2005 Events

Highlights of 2005 Events of
Religious Witness with Homeless People

January 30, 2005
Honoring Our Covenant of Compassion with Homeless People
Over 200 of us gathered in front of City Hall to bear witness to the unjust aspects of the implementation of the Care Not Cash (CNC) program, as revealed directly to us by homeless men and women themselves.

While much of the local media, especially the SF Chronicle, has repeatedly and extensively covered the number of homeless people transitioned into housing and Mayor Newsom's Project Connect events, it has consistently ignored some very serious new problems that have arisen for thousands of homeless people as a direct result of the injustice in the implementation of CNC. Indeed, the Chronicle has created an atmosphere in which it seems almost “unpatriotic” or “disloyal” to even question aspects of this administration’s efforts to solve homelessness.

We want to make this perfectly clear: We do not question Mayor Newsom’s personal commitment to “end homelessness as we know it.” Furthermore, we acknowledge and appreciate the fact that 835 formerly homeless people have been placed into housing (as of April 30, 2005). After all, for 11 years Religious Witness has actively campaigned to make housing for homeless people a priority for this City.

However, we stand with homeless people who have told us that the unfairness in the implementation of CNC has caused greater suffering among both the 2,000 homeless welfare recipients targeted by CNC and among the roughly 12,000 other homeless people not on welfare.

We seek to correct these injustices by whatever means might prove helpful, including meeting and working with Mayor Gavin Newsom and those in his administration directly responsible for implementing the CNC program.

We gathered together because, as Rev. Jana Drakka of the San Francisco Zen Center so eloquently stated in her opening speech, "The profound intrinsic compassion of the human heart compels us to respond to the suffering of our neighbors and to act in whatever ways we can to alleviate their suffering and to address the causes of that suffering. We come here today because our sisters and brothers who have no homes have called out to us to come and listen to them in their hour of suffering...."

This service featured testimony from homeless individuals who have experienced first-hand the unfairness of the current implementation of Care Not Cash. In addition, we celebrated the enduring strength of homeless people through sacred dance (led by Carla deSola of Omega West Dance Company), passionate poetry by the Po' Poets of POOR Magazine and a stirring a cappella composition entitled "Are You One of the Homeless?" written and performed by Linda Hirschorn (founder of Vocolot Ensemble). Religious leaders and members of the interfaith community were joined by other caring members of the broader community to remind us, as Rev. Dr. Dorsey Blake explained in his speech, that "... genuine compassion leads to action."

September 18-20, 2005 Three-Day Memorial (Wall) Service
	Lest We Forget... Please be sure to review our website section covering our recent Three-Day Memorial Service, held September 18-20, 2005.

December 1, 2005 Religious Leaders Speak Out on San Francisco’s Policy on Homelessness

We wish to draw attention to the contradictory aspects of our City’s Policy on Homelessness, those that are indeed just and compassionate and those that are unfair and downright mean. Changes in the negative aspects are possible only when honestly recognized and admitted by our elected officials. Deep in our hearts all members of this community want a Policy on Homelessness which is comprehensively compassionate and just, one which honors the dignity and basic human rights of our thousands of our neighbors who have no homes. Please also refer to our Resolution which we will be presented to the Board of Supervisors early in 2006. For more information about our Press Conference, please click here.

December 1-2, 2005 Sleep-out: A Spiritual Presence of Solidarity
	We held a Sleep-out in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who have no choice but to sleep and camp on the streets and in the parks of our City. Although the weather was extremely cold and rainy, around 25 of us gathered to experience for one night what so many of our homeless sisters and brothers must endure every night. And despite the cold, wet weather, there was, over all, a great feeling of warmth, camaraderie and kinship.

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