Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Press Release: Foreclosure Moratorium Tent Encampment Is Up
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The Minnesota Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign is calling for community support to fight the imminent eviction of Leslie Parks from the duplex where she has lived for 21 years. Tents are pitched on her lawn with signs like “10% of homelessness results from foreclosure.” Press conference to be held at Ms. Parks’ at 3749 Park Ave. South in Mpls. tomorrow, Wednesday, October 21st, at 4:30 pm.
The redemption period for the Parks’ residence ends November 20th , 2009. Now is the time for the community to show support for
our Minnesota Five women who are resisting foreclosure.
--Press conference--
Wednesday, October 21st, 4:30 p.m.
Leslie’s duplex: 3749 Park Ave. S, Minneapolis
Foreclosure evictions push people into homelessness. To highlight this crisis, tents will be going up not only in the Parks’ yard but in the yard of Ann Patterson who is in pre-foreclosure, desperately trying for months to negotiate with Wells Fargo to lower her mortgage payments. Both Ann and Leslie work full time. More encampments will go up on college campuses in the area. They will call attention to big financial institutions that get billions of dollars to avoid losses from their bad loans, while victimized homeowners still get thrown out on the street.
Winter is upon us. The current housing crisis is so DEEP that we are urging emergency passage of a foreclosure-moratorium bill that our governor vetoed last spring. This Wednesday we are launching a foreclosure moratorium petition drive throughout the city to let legislators know that ACTION IS NEEDED AT ONCE.
The redemption period for the Parks’ residence ends November 20th , 2009. Now is the time for the community to show support for
our Minnesota Five women who are resisting foreclosure.
--Press conference--
Wednesday, October 21st, 4:30 p.m.
Leslie’s duplex: 3749 Park Ave. S, Minneapolis
Foreclosure evictions push people into homelessness. To highlight this crisis, tents will be going up not only in the Parks’ yard but in the yard of Ann Patterson who is in pre-foreclosure, desperately trying for months to negotiate with Wells Fargo to lower her mortgage payments. Both Ann and Leslie work full time. More encampments will go up on college campuses in the area. They will call attention to big financial institutions that get billions of dollars to avoid losses from their bad loans, while victimized homeowners still get thrown out on the street.
Winter is upon us. The current housing crisis is so DEEP that we are urging emergency passage of a foreclosure-moratorium bill that our governor vetoed last spring. This Wednesday we are launching a foreclosure moratorium petition drive throughout the city to let legislators know that ACTION IS NEEDED AT ONCE.
Labels: Ann Patterson, Foreclosure, Foreclosure Five, Homelessness, Leslie Parks, MN PPEHRC, Tent City, Wells Fargo
Monday, October 5, 2009
In the USA, Thousands Mobilize for World Zero Eviction Days:Initiatives of the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign (PPEHRC)
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This October across the USA, many thousands will publically demand an end to evictions as they claim the human right to housing. Member groups of the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign (PPEHRC) are organizing marches, demonstrations, media campaigns, tent cities, housing “take-overs” and “take-backs.” And in the face of evictions, many families, supported by their neighbors, are refusing to leave their homes.
For many decades in the USA, owning a home has symbolized “the American dream.” But the images of happy homeowners portrayed in the movies and the media, while never accurate for many millions, have become a cruel nightmare for many millions more. Throughout the USA today homeless people hide under bridges and in the woods in shame and fear of arrest or removal of their children by the state. Thousands more bravely organize tent cities in defiance of the law.
Homelessness is not a new problem in the USA, but the ranks of homeless and displaced persons have swelled exponentially since the onset of the global economic crisis. Millions of families face bank foreclosure of their homes and potential homelessness. The very banks that have been “bailed out” by the US government are evicting families that can no longer pay their mortgages into the streets or, if they are fortunate, into the overcrowded homes of friends and family.
These families join the millions displaced by Katrina and other hurricanes who have been abandoned by government officials—many of whom eagerly support redevelopment projects for tourism and gambling. They join the millions of unemployed low-wage workers who had never been able to own homes, workers who paid outrageous rents to live in poor housing. And they join the hundreds of thousands of former residents of public housing that has been torn down to make room for condominiums, commercial development, or “affordable” housing that few poor families can afford.
PPEHRC is a USA national network of over 100 base groups, most of them led by the poor, organizing to end poverty and claim the economic human rights defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the UN in 1948. At its national conference in July, PPEHRC’s member groups unanimously endorsed the World Zero Evictions Days and vowed to participate in the World Assembly of Inhabitants. In addition, PPEHRC representatives will present testimony to the UN Special Rapporteur for Housing Rights at hearings to be held in November.
Click here to read about just a few of the PPEHRC groups’ Zero Evictions Day initiatives that will take place in the USA. Others will be added as plans are finalized.
For further information about these initiatives, contact Cheri Honkala, PPEHRC National Organizer, at cherippehrc@hotmail.com or 1-267-439-8419 (USA).
