PHOTO/MICHELLE SNEIDER
OAKLAND, CA —Everyday I’m trying to figure out how to help my community— whether I’m making a training module LGBTQ inclusive, changing the narrative in spaces where parents aren’t represented, or assisting a single mom who cannot get child care. After days, weeks, and months of supporting others and trying to make sure all voices are heard, I often have no fight left for me.
Since February of 2018 I’ve been experiencing housing instability . . . again. My daughter and I were wrongfully evicted from the unit I rented for over eight years in North Oakland. Our journey really began in March 2008 after my child support payments stopped. I was left with the awful decision many are faced with—either quit my job and collect aid, or cut my overhead and move into a room in someone’s home. Cash aid from CalWORKS would not have been enough to pay the rent, meaning that I would have wound up moving anyway. My baby girl and I began renting a room from some extended family members. She was six months old and has been sharing a room with me ever since. She will be twelve in November.
Can you imagine being in a meeting with legislative staffers advocating for affordable childcare while worrying about your own child saying something about your lack of stable housing to a teacher? Can you imagine educating caregivers and parents on their rights, while feeling powerless to assert your own?
Our stories and struggles are interconnected as is our progress and success. I fight for affordable high quality childcare even though I no longer need it because of my child’s age. Others fight to house Oakland’s homeless, and I’m honored to support their work whenever I can, however I can. Be kind to the people fighting for and with you.
Colorado was part of World Homeless Day. Us two, braved a bit of snow 1/2 an inch, and furious wind. To attempt to make our part of the world, better. By making them aware of a fraud played on, tenants.
The USA, ranks 46th out of the 50 worst counties as far as the rate of homelessness. Some counties has no homelessness. And the US, is, in the top, 10 or so, in income. That top 10 income, goes to 20 families, or so.
The reporter who investigated our story, plus the society story, and the personal story, seemed to have an open mind, about the homeless. And she took a photo of us, after the snow was coming down, with force.
We Told her that, Landlords are using a non-existing law, that tenants must have, 2 two three times, the monthly income as the rent. While this does not affect Trust funds babies, or someone working for $17.00 an hour. It does harms the class of the homeless. And those working for minimum wage.
Next Session the state legislation will address a new law addressing Income requirement for rents. Its not known if the lawmakers will take the side of the renter, or the landlord, on this issue.
It is even doubted that state lawmaker’s has the power to enforce any monthly income. This is according to the US Constitution, and the Federal Law, the Fair housing Act.
End All poverty and A Homeless person, is considering suing the town and landlords. Before any law, can be illegally
or legally passed.
This is information the average person is usually unaware of. As they are working to survive, not reading law-books. Having a person in my home, with this unwarranted Obstacles, thrown at her and being retired, gives me time to research the statutes, on the internet.
Its time the USA drops its rank in homelessness, down to
# 20 in rank, in homelessness or less. Which can be done through Fairness on this issue.
We are asking that compassionate landlord, drop rent to 1/2 the income as $500 to $700. on someone on disability making $1,000 a month.
And if this is done for 30% of renters the landowner can collect the rest of the rent from the government if he just has say 5 out of 100 lower rent, renters, he will have long term tenants and not have say 2 months of unrented apts, at a lost of $2,000+ in a year.
The 1st winter storm, marks what could be the beginning of force for a better way of life. All working and badly paid by the government, needs to have a decent amount of rent to pay, no inflation. The Solution must be designed to cover everyone. Not 1/4 of those in need, world wide. That make us, in need snap and quarrel like a pack of wild dogs.