PERSECUTED HOMELESS SEEK ASYLUM FROM AMERICAN PERSECUTION
2019 Making a Presence on KPBS NEWS San Diego
Supported Black Lives Matter Protest in La Mesa CA at the La Mesa Police Dept.
On Nov 5, 2019 in my presence, my husband (Steven Roberts) spoke to KPBS reporter Matt Hoffman regarding San Diego's Fourth Street Shelter on the 17th Street Downtown in San Diego (ground zero of San Diego's homeless disaster and crisis and the epicenter for the Hepatitis A virus).
AFFORDABLE ACCESSIBLE HOUSING!
NOT SHELTERS!
Supported Black Lives Matter Protest in La Mesa CA at the La Mesa Police Dept.
Supported Black Lives Matter Protest in La Mesa CA at the La Mesa Police Dept.
On June 14th, 2020 we attended the second protest on June 14th, 2020 in the parking lot of the La Mesa Police Department in support of Black Lives Matter.
Civil Rights Filed Against State of CA for Cruel & Unusual Punishment
PUSH Documentary sponsored by the Disability Rights CA about homelessness in San Diego and elsewhere
On or about October 2020, without assistance of attorney nor funds to retain one, we filed a Civil Rights Complaint against GAVIN NEWSON, Governor of the State of California, et al., as Defendants in the United States District Court Southern District of California (Case No.: 20-cv-00315-AJB-JLB) alleging among other the subjection to cruel and unusual punishment on being deprived shelter as disabled individuals and adult dependents. The Court dismissed the case.
PUSH Documentary sponsored by the Disability Rights CA about homelessness in San Diego and elsewhere
PUSH Documentary sponsored by the Disability Rights CA about homelessness in San Diego and elsewhere
On November 10th, 2020 at 6pm, we participated in the PUSH documentary virtually regarding homelessness in San Diego and elsewhere.
San Diego County Cease & Desist-Inhumane Treatment of Homeless-Deprivation of Shelter
On March 3, 2022, we prepared a Cease and Desist regarding the inhumane treatment of homeless individuals, including the deprivation of shelter of San Diego homeless individuals.
On March 5th, 2022, Colleen Cusack Civil Attorney (who was not legally representing us with such), homeless advocate and acquittance of ours posted the Cease and Desist on her Twitter Account which yielded around 10,000 View in Two Days.
We are grateful to her and other homeless advocates like her who fight to protect the rights of the homeless who are suffering and dying on the streets.
March 2022-San Diego-Petition to Investigate City for Inhumane Treatment of Homeless
On March 7, 2022, we filed a petition to San Diego County Officials ( Mayor of San Diego Todd Gloria and 5 others), regarding the inhumane treatment of San Diego Homeless.
As of todays date (06/27/2024) the Petition has had 1,150 Views, 33 Shares, 4 promoters and 87 Supporters.
RISE UP! and help save and enrich the lives of thousands of societies' most vulnerable, the homeless who are dying and suffering on the streets.
March 2022-Petition in Opposition to Governor Newsom's CARE Court Proposal-End Coerced Treatment
On March 10, 2022, we filed a petition to
President of the United States Joseph R. Biden and 1 other in Opposition to Governor Newsom's Care Court Proposal, to End Coerced Treatment.
As of todays date (06/27/2024) the Petition has had 767 Views, 14 Shares, 1 Promoter and 28 Supporters.
March 12th, 2022 Petition to Stop San Diego Homeless Criminalization
On March 12, 2022, we filed a petition to Stop San Diego Homeless Criminalization.
PUNISH ME FOR SOMETHING WITHIN MY CONTROL NOT FOR SOMETHING BEYOND MY CONTROL -C4TWC
As of todays date (06/27/2024) the Petition has had 1,033 Views, 50 Shares, 2 Promoters and 105 Supporters.
March 15th, 2022 Supported Homeless Vigil
April 2022 Petition to Recognize March 15th as “San Diego Homeless Memorial Day” After 3 Die
On Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at 12:30pm in the San Diego Concourse (Civic Center, 202 C St.), we attended the vigil to memorialize those whose lives ended on the streets.
March 15th was chosen for this vigil to mark the first anniversary of the deaths of three homeless men who were killed when a station wagon jumped a curb in the B Street tunnel by City College and plowed into an encampment of unhoused San Diegans: Rodney Diffendal (40), Walter Jones (61) and Randy Ferris (65). Five other victims were taken to hospitals for treatment of injuries from severe to moderately serious, and a sixth homeless person was treated at the scene.
April 2022 Petition to Recognize March 15th as “San Diego Homeless Memorial Day” After 3 Die
April 2022 Petition to Recognize March 15th as “San Diego Homeless Memorial Day” After 3 Die
On April 24th, 2022, we filed a petition to Recognize March 15th as “San Diego Homeless Memorial Day.”