For many decades in the USA, owning a home has symbolized “the American dream.” But the images of happy homeowners portrayed in the movies and the media, while never accurate for many millions, have become a cruel nightmare for many millions more. Throughout the USA today homeless people hide under bridges and in the woods in shame and fear of arrest or removal of their children by the state. Thousands more bravely organize tent cities in defiance of the law.
Homelessness is not a new problem in the USA, but the ranks of homeless and displaced persons have swelled exponentially since the onset of the global economic crisis. Millions of families face bank foreclosure of their homes and potential homelessness. The very banks that have been “bailed out” by the US government are evicting families that can no longer pay their mortgages into the streets or, if they are fortunate, into the overcrowded homes of friends and family.
These families join the millions displaced by Katrina and other hurricanes who have been abandoned by government officials—many of whom eagerly support redevelopment projects for tourism and gambling. They join the millions of unemployed low-wage workers who had never been able to own homes, workers who paid outrageous rents to live in poor housing. And they join the hundreds of thousands of former residents of public housing that has been torn down to make room for condominiums, commercial development, or “affordable” housing that few poor families can afford.
PPEHRC is a USA national network of over 100 base groups, most of them led by the poor, organizing to end poverty and claim the economic human rights defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the UN in 1948. At its national conference in July, PPEHRC’s member groups unanimously endorsed the World Zero Evictions Days and vowed to participate in the World Assembly of Inhabitants. In addition, PPEHRC representatives will present testimony to the UN Special Rapporteur for Housing Rights at hearings to be held in November.
Click here to read about just a few of the PPEHRC groups’ Zero Evictions Day initiatives that will take place in the USA. Others will be added as plans are finalized.
For further information about these initiatives, contact Cheri Honkala, PPEHRC National Organizer, at cherippehrc@hotmail.com or 1-267-439-8419 (USA).
Labels: Homelessness, Hunger, Take Over, Tent City, Zero Eviction Day
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Come Join The Fight To Save Tent City!!
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WHO: Concerned Citizens for Tent City, cctcNashville@aol.com, 615-474-8390
WHAT: A Rally To Save Tent City!!
WHERE: The Steps of the Nashville Metro Courthouse
WHEN: This Friday, October 24, From 3:00 PM to 5:00PM
WHY: Providing and improving a place to call home is better than destroying it.
This Friday, October 24th a whole lot of concerned folks will gather to speak out for, protect, and improve a place referred to as Tent City. There, on land that Metro Nashville neither owns nor has any use for, many of our neighbors and fellow Nashvillians have found a place to call home, even if only for a little while. And they are not alone, for many their spouses and pets are there as well. At Tent City, they are able to stay together.
You will hear from folks living at Tent City why this place is so important to them. You will hear from clergy, community leaders and others why they stand together with the folks living at Tent City. Did you know that in 2006 there were over 11,522 homeless right here in Nashville? That over 30% are veterans? And over 1800 of our homeless are school-aged children? And that there are not anywhere near enough temporary shelter beds or housing? So why are we destroying a homeless encampment that has served many until they can move on? Why can't we, instead, work to improve this encampment and see Tent City as a "passing through place" until we can help these, our neighbors, move to something better?
Please join us. You will be asked to participate in a very unique and compelling activity that will let our Mayor and all our city officials know just how important and vital it is to us that all have housing - because no matter the type - we all deserve a place to call home.
So we need you! Join us and bring a key. Yes, bring a key. We will take that key and with your help, we will all make our voice and our point loud and clear.
RAIN or SHINE - (Stand with those who are forced to stand in the rain.)
WHAT: A Rally To Save Tent City!!
WHERE: The Steps of the Nashville Metro Courthouse
WHEN: This Friday, October 24, From 3:00 PM to 5:00PM
WHY: Providing and improving a place to call home is better than destroying it.
This Friday, October 24th a whole lot of concerned folks will gather to speak out for, protect, and improve a place referred to as Tent City. There, on land that Metro Nashville neither owns nor has any use for, many of our neighbors and fellow Nashvillians have found a place to call home, even if only for a little while. And they are not alone, for many their spouses and pets are there as well. At Tent City, they are able to stay together.
You will hear from folks living at Tent City why this place is so important to them. You will hear from clergy, community leaders and others why they stand together with the folks living at Tent City. Did you know that in 2006 there were over 11,522 homeless right here in Nashville? That over 30% are veterans? And over 1800 of our homeless are school-aged children? And that there are not anywhere near enough temporary shelter beds or housing? So why are we destroying a homeless encampment that has served many until they can move on? Why can't we, instead, work to improve this encampment and see Tent City as a "passing through place" until we can help these, our neighbors, move to something better?
Please join us. You will be asked to participate in a very unique and compelling activity that will let our Mayor and all our city officials know just how important and vital it is to us that all have housing - because no matter the type - we all deserve a place to call home.
So we need you! Join us and bring a key. Yes, bring a key. We will take that key and with your help, we will all make our voice and our point loud and clear.
RAIN or SHINE - (Stand with those who are forced to stand in the rain.)
Labels: Nashville Homeless Power Project, Tent City
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