| FREE TO CAMP COALITION [email protected] Working to end persecution of homeless people in the Phoenix/Tempe, AZ, area, one law at a time. . |
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| What is Tempe's Urban Camping Ordinance (enacted 1997)? The urban camping ordinance makes it de facto illegal for homeless people to fall asleep within Tempe city limits. This is doubly unjust because Tempe has thus far refused to make a solid commitment to funding resources for adult homeless people; there is NO overnight shelter in Tempe. The Urban Camping Ordinance gives police the right to harass and humiliate homeless people for engaging in an involuntary action. We believe that laws such as these which target groups for existing, for doing things which otherwise do not harm people and which non-homeless people do every day with no fear or regret or shame, are unjust and unfair. REPEAL THE URBAN CAMPING ORDINANCE! TEXT OF THE ORDINANCE |
| What have we been doing?- Postcard campaigns Tabling at ASU's Human Rights Fair Tabling at National Coming Out Day Video Showings of Out in the Cold, by the Cire Foundation and the Matthew Shepard Foundation, about queer homeless youth Letter to Valley Churches Word Text June 7th demonstration/kickoff on Mill Ave. Spoke to City Council on July 10. Spoke at the North American Conference on Bisexuality Letters from citizens Flyering- ongoing. Petitioning- ongoing. Adbusters-esque Shame Cards to NGOS, Media, and Local Officials Help us out! |
| WHAT IS BROKEN WINDOWS POLICING, WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH TEMPE'S HOMELESS, AND WHY IS IT WRONG? (word file) (text file) |
| Listen to audio from our events, courtesy of Arizona Indymedia. June 7 Protest mp3 July 10 Free to Camp talks to Tempe City Council mp3 |
| Print out copies of our June 7 pamphlet! (make sure you check the formatting that comes up on your computer) The first page is the cover and then the second two should be printed double-sided. - Here |
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| We at Free to Camp like Phoenix Food Not Bombs. They give out organic vegan food to the homeless, along with condoms, books and health care supplies. They also have a new sunshade and are planning a protest in the months to come. Here they are taking the streets at an anti-war protest! |
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| NEWS- Glendale criminalizes Urban Camping. FTC encourages citizen response! Richard Ruelas Editorial about homelessness in Phoenix. |
| Why should I be concerned with this ordinance and what is the state of homeless services in Tempe? |
| Pictures from our recent talk: "Homelessness, Public Space, and Resistance," held on Thursday, October 2, that featured Keith McHenry, founder of the global homeless rights movement, Food Not Bombs, from Tucson, AZ, and Randall Amster, homeless advocate and Peace Studies professor, from Prescott, AZ. We had a very successful evening with this amazing pair, got a turnout of about 50 people, and ate tons of delish vegan banana bread! |
| Here are a few things you can do to help the Valley's homeless population: Write a letter (on personal paper is best!), send an email, or make a phone call to the Tempe City Council re: *unnecesary criminalization of poverty, including homelessness. Cite the Urban Camping Ordinince and the the Sidewalk Sitting Ordinance (which makes it illegal to sit on the sidewalks of Mill Ave.). Ask for a repeal of either of these laws! and/or *the complete and total lack of youth and adult shelters in Tempe. A day drop-in center is not enough! There should be adequate services for vulnerable populations such as the homeless! Write a letter to the editor to the East Valley Tribune or the Arizona Republic about the situation in Tempe and the East Valley about these issues. Volunteer at a homeless shelter, domestic violence shelter, soup kitchen, community organization such as Food Not Bombs, or other homeless-friendly institution. Here is a guide to some local organizations. Organize a benefit (house party, concert, get together)for one of these services or to start a youth/queer friendly service for the homeless. Organize a pro-homeless demonstration in your neighborhood. |
| Want a little background info? Here are some articles giving a brief chronicle of criminalization of homelessness in Tempe. Famous Criminologist Jeff Ferrell AzRepublic Dec. 17 1998 Homeless People's Network 1 The role of the Social Establishment in Defining a Stigmatized identity (specific discussion of the homeless situation in Tempe)scroll down page |
| Red Alert!! DID YOU KNOW THAT TEMPE DOES NOT HAVE A HOMELESS SHELTER? |
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| Read Our Report on the November 15 Protest Against the Urban Camping Ordinance and for Homeless Rights! Here |
| A little Something FUN |
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| Recent Event: January 7- Protest lack of coverage in queer media SEE CALL TO ACTION! |
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| Who are we? The Free to Camp Coalition is an advocacy group that hopes to reverse the trend of criminalization of homelessness. We believe that community organizing can be the solution to community problems. We are queer and queer-friendly, try to have respectful approaches to mental illness, and try to be as conscious of the effects of race on American society as possible. We fundamentally believe in advocating for the human rights and liberties of all people. We are also opposed to the forces of gentrification, globalization, discrimination, and inequity. We see homeless rights issues as issues that arise from all of these areas. Most of all, we are people, just like you, who care about the world we live in. We are not experts. We are simply concerned members of society. |
| Flier for Trans Day of Rememberance, Nov 20. Flier Commenting on the discrimination transgendered people may face at homeless shelters. |
| THURSDAY JAN 15, 2004: We Presented 1200 Signatures opposing the Urban Camping Ordinance to the Tempe City Council! We had approximately 20 people testify. See Arizona Republic and State Press Coverage here. See G-Spot coverage here, and hear audio here. |
| See coverage of the FTC and Urban Camping in the February Ion-AZ Magazine! TEXT |
| According to the Daily Pennsylvanian (Jan 13, '04), the estimated street homeless populaiton of the City of Phoenix is 4,684 people. According to E.J. Montini of the Republic (Jan 6, '04), there are an estimated 12,000 homeless people in Maricopa County. |
| What homeless services does Tempe have (not all of these get funding or substantial funding from city)? Tumbleweed Teen ?Youth Resource Center One branch of Save the Family Salvation Army Pappas School for Homeless Children Not yet approved home for pregnant women. Tempe tends to fund facilities outside of the city. |
| FACT! In 2003, 23 people were handed misdemeanors for violating the ordinance! This doesn't include warnings or undocumented abuse. |
| FEB 21-Protest the Urban Camping Ordinance by Building a Shelter! PICTURES and NEWS COVERAGE News: FTC gets Tempe mayoral candidates to discuss homeless issues! |
| April 3, AZ Central Pride- Surprise! April 4, Goodbye to Long Wong's Flier Pictures 1, 2 April 10, Protest Coffee Plantation Discrimination Against Homeless People! Pictures 1 Info State Press Coverage! New: 5000 Posters Protesting Coffee Plantation Discrimination! |
| NEWS: The Free to Camp Coalition is now a member of the official committee to draft the 10-Year Plan for Homelessness in Tempe! |
| Article about Criminalization Featuring Free to Camp Coalition, Pacific Northwest Inlander |
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| July 15, 2004 Call on New Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman to Stop the Criminalization of Homelessness! (We Sent Gigantic Cards with This Letter!) Press Release |