WHEREAS:
AFSCME represents many social workers that aid in improving the quality of life for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness both within municipalities and at private non-profits; and
WHEREAS:
The deep pressures of the economic crisis remain unresolved for many working families, especially people and families from non-dominant cultures, single heads of households and low-wage working people; and
WHEREAS:
Violence affects the lives of many people experiencing homelessness and people experiencing poverty, and for women and LGBTQ youth, domestic violence is a leading cause of people experiencing homelessness; and
WHEREAS:
A housing state of emergency has been declared in several large cities, Los Angeles, Seattle and Portland, Oregon, on the west coast of the United States; and
WHEREAS:
The United States has a long history of using malicious and discriminatory laws to keep particular people out of public spaces and the public consciousness; and
WHEREAS:
With Jim Crow, Ugly Laws, Anti-Okie Laws, Operation Wetback and Sundown Towns, people were charged with criminal behavior on the basis of their racial, economic, social, immigration or disability status; and
WHEREAS:
The Department of Justice statement of interest that argues that making it a crime for people who are homeless to sleep in public places, when there is insufficient shelter space in a city, unconstitutionally punishes them for being homeless; andWHEREAS:
In 2012, Rhode Island passed the nation’s first statewide Homeless Bill of Rights, which will allow them to prioritize solutions that are more humane, less expensive and more successful in reducing the impact of homelessness on communities and individuals; and
WHEREAS:
The Western Regional Advocacy Project has been leading the legislative reform efforts to bring full civil rights to unhoused people in Oregon, California and Colorado.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME supports legislation such as “The Right to Rest Act Homeless Bill of Rights,” which would protect people without homes from violations of their basic human rights, and the people who serve them from penalties; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME and its affiliates support the organization of mutual aid groups as a means to aid people experiencing unsheltered homelessness; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME and its affiliates support the development of democratically-run, co-op non-profits to end the abuse and misuse of funds, clients and workers that the traditional corporate non-profits that administer government grants too often do; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME and its affiliates support legislation and initiatives that fund the organizations where our members work at homeless shelters; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That AFSCME works to reverse the loss of shelter work from municipalities to private non-profit organizations by expanding the work and role of municipalities in sheltering and supporting the transition to housing for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the United States and beyond.
SUBMITTED BY:
Jackie Tate, President and Delegate
Hilary Zust, Secretary and Delegate
AFSCME Local 88, Council 75
Oregon