[Peace-discuss] update and apology on time mix-up

Wed Jul 8 16:36:15 CDT 2009

With the tons of empty buildings -- and more to be emptied soon b/c of the recession/depression, I'd say go for permanent structures and have them zoned for shelters... or -- even better -- let the churches walk the walk and turn their empty spaces into homeless shelters. Nobody should have to erect and/or live in a tent city when there are plenty of perfectly acceptable empty buildings and unused spaces in partly occupied buildings (like churches) available w/ heat, AC, running water and toilets, electricity, etc.
 --Jenifer 

--- On Wed, 7/8/09, E. Wayne Johnson <ewj at pigs.ag> wrote:

From: E. Wayne Johnson <ewj at pigs.ag>
Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] update and apology on time mix-up
To: "John W." <jbw292002 at gmail.com>
Cc: "Peace-discuss" <peace-discuss at anti-war.net>, "CU Announce list" <announce at lists.communitycourtwatch.org>, "Abbilyn Harmon" <abbilyn at gmail.com>
Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2009, 2:47 PM

Several weeks ago there was a meeting in the Wahlfeldt room in the IMC basement to discuss
various community needs that can arrive with the deepening of the economic depression.

Belden Fields and I as well as others discussed that housing will become a significant need, and that
local regulations that control housing and shelter would become an issue, and that current regulations
would exacerbate the problem, and that those regulations would need to be modified or relaxed
if people were to be housed.  Even taking people into your home and making a place for them in
your home to get them out of the cold and wet could become a serious violation of local codes.  The time
for modification of the codes to permit temporary and emergency housing has arrived.

There is a perception that people living in tents tend to be dirty disorderly drunken unkempt unwashed, and those who are chronically
homeless are often said to be in need of treatment for mental illness.  Not all of those characterizations
are always totally incorrect, but the lack of concern for others is a major problem that plagues the genteel and well-off,
who hope that by "raising the standard" they will cause the "riff-raff" to "move on".

This problem of regulations that are set up to protect the "haves" from the "have-nots" will be more and more of a
problem as the depression deepens.  It will require specific action by the local governing bodies to provide emergency
aid for the economic refugees and refusees.  Otherwise the dull and imperceptive gentry will continue to torment those
who simply want to lend a helping hand, and they will impel the petty functionaries of the bureaucracy to follow the codes,
and punish those who want to do right by their fellow man.

The issue of temporary and "emergency" housing is already past the crisis point.  Further, winter is coming.

It is time for those who really care and who are truly are aware to take action.  Government is absolutely terrified that
someone is going to ask them for money.  Actually is not the government's money that is needed but rather
its mercy in helping to create a solution.

On 7/8/2009 12:57 PM, John W. wrote: 
Abby, you mention churches as an alternative to Catholic Worker House for Safe Haven.  Wouldn't the problem be the same?  If the church is within the city limits of the City of Champaign (or Urbana), wouldn't local zoning regulations apply to ban a tent city?  If the church is outside city limits but within Champaign County, do you happen to know what the county zoning regulations are?

John Wason

On Wed, Jul 8, 2009 at 10:10 AM, Abbilyn Harmon <abbilyn at gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all,

First, I apologize for the mix-up on the time of the People's Potluck.
 I really hope the corrective message got around in time!

Safe Haven invites you to view the entire 3-part series on our
organization, currently running in Smile Politely, an online Champaign
magazine (www.smilepolitely.com).

Safe Haven is faced with dire circumstances as I write this email.
Just today, News Gazette reported that the city is "cracking down" on
the code violations at St. Jude Catholic Worker House, who currently
hosts us, and that Safe Haven must be off the property by July 17 or
face $750 fines per day (see
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/living/2009/07/08/host_of_code_violations_found_at_catholic_worker_house).
 These actions on the part of the city are overt attacks on both
organizations, and we, as an activist community, must respond to these
attacks.  We ask that you reach out to local news media through
letters to the editor, opinion pieces, blogging, etc.  Also, pick up a
copy of the Public I to see the IMC's take on our housing crisis.

More to the physical problem, Safe Haven cannot endanger the future of
St. Jude Catholic Worker House.  We are actively seeking churches who
see it as their mission to support our organization by providing land
for us to move to.  Please email any possibilities to
cu.tentcommunity at gmail.com or call 217.417.8589.  We appreciate your
support and assistance!

Take care,

Safe Haven

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