The 2008 One Night Count found more than 2,600 persons surviving outside in greater Seattle on a winter night when emergency shelters were full. Meanwhile, the Mayor's Office continues to pursue a policy of demolishing homeless people's encampments and throwing away their property without providing any alternative shelter.
It is inhumane and immoral to punish people for living outside when there is not enough shelter or affordable housing to meet the need.
Mayor Nickels should stop all non-emergency sweeps immediately and expand housing and services instead of criminalizing survival.
On March 13th, we'll make that point loud and clear. We need sign wavers and petition gatherers for daytime shifts on the 13th, people to bring a tent and a friend and spend the night with us at City Hall, and people to come help take down the temporary encampment on Friday March 14th.
Sign up to help: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1060/signUp.jsp?key=3126
Sing the petition and leave the Mayor a personal note: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1060/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=921
Download the Stop the Sweeps Petition
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