Homeless in the California Storms: We are in a State of Emergency!

Latest

Tents along the American River in Sacramento CA

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA — We have the Sheriff sweeping unhoused people during an emergency cyclone weather bomb. They are doing sweeps on Roseville Rd., attacking camps in extreme weather, and taking people’s RVs. This is absolutely unacceptable. 

We need the community to reach out to the Board of Supervisors and City Council, write letters and let them know that we are in an emergency. This is our community and we are halfway underwater in a lot of places.

It’s already hard enough to be unhoused. Add a horrific storm. People are taking scraps of tents to make new shelters. I watched them build this tent from 4x4s, three pallets of wood, pieces of plastic, and leftover scraps from the last storm. A 70-year-old man and his developmentally disabled son live here.

Money is what it is – capitalism – but at the end of the day we need to support each other, our neighbors, and not allow law enforcement to harass our people, those who are trying to shelter themselves from this storm. 

We are in a state of emergency, and unhoused individuals should not be criminalized for acts of survival.

Update, January 7 and 8:

Last night around 6 p.m., an unhoused woman died as a tree came down on her tent. All night long we were receiving calls and just sitting on the phone with people as the storm passed to make sure that they were okay. We had 70-mile-an-hour winds and rain.

And today we just found out one of our senior veteran friends and plaintiff’s for a previous case at Roseville Road also was crushed last night along with his dog.

+ Articles by this author

Crystal Sanchez is with the Sacramento Homeless Union.

The People’s Tribune opens its pages to voices of the movement for change. Our articles are written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Articles entitled “From the Editors” reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: peoplestribune.orgPlease donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement for change. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff. The People’s Tribune is a 501C4 organization.

1 COMMENT

  1. I pray I find someone to help me get my housing that sure that was taken from me without due process reinstated so that I here on Roseville Road as a single senior citizen lady stop my daily struggles that I have.
    We came to us 2 weeks ago that we were going to have to leave in the head we’re giving us 6 weeks which now has turned into 3 weeks so we’re down to one week left. They have been social workers out here talking to everybody but they have not talked to me could enforcement came out to talk to people but they didn’t talk to me so I’m very lost at what to do…
    I don’t understand why I can’t be put into a motel until my housing just reinstated so I can look for my new housing.
    The weather this year is extremely colder that’s ever been before it’s a bone chilling cold, it’s a cold you can’t shake. Plus up and down Roseville Road is extremely dangerous especially for a single senior citizen woman. If anybody has any ideas on what I could do please reply to this message or call me at 916-293-6639 or email me at Michele4Law2023@gmail.com

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

Chicagoans Call Out ICE and Home Depot in Defense of Day Laborers

Community residents, union members, and elected officials gathered outside a Home Depot in Chicago to ask for solidarity with Day Laborers facing daily threats of ICE raids, and for Home Depot to take a stand against the raids.

Trump’s Federal Cuts Hit Texas Food Banks Hard

One in six Texans faces food insecurity; hunger touches every community. "It’s not just somebody else’s problem. The loss of public funding is larger than a food bank can bring in," says a Texas food bank CEO.

Day of the Dead Vigils Pay Tribute to Those Who have Died in ICE Custody

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a respected Mexican tradition celebrated on November 1 and 2, honors those who have passed away. In recent years, Day of the Dead celebrations have honored those who have died in ICE custody.

‘Jesus Is Being Tear Gassed At Broadview’

The struggle to close the Broadview ICE facility in Chicago includes clergy who are part of a movement of religious leaders opposed to the assault on immigrants.

No Kings Rallies Show the Fight Is On!

No Kings Day showed the rising awareness of people to how dangerous the situation is, that everyone’s rights, living standards, and democracy itself is in danger. Millions are mobilizing in diverse ways to confront the situation.

More from the People's Tribune