Better info Re: City of Escondido nixes NO-COST Emergency Winter Shelter

Written by: Martha Sullivan on Dec 23, 2006 3:45 AM EST

Linked to groups: San Diego for Democracy

Here is the latest info (see following) -- our e-mails, phone calls and so forth HAVE had an impact, BUT as you'll read in the following it is only a short-term (2 week) reprieve, and we need to keep the pressure on the Escondido City Council.

SO -- pls, continue to lend your voice to this grassroots effort to convince the Escondido City Council that the "least among us" deserve at least a warm, safe place to sleep during the winter.  Here's the contact info, once more:

1. Would be great to get coverage of this -- so at odds with basic decency -- into larger media to show the City Council for what they are.  Posting this on blogs, getting journalists/media personalities interested in it ... use link to NC Times story tonight:

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/12/23/news/inland/21_28_3712_22_06.txt

2. And also encouraging a deluge of e-mails, letters and phone calls into the Escondido City Council offices, with a simple "SHAME" ...  here's the Councilmembers' e-mail addys and a phone # for the City Council's office (remember that Mayor Lori Holt-Pfeiler was sole supporting Councilmember, so should get a THANK YOU instead of "SHAME" message):  http://www.ci.escondido.ca.us/government/members/index.html

Snail Mail address:  City of Escondido, 201 North Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025

(Maybe a card to remind them of shelter offered to a traveling couple, delivering their first child?)

THANK YOU for your consideration --

Martha

Subj: Winter Shelter Update 

Date: Friday, December 22, 2006 3:33:17 PM

From: ganglea@interfaithservices.org

Before the long weekend, I want to update everyone on the status of a Winter Shelter in Escondido...

Beginning tonight, the Salvation Army will be hosting an emergency, weather-activated shelter.  The shelter will be open when the nightly weather is forecast to be below 40 degrees, and/or raining.  Maximum capacity is 50 persons.

Interfaith will handle all of the case management and referrals to this temporary shelter.  As I write this update, volunteers here at Interfaith are serving a special holiday dinner to some of the same folks who are in need of shelter.  A team of social workers from Interfaith will be meeting with each attendee individually, to make sure that everyone is warm and dry tonight.  We have already sent lots and lots of sleeping bags over to the Salvation Army, and we'll be providing hot meals (nightly) for each person.

For the interim, this is very good news.  However, it must be stressed that the current shelter at the Salvation Army is just a reprieve, a stop-gap that will ensure beds for the homeless when the weather demands it, but only until January 6th.

So what needs to be done?

Keep up the pressure!  Everyone has done an amazing job of writing and calling City Council members, city officials, writing letters to the editors of the Union Tribune and North County Times, and simply making it known that we will not stand by idle, that we will not allow the city to shirk this all-to-easy solution.

We have succeeded in the interim, but the weather will be cold and wet long after January 6th.  Please please do continue to be heard - it had already made a tremendous impact. 

It is not too late for the City Council to change its course.  It is not too late for each Council Member to recognize the very simple solution that will save lives...that will prevent people from freezing to death on our streets.

It has been a long and arduous week for many of us - and I am glad to report that because of your actions, there are beds tonight for those who had none the night before.  Interfaith, and the desperately impoverished of our community, still need your help.  Donations are needed so that Interfaith can provide sleeping bags, bedding mats, meals, and when needed, motel vouchers. (You can make your TAX-DEDUCTIBLE donation on-line, at www.interfaithservices.org)

Above all else, please continue to make your voice heard.

Have a wonderful holiday, I simply cannot thank you enough for your help and support this last week.

Greg Anglea

Director of Development

Interfaith Community Services

550 W. Washington Ave., Ste. B

Escondido, CA 92025

760-489-6380 ext. 220

www.interfaithservices.org

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