Activist and city council candidate Nikkita Oliver gave a stark presentation to Seattle Indivisible Wednesday night on the housing and houselessness crisis; its roots in poverty, racism and inequality; and the need for affordable housing, social support, and non-congregate shelters to address it. You can watch the full presentation here (it starts about 20 minutes in): https://fb.watch/6bg4dqLfmO/

One concrete action we can take using the lessons from this presentation is to decline to sign or vote for the ironically named ‘Compassion Seattle’ Charter Amendment 29. This amendment, pushed by the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and the real estate industry among others, would:

1. Enshrine into law inhumane encampment ‘sweeps,’ which do nothing to address the core problem and are traumatic and often violent.

2. Provide only half as many shelters as the actual estimated population of those experiencing homelessness in Seattle

3. Mandate this inadequate emergency housing without a dedicated funding source, which could force the city to divert funding from other essential social services

ACTION: make a note for yourself to decline to sign Charter Amendment 29 when you meet the next canvasser in the street, and to not vote for it if it makes it on the ballot.

BONUS ACTIONS:

Share the below website and resources against Amend 29, and for real solutions to the housing and affordability crises, with your friends and family; and sign up for the volunteer link if you really want to step up the fight:

• Oppose Charter Amendment 29 Campaign: https://www.houseourneighbors.org/

• Op Ed from Real Change News: https://www.realchangenews.org/news/2021/06/16/don-t-be-fooled-compassion-seattle

• Presentation from Nikkita Oliver to Seattle Indivisible (at 20 minutes in): https://fb.watch/6bg4dqLfmO/

• Volunteer: https://www.houseourneighbors.org/volunteer