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Camp Quixote

Submitted by Poor Peoples Union on Fri, 02/02/2007 - 10:11am.

Hey folks, I originally posted this last night, but it was acting weird and so I'm trying again this morning. Things are still going great and I expect to hear from the city sometime today. -Rob Richards

thank you Wally for giving the update. if people want to contact the PPU they should call 359.3293. do not call BRAC, those folks are busy enough without serving as an answering service for us.

the city official who stopped by was city manager Steve Hall. also, later in the day Anna Schlect (i hope i spelled that right) stopped by to speak with us.

as of 12:30am, things have been running smoothly. lots of people have brought by donations of food, gear, and some really kick ass and much needed in the freezing cold hot chocolate. a deep thank you to all who have showed support today, many of whom generously promised continued support.

as we were setting up, Rob Richards and Matt Kellegrew went to businesses in the vicinity and spoke with owners and managers. responses were positive and supportive, we heard no negative feedback and some even expressed their own displeasure with the city regarding the recent ordinances and the effect it has on them.

we want to extend an invitation to everyone to come down and check out our camp and speak with us. again, thank you to all who have shown support.

WE ARE ASKING THE CITY OF OLYMPIA FOR THE FOLLOWING:

1. A SAFE AND PERMANENT SITE TO LIVE WHILE IN TRANSITION FOLLOWING THE MODEL SET BY DIGNITY VILLAGE IN PORTLAND, OREGON

2. WE ASK THE CITY TO CREATE A ‘SERVICE REVIEW BOARD’ COMPRISED OF SERVICE RECIPIENTS TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE RECEIVING SERVICES THAT RESPECT THEIR DIGNITY AND HUMANITY

3. WE WANT REPRESENTATION AT THE CITY LEVEL IN REGARDS TO MATTERS THAT AFFECT POOR AND HOUSELESS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY

Poor Peoples Union's blog
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current process doesn't work?

Submitted by chad360 on Fri, 02/02/2007 - 7:27pm.

Hiya All--

All this looks good, always nice to develop a dialog with the muni-posse--

So, I'm curious, in the opinion of ya-all, on #3-- I guess the current process 'don't cut it"?

I studied alot of stuff at the UW about dignity shelters, like these funky heated walls that have alcoves for sleeping, and these cool ideas for public lavatory & washing tools for clothes--

I think that down by capital lake would be a great bivouac--

--another idea would be to create a nonprofit company to run a International-registered Hostel in the same area--

What is going on with tent city?

Submitted by hammered on Sat, 02/03/2007 - 11:59pm.

Here is my question, are we fighting for everyone in the city to be given a piece of property for nothing? Although I have a job, am responsible, and have a place I already call home due to hard work, I'm wondering if I can get on board with this and have some more property given to me by the city and in turn I have to do nothing to earn it. Now granted, I understand the majority of the people in tent city don't work and rely on the services this city provides rather than going out and trying to better themselves and obtain things such as meals, money, and a home on their own. I also know not everyone is like this. I know there are people legitimately down on their luck who are working hard to get back on top and to me they are the ones who deserve help if any is to be given (to bad those people are not the majority). But these folks who expect something for nothing and do nothing to better themselves because they are content with mooching off of the system, I say we give them nothing! Anyway, this is just a thought, but seriously, if these mooching citizens who are mostly not even from Olympia get away with having some more things such as property given to them, then I say this, I can always use a couple acres as well.

I agree completely!

Submitted by DrewHendricks on Sun, 02/04/2007 - 1:50am.

"...these folks who expect something for nothing and do nothing to better themselves because they are content with mooching off of the system, I say we give them nothing!"

I'd say that it's always a good idea to start with those who mooch the most money / time / resources and give back the least to the rest of us. That is why I hope you'll follow the link to the identity of the worst offender in terms of money, time, and resource mooching in this country.

Big Time Moocher wastes our money and gives us plastic baggies of goo in return.

Good question, thanks for asking.

Submitted by Mike on Sun, 02/04/2007 - 8:15am.

Here is my question, are we fighting for everyone in the city to be given a piece of property for nothing?

Answer: No, that's not what we are fighting for. Thanks for asking.

Thanks for the answer

Submitted by hammered on Mon, 02/05/2007 - 12:17am.

