We call on Seattle & King County leaders to #BringPeopleInsideNOW!
Sign our petition urging Seattle City Councilmembers to expand shelter, extend day center hours, and open community centers in the 2016 Budget, and urging Mayor Murray to open community centers as he would in any other emergency
Dear Coalition Members and Friends:
You only get to declare a state of emergency once, so it had better count. In declaring a state of emergency, Mayor Murray and Executive Constantine have created a crucial opportunity to bring additional focus to the all-too-obvious crisis for thousands of people each day and night. They have proposed investments that, while important, do not match the urgency or scope of the crisis before us. We need to work together to change that.
Please join us in contacting Seattle City Councilmembers, and insisting that declarations be backed with actions that will bring many more people inside safely and with dignity.
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Women in Black document how many people who are homeless have died outside or by violence. As of Veterans’ Day, the names of 57 women and men are listed this year.
We have much work to do. Please join us next Thursday, Nov. 19, to learn more about the States of Emergency declared in our community and in Portland, L.A., and Hawaii, and to develop additional actions.
General Membership Meeting
Thursday, November 19, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. at E. Cherry YWCA – See Agenda below.
Sign & Share petition to Seattle City Council & Mayor Ed Murray calling for an emergency response to #BringPeopleInsideNOW
Seattle City Councilmembers are making final budget decisions now, and voting on Monday. Please join the Coalition, and 300+ people who have signed our petiton. Urge Council to re-direct the Mayor’s proposed $2.3M for the Rainy Day Fund to bring Seattle residents in out of the rain now. Urge Mayor Murray to open community centers as detailed in the city’s emergency response plan.
Take Action:
Step 1: sign and circulate our petition
Step 2: Call & personally e-mail councilmembers (Sample here from Coalition Board Member Sara Robbins):
| Councilmember Bagshaw Sally.Bagshaw@seattle.gov (206) 684-8801 |
Councilmember Burgess Tim.Burgess@seattle.gov (206) 684-8806 |
Councilmember O’Brien Mike.OBrien@seattle.gov (206) 684-8800 |
| Councilmember Harrell Bruce.Harrell@seattle.gov (206) 684-8804 |
Councilmember Rasmussen Tom.Rasmussen@seattle.gov (206) 684-8808 |
Councilmember Okamoto John.Okamoto@seattle.gov (206) 684-8802 |
| Councilmember Licata Nick.Licata@seattle.gov (206) 684-8803 |
Councilmember Sawant Kshama.Sawant@seattle.gov (206) 684-8016 |
Councilmember Godden Jean.Godden@seattle.gov (206) 684-8807 |
Friday, November 13 ~ Everyone is welcome to a
Film Screening & Discussion:
Everywhere But Safe: Public Injecting in New York
Location: Town Hall – LOWER LEVEL (1119 8th Ave, Seattle, 98101)
Time: Doors open at 6.00 p.m., Screening at 7.00 p.m.
More info: Click here!
Homeless States of Emergency in News & on 11/19 General Membership Agenda!
Our Thursday, Nov. 19 General Membership meeting agenda is:
What should a strong county-wide emergency response to the crisis of people without shelter look like?
- Learn about the State of Emergency declarations in L.A., Portland, Hawai’i and Seattle & King County
- Debrief the Seattle/King County declaration ~ what is known, what is not
- What is happening in other parts of our state?
- What are opportunities for advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels?
Get a headstart by reading this recent news coverage:
- Publicola (Seattle Met): In Budget Fight with Mayor Murray, Homeless Advocates Want $2.3 Million in Rainy Day Fund Money: “It’s Raining Now!” They Say
- KUOW interviews featuring Alison Eisinger, Coalition on Homelessness, and Daniel Malone, DESC
- Governing Magazine piece comparing recent declarations of states of emergency in L.A., Portland, Hawaii, Seattle/King County.
- Real Change Article on Seattle and King County’s declaration of State of Emergency
- Seattlish writers encourage signatures for $2.3M
We hope to see you next Thursday, November 19. As usual we meet from 9.00-11.00 a.m. at the E. Cherry St. YWCA (2820 E. Cherry St. in Seattle).
Thank you,
~ Alison