Homeless group, allies demand housing

On Sept. 29, Picture the Homeless, a grassroots organization founded and led by homeless people, gathered along with many supporters at City Hall for a press conference and rally urging passage of Intro 48. They were joined by activists with the Million Worker March, the Bail Out the People Movement, the South Bronx Community Congress, Community Voices Heard and Families United for Racial and Economic Equality, just to name a few.

WW photo: G. Dunkel

Intro 48 is a law that will empower the city to conduct an annual census on vacant properties and to identify the owners of the properties. PTH wants these vacant properties converted into housing for all who need it.

The bill was introduced in February and even though it has 27 co-sponsors, the legislation has been idle ever since. PTH states, “If we don’t move, the bill won’t move,” and adds, “The properties we see are homes-without-people for people-without-homes.”

There were a number of speakers. Among them was a member of FUREE, who stated, “We need to stop making trips to Washington, D.C., and put our focus on our communities first because it has to start here before we can take it there.”

Brenda Stokely of MWM said, “We’ve got to unite together. All who endorse an action need to come to support the action and do it in large numbers. When we do nothing they take everything, and we can’t let that happen.”

After the speakers, everyone gathered behind the PTH banner to march to the city council, where chants of “Pass Intro 48!” were heard loud and clear. Demonstrators lined up in front of the city council holding signs and continuing to chant relentlessly, enough to draw a crowd of city council members who stepped out to see what was going on.

A police presence became visible but they kept their distance. Council member Melissa Mark-Viverito greeted the demonstrators as she walked past but the Council Speaker, Christine Quinn, didn’t seem too enthused as she walked by.

This struggle for really affordable housing is vital and needs support. Gentrification in the city is running rampant. The message is “Goodbye people, hello developers.” That has to change because it is a violation of humanity when anyone is left out in the street.

Developers aren’t developing anything for anyone but themselves. They displace untold numbers of people, and the banks are key contributors to this. It is time to stand together and obliterate these capitalistic ways that have caused so many to be homeless. It’s time to occupy!