That cleared it up for me. Then the fight is being limited to those who do not want to work or do anything for themselves in order to accomplish a better life. For the very few who do try to better themselves and do not expect handouts, I wish you luck, the rest of you, meaning the majority, I hope you can learn from those who try.

Have you talked to any of the people at the tent city?

Submitted by jlw on Mon, 02/05/2007 - 8:56am.

Have you talked to any of the people at the tent city? I have. I talked to one woman who is disabled, and receives SSI. She would very much like to live in a home. However, she is disabled and can't work, so she's forced to live on a very small income. She is on the waiting list for a section 8 voucher -- her wait list number is four thousand and something. She's not asking for something for nothing. What she needs is affordable housing. I think instead of directing all this aggression toward people you don't understand, hammered, you need to gain some insight into the situation. Go talk to some people who live on the streets. Find out why they are there. Then, perhaps, you can advocate for low-income housing instead of condemning strangers based on prejudices.

Thank you, but I have spoken to a lot of them

Submitted by hammered on Mon, 02/05/2007 - 11:16am.

I appreciate your suggestions but I am not one of those who would throw out these empty opinions without actually having a little bit of knowledge as to what is going on. And like I said, there are a small few who actually deserve assistance, maybe that is the one you spoke with. Anyway, there are many of these folks who are on SSI and claim they can't work becuase of some grave injury that prevents them from doing so. But I'm curious, they can stand for 8-10 hours a day waiving a sign and bothering citizens for money but they can't stand in a restaurant and flip burgers or something for 8 hours a day to earn a legitimate pay check? I know the next argument, nobody will hire a homeless person, they have no clean clothes, transportation, etc. That is as worthless as most of their disabled excuses. I've to spoke and talked with a few homeless who somehow are able to keep themselves presentable with clean clothes and basic toiletries. And somehow these gravely disabled folks are able to walk or take a bus to the Salvation Army for a free meal, or the Union Gospel for a free meal, or one of the churches providing a free meal, or the main intersections throughout the city to waive a sign for hours on end. So yes Janet B, I have talked to them and seen enough to know the wonderful help people are trying to provide to them is just enabling their ability to not have to lift a finger to help themselves, and again I will make sure to say there are a SMALL HANDFUL who actually try to strive and make things better for themselves.

You sound angry

Submitted by jlw on Mon, 02/05/2007 - 7:32pm.

You sound angry. Almost enraged. I have to wonder about that.

A lot of people who are on SSI are mentally ill which, sadly, does often make them unemployable, but capable of finding their way to a soup kitchen. I guess we can thank that wonderful humanitarian, actor, and president, Ronald Reagan, for liberating them from institutions where they were safely housed, fed, and treated.

My former husband, who suffers from an extremely disabling neurological disorder (wheelchair-bound, severe speech impedient, balance, visual and coordination problems) gets SSD. I helped him apply for this benefit, and believe me, it was not an easy process. I am not convinced that many people who are capable of working are able to fraudulently obtain SSI or SSD.

I think the "fight" is about

Submitted by Mike on Mon, 02/05/2007 - 6:29pm.

I think the "fight" is about dignity, to be seen and respected as a human being whether you are too poor to afford housing at the moment, whether you are too addicted to be able to keep your life together, whether you are a victim of sexual assault or domestic violence. To have your human dignity respected , to be seen and respected as a human even if you are too disabled to be able to hold a job anymore and yet too "fit" to qualify for any disability benefits, if you have a mental illness and can't receive your medications reliably from the mental health system. It's really about dignity and the inherent worth of each human being independent of their economic function in our society. It's about not being stereotyped as a deadbeat because you are homeless.

I don't think you really want to know what the fight is about, but maybe I am wrong about that?

Open season on the homeless

Submitted by Crenshaw Sepulveda on Tue, 02/06/2007 - 1:52am.

Society will not tolerate bigotry towards most segments of the population, but it seems that bigotry against the homeless is not only tolerated but fashionable as well. Kind of sad for a so-called Christian nation. I would expect a Christian nation to be demanding justice and compassion towards the homeless. Bigotry, derision, and outright hatred seems to be the order of the day.

"I would make it impossible for the covetous and avaricious to utterly impoverish the poor. The rich can take care of themselves."
^@^

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