Alliance San Diego believes they are, but members of the San Diego City Council do not.
The underlying sentiment of San Diego’s new encampment ban devalues unhoused citizens and it’s scheduled for a first vote today. In advance of the vote, we released a few maps that give a stark visual of the impact this ban will have on our unhoused community members.
The three maps, commissioned by Alliance San Diego, reflect the parameters of the proposed ban; they show all the areas that the City would exclude homeless community members from sleeping and/or living. The result shows a clear effort to almost entirely shut out unhoused people from the city. This is the epitome of cruelty and violates basic human rights.
|
Links to Maps: Map 1, Map 2, Map 3
The black markings of the first map show areas where the proposed ban would exclude unhoused people from living and sleeping at all times. The second map shows these same areas and adds in areas that are already off limits because they are private or military property. The full ban that would go into effect if shelter is available (even if it is inadequate) is shown in the third map and would mean pushing the unhoused community out of the city almost entirely. This policy lacks compassion and consideration for human rights and human dignity.
|
Seventy-five years ago we signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, recognizing the human dignity of all people. Among these rights are the right to adequate housing (Article 25), which the San Diego City Council acknowledged in January, and the right to be free of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (Article 5). These fundamental rights are at risk of violation in the proposed encampment ban. We should aspire to protect these rights at all costs.
Despite the severe shortage of temporary shelter, and more severe shortage of housing, City Council is considering an encampment ban that is devoid of dignity and real solutions; instead, it criminalizes the most vulnerable San Diegans. It is cruel, it is inhuman, and it is degrading to punish people simply for their unhoused condition.
Stand with Alliance San Diego as we call upon the San Diego City Council to protect human rights and uphold the dignity of all San Diegans. Alliance San Diego stands ready to support real solutions to address the housing and shelter shortage, and to help lift all community members out of poverty. Join us for a robust discussion on how Alliance San Diego plans to uplift human rights and human dignity as we build an inclusive democracy.
In Solidarity, Miesha Rice Advancement Director Alliance San Diego |
Together, we can create a more inclusive democracy where all people can achieve their full potential in an environment of harmony, justice, safety, and equality.
If you are interested in helping advance our mission through volunteering and donations, click the links below! |
