Shutoffs and foreclosures threaten lives

By Sylvia Orduño, Michigan Welfare Rights Organizer

DETROIT, MI — It has been nearly two months since two United Nations Special Rapporteurs visited Detroit and heard dozens of testimonials and stories about human rights violations against poor and low income residents. In a firm public statement to Detroit and Michigan officials, the United Nations’ visitors outlined the governmental responsibilities that municipalities have to their citizens, as stipulated in international agreements signed by the U.S. government. (See the U.N. statement at ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=15188)
Among the indisputable responsibilities of government is ensuring that poor residents have access to running water in their homes, and at affordable rates. Without water human life is at risk, especially among the most vulnerable residents like babies, children, the infirmed and people with disabilities.
These reminders to local officials about international human rights treaties did not move them to act. In fact, they were indignant that “outsiders” dared to come to their town and tell them what should be done. Thousands of poor Detroiters are still living without water and many families are still apart as parents protect their children from forced separation by human service authorities.
Above and beyond this, over 100,000 low-income residents in Wayne County, Michigan have been issued tax foreclosure notices against their homes. The majority of these have been delivered to Detroit residents—many of whom have had disputed overdue water bills placed on their homes as tax liens.
Low temperatures have settled in to the region creating additional hardship for people who live in homes heated by radiator steam. And to make matters worse, DTE Energy has begun a massive number of shutoffs for customers with overdue bills on electricity and natural gas. They are truly trying to kill us!
There is no doubt we are witnessing unprecedented attacks on the working class, some of which we might have not believed would ever happen in this country. Corporations and politicians are denying people the basics of life as they collude to privatize and profit from public assets.
The Michigan Welfare Rights Organization’s office is deluged daily by people desperately wanting to know where to find help on their utility and housing needs. The answers are always the same: there is almost no help as governments cut away at public assistance services; and non-profit agencies funded by corporations frequently limit assistance through restrictions.
It’s incredible to see how much poor people can bear and manage with so little. Rarely are we asked what can be done to change the situation. Voting is not the answer nor is simply marching on the streets. We need to reject outright this unjust economic system that benefits the few and build a new system that prioritizes the human rights of the many.
We begin this by refuting the denial of water, utilities and housing to local officials and demanding provisions that protect life. There are successful examples of this all around us that get magnified through storytelling and images shared around the world. We harness our power for change when we reject decisions that prioritize profits over people for the kind of world we want and deserve.