As regular readers know, we're big fans of Israel Bayer and the paper of the shelter-challenged, Street Roots--now in its 10th year. One of the things we like best, and which seems most crucial, is that SR speaks as an advocate for the homeless and general concerns of low-income populations. If they don't, there are precious few other places that will give them the voice they deserve, so it's pretty much the least we can do to support those efforts.
Along those lines, we're no fans of the thinly-Constitutional "sit-lie" ordinance, which remains in effect despite severe disillusionment on the part of homeless advocates with regard to Portland Council's promises to provide alternate respite. We've covered the subject several times, including discussions with then-Commissioner Erik Sten (he wasn't really for it) and a pretty comprehensive practical and legal look, here.
Speaking to that disillusionment, Bayer has released a statement and a call to action for Portlanders: tell City Council to repeal sit lie!
Here's Bayer's statement and instructions to the troops:
The Bureau of Housing and Community Development has widely reported a massive reduction in people experiencing homelessness since the inception of the 10-year plan to end homelessness in December of 2004.
The 10-year plan to end homelessness in Portland and Multnomah County outlines nine action steps that will eliminate homelessness in our city by 2015. Those steps include:
- Move people into housing - Stop discharging people into homelessness - Improve outreach to homeless people - Emphasize permanent solutions - Increase supply of permanent supportive housing - Create innovative new partnerships to end homelessness - Make the rent assistance system more effective - Increase economic opportunity for homeless people - Implement new data collection technology throughout the homeless system
Street Roots believes City Hall should suspend the sit-lie and anti-camping ordinances in designated regions of the City of Portland until all nine action steps have been implemented and the 10-year plan to end homelessness is complete. Street Roots believes it is cruel and unusual punishment to continue to criminalize individuals experiencing homelessness from sitting, lying or sleeping on public property when the City of Portland can’t offer any real, concrete solutions to the crisis until a projected 2015.
Denying individuals the right to sleep and constantly asking individuals to move from public sidewalks and public parks elevates the level of anxiety, stress, sleep deprivation and ultimately trauma to people's lives forced to sleep outdoors.
What can you do? Street Roots and Sisters Of The Road are asking readers like you to call or write Mayor Potter and City Commissioners asking them to repeal the sit-lie and anti-camping Laws.
Postcards asking for the repeal of the sit-lie and anti-camping laws, handed out by Sisters Of The Road and Street Roots vendors are still pouring in.
[T]he Mayor's 24-hour information line: 503-823-4127 Mayor-elect Sam Adams: 503-823-3008 Commissioner Saltzman: 503-823-4151 Commissioner Leonard: 503-823-4682 [emph mine]
There was also a rally at City Hall this morning, which I neatly neglected notice of until about an hour ago; it sure would have been nice if I'd written this up BEFORE then, wouldn't it? Sigh. Still, Council members aren't likely to change their minds on the basis of a rally--but personal phone calls might well do it.
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