Friday, March 20, 2009

Sacramento Tent City Update:::Mayor of Sacramento has promised to find Shelter for his Largest Tent City....


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I read this story last night that the Tent City in Sacramento is about to be facing changes, and it is inspiring that the Mayor realizes that this is an intolerable situation and is trying to remedy it....I hope the Media publicizes it as it would inspire Other Mayors to also create safe haven for People that have lost Everything.Tent Cities are imerging because many shelters are Single Gender and do not allow families or families with pets.Another problem is that many that are homeless are still trying to work and save money to find an apartment or home to rent. But for folks living in shelters, they have to wander from shelter to shelter during the day to claim a "sleeping spot". Tent Cities also allow people to keep their possessions and cook for themselves, it allows some independence. For women and children and families Tent Cities also offer some limited degree of Community and safety. We must watch this and see what happens to these families.

Click the Title to read Reuters Article on it, here is a snippet:::
"Tent city residents and police say the camp had existed for at least a year and had expanded after several smaller clusters of homeless settlements were shut down.Johnson said his plan included enlarging existing shelters, opening a short-term tented shelter area at a fairground, and creating "permanent housing opportunities" for an additional 40 homeless individuals.He said city officials would meet individually with each of the tent dwellers to discuss options, and a special task force would finish devising a long-term strategy for all the city's known homeless.The plan, which will be financed from various public funds, will be submitted to the City Council for approval next week."
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March 9th Video of the Sacramento Tent City( NBC) shows the economic plight of these Families.

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Previous Video this month posted Down Below, raises Questions is the Sacramento Tent City being closed due to Embarrassment, or are they really acting in good faith to help these Homeless Families and provide better shelter. In the Video the City Attorney speaks of "cleaning" the area, and that the area is "Private" Land, someone needs to ask WHO owns the Land. I think in some ways, maybe their tented Community should be respected and proper water and bath facilities provided.....What will happen to the Tent City Residents, are they going to be merely "removed" by Law Enforcement....Remember this is their "HOME" , their Community- Hundreds have lived there for monthes.....It is true during the day many of the Tent Residents do travel during the day, either to work, or job hunt, or yes some do panhandle. People in these Tent Cities are doing what they need to do to do to survive, or attempt to survive. They are not "druggies" or vagrants or lazy people, they are people who have suffered an Economic Devastation.....and they need to be Remembered as People. Real people...and maybe once Our Neighbors not long ago.

3.20.09 4 PM Update and new video from the Mercury News.....
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A Video about The People of Tent City in Sacramento....

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The Governor visited the site March 19th, yesterday , the same day the President came to California. ( I wonder if Arnold shared this story with Obama on the Place back to DC last night ?). I am still hoping that all the attention to this Tent City will show America and DC How Bad the problem is....

***ABC 20/20 Tonight is Covering People losing their Homes, Hotel Families and Shelter Families, I will post the Video when I find it.It was called "Life on the Edge : the New Homeless" by David Muir.
****Chris Janson is also doing more followup on People Losing their Homes on Sunday on NBC Dateline.
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On a Personal Note:
I first saw this Sacramento Tent City in 2005 - it is visible by Train, and it was smaller about 100 tents/occupants. Now it is up to about 400 people, and perhaps 40% are "Recession Refugees" that have arrived this year. The Tent cities are not new, merely growing - silently and at an increased alarming rate.
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Sunday Update:::
( thank you Betmo) Here is another update on this tent city, and it is good that it is getting more and more coverage....this also helps the other tent cities.

4 comments:

Fran said...

Ugh! That 2nd to the last story *we matter* interview has me in tears. Such a harsh living.
That is why the effing AIG bonus money makes me pissed off to the core.... they don't get it that they are taking public money away from programs that could be a lifeline for those who have hit bottom- living in tent cities.

enigma4ever said...

that video made me cry too....she really tugged at my heart....In January I checked the DHHS website and looked for Homeless stats- there were NONE, and had not been Updated since 2000...and there was ONLY One page about Homelessnes...ONE Fucking page..

I am thinking of writing to Obama and asking if he needs a Homeless Advocate to examine all of the issues that they are in need....

And Hollywood all a twitter about Slumdog the movie...they should go up the street and bring some dinner and blankets...

and yeah, 165 Million would buy ALOT of care, shelter, homes and food and healthcare even....

Distributorcap said...

enigma -- this is just the tip of the iceberg

a sequel to the Grapes of Wrath

it is sad and sickening -- and our congress -- Nero fiddling as ROme is burning

i am so angered by everything i feel frozen -- and i feel like retreating

enigma4ever said...

Don't retreat Dcap...we will need ALL hands on deck...
we need to take care of each other...