[Action-forum] Good News for the Homeless
Jane Scharf
Police Violence towards the homeless
Police appear to have stopped beating homeless people up, ripping up their
id, calling them derogatory names, stealing their knapsacks and driving them
out of town and dropping them off. I hope the police administration stays on
this and it remains permanent
The homeless are still illegally prohibited from panhandling by police. They
are still being ticketed on masse for violations of the Safe Streets Act
where no such violations are taking place for example they are tickets for
"soliciting near a bus stop (up to two blocks away) when the act only
prohibits soliciting a person waiting a bus stop.
The homeless are still being ticketed for illegal camping when sleeping
outside.
The homeless are also still harassed for sitting on the sidewalk and made to
move.
The homeless are prohibited from selling arts, crafts, flowers, busking,
street newspaper and other literature
Hiring the Homeless
The work programs for homeless people are now actually hiring people who are
truly homeless with multiple barriers to employment. This is the first time
I have seen this in the four years I have been street involved. I hope this
is a permanent shift in the practice for the city.
Catherine Welfare Office
The abusive treatment of clients at the Catherine Welfare Office some of
which is captured in the stories on homelesscrisis.tripod.com
have ceased.
The material response to the homeless at the welfare offices remains dismal
however. The homeless are still not supported to find and maintain housing.
And housing policy discriminates against the homeless.
All the homeless protestors on the list that the mayor agreed to help when
he illegal shut down tent city in the summer of 2004 did not receive
assistance to establish and maintain housing as agreed and almost all are
still homeless.
Specifically ask council to:
If you want to help please voice your opinion to the Task Force on the
Homeless and The Safe Streets Act. Call the chair Sean McKenny of the Ottawa
District Labour Council (862-5150) to find out when and how to present to
the task force. Or contact your councillor.
Demand justice for our most vulnerable citizens.
1. Scrap the designated spaces program and the vending on highways bylaws
(which covers all streets and sidewalks as well) These bylaws prohibit all
street vending arts, crafts, busking, flowers, street newspapers and other
literature.
2. Stop ticketing and arresting people for panhandling
3. Stop ticketing and arresting people for sleeping outside or sitting on a
sidewalk
4. Provide help to homeless persons to establish and maintain housing
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