March 15th, 2022 marked the one-year anniversary of the horrific car accident which claimed the lives of three San Diego Homeless individuals (Walter Jones, Randy Ferris, and Rodney Diffendal), injuring several others (James Dysart, Thomas, Jesse, JJ, Jimmy Shorter, and Duane Crawford), and witnessed by several others (Micheal Luke, Del George, Richie, and Mike Davis). Five other victims were taken to hospitals due to severe to moderately serious injuries, and a sixth homeless person was treated at the scene. Some of these individuals claim they received improper treatment.
On March 14th 2022, the Disability Rights of California sent out an immediate email release in respects to holding a vigil on March 15th for those who were killed by the accident, and for other San Diegans who have died unhoused and unsheltered on the streets. It also was to focus on the ending of criminalization of San Diego homeless individuals and families.
In 2021, more than 400 homeless individuals died in San Diego County, more than 20% higher than 2020. The final tally of those who passed away is thought to be much higher, however.
Homelessness is the most extreme deprivation of the right to adequate housing. Sheltering oneself is not voluntary conduct; it is a basic human need, is harmless, and an act integral to the status of homelessness.
Leilani Farha, former Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing on homelessness, stated in 2016 that homelessness is the “failure to implement the right to adequate housing by all levels of government.” The UN Human Rights Office has pushed Member States to guarantee access to safe, affordable, and adequate housing for all.
Although most Counties’ Health and Human Services departments are legally bound to provide adult dependents with adequately heated and ventilated shelter, to protect them from health and safety hazards, (including viral ones, or being forced to live homeless on the streets with all its dangers which causes thousands of deaths) and to administer aid, care, and support to restore such persons to a condition of self-care or self-support, the County of San Diego is currently being scrutinized by the homeless. Some of these individuals, on March 3, 2022, filed a Cease & Desist for breaching that duty and recklessly endangering their lives.
Due to the County grossly failing to provide adequate shelter and housing, for many homeless in San Diego, being homeless and sheltering oneself on the streets is their only option.
It has been reported that as of January 2022, there were more homeless individuals in San Diego than the number of beds available in shelters. The number of beds is not adequate to provide safe shelter to individuals who are trying to avoid traditional homeless shelters to avoid exposure to contagions
Under Martin v. Boise … “so long as there is a greater number of homeless individuals in [a jurisdiction] than the number of available beds [in shelters],” the jurisdiction cannot prosecute homeless individuals for “involuntarily sitting, lying, and sleeping in public.”
We the surviving homeless accident victims of March 15th, 2021, other homeless San Diegans, and others call for the representatives of the County of San Diego to recognize March 15th as San Diego Homeless Memorial Day to remember not only those lives lost and injured on March 15th, but to further pay respect and honor all homeless lives lost in San Diego.
Recognize March 15th as “San Diego Homeless Memorial Day”
Help support by paying your respects to those souls lost on the streets who are homeless in San Diego by signing the petition to recognize March 15th as San Diego Homeless Memorial Day.
San Diegans wishing to assist surviving victims by making monetary donations may click this PAYPAL LINK which is connected to the ministries (Coalition for True World Change) business bank account with MyPoint Credit Union Sports Arena in San Diego. Coalition for True World Change is a California duly registered nonprofit public benefit corporation for public or charitable purposes and not organized for the private gain of any person.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS/DONORS: Upon making any contributions to keep our records transparent in helping the community, it is crucial for contributors/donors to email us (Coalition for True World Change) at C4TWC.ORG@gmail.com and please do the following:
1) In your email subject area place: SD Surviving March 15, 2021, Accident Victim Fund;
2) State the surviving victim name (s) of the individuals you are supporting, or if for all, please state such;
3) How much you are contributing;
4) Whether you wish to be anonymous or named for your contribution/donation.
HELP IN OTHER WAYS
Those wishing to help in other ways (e.g., furniture for newly housed surviving victims, clothing, food) may email us with your full name, means of contact, and how you wish to help.
Thank you opening your heart to understanding and compassion.
As of todays date (06/27/2024) the Petition has had 706 views, 8 shares, 1 promoter and 37 Supporters.
Supported the De Anza Cove Rally in San Diego
Supported the De Anza Cove Rally in San Diego
On August 4th, 2022, we attended the De Anza Cove Rally regarding the use of the City-owned, vacant De Anza Cove Trailer Park as an Emergency Camp.
SAN DIEGO OFFICIALS HAVE AND CONTINUE TO DEPRIVE THOUSANDS OF LIFE'S BASIC NECESSITIES
SAN DIEGO OFFICIALS HAVE AND CONTINUE TO DEPRIVE THOUSANDS OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS SHELTER, SAFETY, SECURITY AND ADEQUATE ACCESS TO HYGIENIC RESOURCES (BATHROOMS & SHOWERS).
