General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCity of Fresno to raze Homeless Ministry Church 9/9 at 8am
(church is in third encampment to be razed in Fresno)
FRESNO HOMELESS ADVOCATES
A Coalition for Humane and Affordable Housing Policy
Contacts: Pastor Ray Polk
Homeless Ministry
H Street, south of Ventura Blvd.
Fresno, CA 93721
559.853.7787
Georgia Williams
Member, Fresno Homeless Advocates
559.250.6956
georgiam@csufresno.edu
FRESNO HOMELESS ADVOCATES COALTION IN OPPOSITION TO RAZING OF THE HOMELESS MINISTRY, LED BY PASTOR RAY POLK
For Immediate Release:
The City of Fresnos razing of a third homeless encampment on H Street, south of Ventura Blvd., will begin at 7:00am on Monday, September 9, 2013. The city will demolish the entire encampment, including Pastor Ray Polks Homeless Ministry, a physical church and a long-term spiritual service to the homeless and poor of Fresno.
At 8:00am on Monday, September 9, 2013, Pastor Ray Polk, with support from Pastor Darla Nunes and Pastor Joey Robison, along with others in the faith community, will hold what may be the last church service of Pastor Polks current community ministry.
Pastor Polk believes that he is doing Gods work, and that if the City of Fresno insists on demolishing Gods church, they will have to do it themselves. Pastor Polk says, With Gods help, I built the church, but the City will have to take it down, nail by nail.
For further information about Fresno Homeless Advocates, see http://helpfresnoshomeless.org/ or email georgiam@csufresno.edu.
sign the petition'
http://www.change.org/petitions/city-of-fresno-end-homeless-camp-demolition-establish-humane-affordable-housing-policy
annm4peace
(6,119 posts)By Jessie Speer
The author, Jessie Speer (center), with Ray Polk (left) and Larry Collins (right) at the H street homeless encampment, which the City of Fresno plans to bulldoze on Sept. 9.
Imagine a young woman. Close your eyes and see her in front of youher hopeful gaze, her restless hands. Now imagine one morning she cant get out of bed. The doctor says its brain chemistry, but her family cant afford the treatment she needs. There is no shelter space, so she ends up living in an encampment on the banks of a canal near downtown Fresno. One day the city announces it will bulldoze her tent, destroying everything she has.
This is not a nightmare. This is the real story of a young woman I met this summer while conducting interviews for a masters thesis on Fresno homelessness with Syracuse University.
***Dispatch from the War Zone - Week Two***
The City of Fresno is in their second week of destroying homeless encampments in the downtown area. To see photos of the demolition and people trying to escape, go to:
Mnemosyne
(21,363 posts)annm4peace
(6,119 posts)I thought the same thing also but it took a couple of seconds and the numbers increased... last I looked it was at 300+ which is sadly low.
Thank you very much for signing. I can't tell you how much it means for the local small but very hard working activists there.
Mnemosyne
(21,363 posts)And you are welcome, wish I could do more. I guess not much attention is paid because half the board is busy arguing about Syria.
DU has sure changed over the years...