not only Un Christian, but Un American as well...
Community clean-up crew find human bones while clearing a transient camp
