Where are our Federal and State funds going when the President says, “No child left behind”? We have all these unused housing units that non-profits could be receiving as “set-asides” to house us low-income people. All the resources needed to expedite the process are there and not happening. We are only spoken to at voting time, but spoken around with all the Catch 22s. You know, the addendums and amendments put in place to ensure the containment of our poverty-formulas basically designed for us to be counted strictly for political purposes and nothing else.

Homeless families in San Francisco are being put in a very compromising situation with all the rest of the nation focusing on the latest natural disaster. We are sensitive and caring to someone else’s misfortune. On the same hand, our current situation makes it hard for us to greet with open hands and warm hearts. How can we when we sleep on cold street corners and dark alleyways, and our children are put in detrimental situations everyday? They are our future and they deserve better!

I believe that we more than any government officials can truly empathize with the survivors of a disaster. That is what we ourselves have to be subjected to, people like Michael Brown of FEMA saying “HELP IS ON THE WAY” everyday. Meanwhile we continue in the struggle. Although we are up against a small stump in our “Housing First” every homeless family in San Francisco we won’t give up the fight.

Coalition Families would like Hurricane Katrina Survivors to know that our doors are open to you, and our hearts go out to you. Please feel free to come by any of our locations if you find that you are in need of any assistance.

Tribute by Charles Chea

For the last three days, I have been sending out e-mails and making phone calls to give information about ways in which people can contribute to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. I spent time talking with individuals, with families, and with organizations suggesting the best direction they could take in this effort. I contacted people regardless of race or class, because natural disasters do not see race or class either. However, it is unfortunate that race and class are pervasive issues in the prevention and remedy of natural disaster.

Dorothy

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