The 16 days of activism, which began with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25th, culminate today, International Human Rights Day.
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Help safeguard human rights to safety and housing in our community: |
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The blue bird above is an international symbol for human rights – a dove for peace, and two hands clasped in the spirit of collaboration.
Collaboration is a cornerstone of the human rights movement worldwide, as well as our own safety net here in Arlington. Indeed, collaboration is one of Doorways' core values. When it comes to providing pathways out of homelessness, domestic violence and sexual assault, we cannot do it alone. Upholding our clients' human rights to safety and housing requires all of us coming together to create pathways to safe, stable and empowered lives.
"Where, after all, do universal human rights begin?," said Eleanor Roosevelt, chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights which drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. "In small places, close to home – so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world."
Join us and help people find peace – the peace of a safe place to call home, the peace of knowing your children are safe, the peace of healing – throughout the holiday season and all year round.
Donate now to make pathways to peace possible for hundreds of survivors, parents, youth, and children. If you have already made your year-end gift to Doorways, we thank you for your support!
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From all of us at Doorways, we wish you and your family a peaceful and joyful holiday season! |
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Our Holiday Bazaar starts this weekend! We are collecting donated items for the Bazaar through Friday, December 13th. To donate, please contact Anna at (703) 504-9291 or [email protected]. |
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3 kids. 2 paychecks. No home. |
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Working families are sleeping in shelters and parking lots |
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"In late August, Camany handed me the weekend edition of Salinas's newspaper, The Californian. She pointed to the headline — 'Homeless Population Declines 15%.' Then, shaking her head, she read aloud the finding that, according to the latest HUD-mandated Point-in-Time census, there were a mere 150 homeless families in the whole of Monterey County. (By contrast, according to the school data, there were 3,566 elementary-age homeless students in Salinas last year, or 40 percent of the total student population.)
As Camany observed, however, that low figure relied on a narrow — and, advocates argue, misleading — definition of homelessness used by HUD, which counts only those living on the streets or in shelters as 'literally homeless.'
The Department of Education, on the other hand, widens the definition to include those living in cars, motels, or doubled up with others, and accounts for the many reasons families might avoid a shelter or lack access to one.
Yet it's HUD's definition that determines the allocation of crucial housing assistance."
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Reminder: She doesn't owe anyone a hug. Not even at the holidays. |
"Holidays and family get-togethers are a time for yummy food, sweet traditions, funny stories, and lots and lots of love. But they could, without you even realizing it, also be a time when your daughter gets the wrong idea about consent and physical affection."
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