FW: March for Homeless Families

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Sonja Darai

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Nov 29, 2012, 7:28:42 PM11/29/12

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Sonja Darai, Office of Somerville Commissions

Health Department Program of the City of Somerville

617-625-6600, x2406

From: Anne Sheldon [mailto:ashe...@RosiesPlace.org]
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2012 2:50 PM
To: Sonja Darai
Subject: FW: March for Homeless Families

Hi Sonja,

I hope that you are doing well!

Anyways, I want to make sure that you got the flyer for the up-coming march for homeless families. Do you think you can make it to the march? Can you spread the word to folks? Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks and take care,

Anne Sheldon

Public Policy Assistant

889 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 02118
617-318-0244 (direct)
617-442-9322 (main)
617-989-2729 (fax)
Rosie's Place Public Policy Program

From: Katy Erker
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 12:36 PM
Cc: Anne Sheldon
Subject: DHCD's regulations warrant a 51-A: Come March for Homeless Families!

Greetings,

We hope that everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving! Now that we have all recovered from our festivities, it’s time to take action!

As many of you know, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) issued new restrictive eligibility requirements for EA family shelter. With these new regulations, 70% of families that apply for shelter are now denied! One of the most concerning parts of these new regulations is that some families applying for shelter have to prove that they are literally staying in a place “not meant for human habitation.” What constitutes a place “not meant for human habitation,” you ask? A car, a park, a train station, a parking lot, the emergency room, a porch, you get the idea. Despite efforts to amend the regulations to include families at “imminent risk of staying in a place not meant for human habitation,” many families are still forced to live in these conditions before they can be deemed “homeless enough” for DHCD to grant them shelter.

With winter on the horizon, these regulations are dangerous and irresponsible!

So, let’s take it to the streets! On Wednesday, December 12^th at 12:00 PM (12/12/12 @ 12:00) we will be marching from the gate of the Massachusetts State House, to the DHCD office, 100 Cambridge St., to deliver a symbolic 51-A to DHCD. A 51-A is a report of child neglect that someone files with the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

This is an opportunity to demonstrate that DHCD’s misguided policies neglect children in the Commonwealth by requiring that they sleep in unsafe conditions before they are eligible for shelter.

Can you join us for this event? Can you share the invite with your friends and colleagues? Please share the attached flyer widely!

Questions? Comments? Contact:

Katy Erker: ker...@rosiesplace.org 617-318-0223

Anne Sheldon: Ashe...@rosiesplace.org 617-318-0244

In solidarity,

Katy & Anne

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