IN A 2017 REPORT BY GARY WARTH OF THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE, IT WAS REVEALED THAT SAN DIEGO VASTLY UNDERCOUNTS HOMELESS BY 50%. NATIONWIDE, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT HOMELESS COUNTS ARE ALSO UNDERCOUNTED, AS THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING OFFICE (GAO) REPORTED IN AUGUST 2020. ACCORDING TO A 2001 STUDY, HOMELESS COUNTS ARE ACTUALLY 2.5 TO 10.2 TIMES HIGHER THAN REPORTED, YIELDING A POTENTIAL TRUE COUNT OF ANYWHERE FROM 1.419 MILLION TO 5.79 MILLION.
THE VAST UNDERCOUNTING REVEALS THAT OFFICIALS ARE NOT TRULY SERVING THE NEEDS OF THE HOMELESS. HOWEVER, THEY GIVE OFF THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY ARE.
THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING THOSE WITH SPECIFIC CRIMES, ARE DENIED ENTRY TO SHELTER, HOUSING, SAFETY, SECURITY AND ADEQUATE ACCESS TO HYGIENIC RESOURCES (BATHROOMS & SHOWERS) AND LEFT ON THE STREETS WHERE DAILY THEY FACE HARRRASSMENT, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HARM AND CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT FOR LIVING ON THE STREETS.
SO FAR, THE ONLY STATE IN THE US THAT HAS RECOGNIZED THE RIGHT TO SHELTER IS NEW YORK, WHERE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS SUED THE STATE IN 1979 AND WON.
IN ADDITION TO ALL THIS, NO STUDIES HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED ON THE CONDITIONS OF SHELTERS IN SAN DIEGO TO DETERMINE IF THOSE CONDITIONS ARE CRUEL AND UNUSUAL, OR COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS TO ATTAIN SELF-CARE AND SELF-SUPPORT.
IN A FEBRUARY 2020 REPORT, IT WAS STATED THAT THE DEPRIVATION OF SHELTER MEETS THE CRITERIA TO BE CONSIDERED TORTURE UNDER THE 1984 UNITED NATIONS (UN) INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT.
FURTHERMORE, IN ANOTHER REPORT, THE UNITED NATIONS CRITICIZED THE UNITED STATES FOR CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS.
DURING THE HEPATITIS A OUTBREAK IN 2017, SLOW LEGISLATIVE RESPONSE LED TO 20 PEOPLE DYING.
NOW, DURING THE CURRENT SURGE OF COVID-19, SAN DIEGO IS POTENTIALLY DEALING WITH A MEDIUM SEVERITY AMONG ITS' HOMELESS POPULATION. WHEN TESTING WAS FINALLY CONDUCTED AT THE SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER,
A MONTH AFTER OPENING AS AN ALPHA PROJECT-RAN CONGESTED AND UNSANITARY TEMPORARY SHELTER FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO, TWO HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WERE FOUND TO HAVE CONTRACTED COVID-19.
IN FACT, DUE TO THE FAILURE OF HUD AND OTHER TOP STATE AGENCIES TO MONITOR THE EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON THE HOMELESS POPULATION, INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN GATHERED REGARDING INFECTIONS OR DEATHS IN SOCIETYS' VULNERABLE GROUP.
IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT OVER 1,700 HOMELESS PEOPLE WOULD DIE FROM THE PANDEMIC, AND SO FAR AT LEAST 206 HAD PASSED AWAY AS OF AUGUST 2020. CURRENTLY, THE UNITED STATES HAS TOPPED 9.28 MILLION VICTIMS OVERALL (WITH OVER 231,000 DEATHS) AS OF NOVEMBER 2ND. CALIFORNIA HAS OVER 939,000 CASES (WITH OVER 17,600 DEATHS), AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY HAS OVER 57,000 (WITH 891 DEATHS).
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ONLY 38% OF HOMELESS PEOPLE ABUSED ALCOHOL, 26% ABUSED OTHER DRUGS.
TWENTY TO TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT (20-25%) OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS SUFFER FROM SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS, WHILE FORTY-FIVE PERCENT (45%) HAVE A HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS DIAGNOSES.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT AT LEAST 13,000 HOMELESS PEOPLE DIE EACH YEAR. IN SAN DIEGO, OVER 100 DIE- IN 2018 ALONE, 134 DIED, WHETHER ON SIDEWALKS, SHELTERS, HOSPITALS, OR JAILS. THIS NUMBER IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NUMBER WHO DIED IN 2010 (WHEN ONLY 53 HOMELESS PEOPLE DIED).