WORLD HOMELESS ACTION DAY 10.10.2011

San Francisco – Squatters collective, Homes Not Jails, convenes at Civic Center on World Homeless Action Day to rally, take to the streets and, occupy over 10 vacant buildings consisting of more than 700 housing units. Homes Not Jails is taking Direct Action on October 10th, by staging multiple public 'open occupations' of vacant residential housing in neighborhoods throughout San Francisco. Hundreds of homeless individuals, community leaders, activists, immigrant community members, children, families, social workers, squatters, students, educators, and San Franciscans of all stripes are gathering this Monday, 10/10/2011, at 5pm in Civic Center.

The group is rallying for the right to housing and engaging in Direct Action by marching directly into vacant property and reclaiming it for homeless families and individuals. Tours of the wasted housing will be available for those who come inside before the doors are blockaded by the police.

Organizers are outraged that while approximately 10,000 San Franciscans are homeless on any given night, according to 2010 Census Bureau data, over 30,000 housing units remain vacant. Organizers know that vacant housing is a unacceptable waste of resources and that it should be utilized by those who are most in need.

In the past year, five housing rights demonstrations in the San Francisco have included lively housing occupations, and this Monday' s action will be the largest, most exciting and educational occupation yet. A community assembly addressing homelessness and the housing crisis will take place on the sidewalk outside of the main occupation site. Live music, spoken word, poetry, and hot meals by Food Not Bombs will be served.

The October 10th direct actions are in solidarity with OccupySF as well as the 34 countries on every continent throughout the world, who are engaging in unique actions on World Homeless Action Day. The San Francisco event will begin with a rally at 5:00pm, and at 5:30pm the group will march to various undisclosed vacant properties to occupy, support and participate in the housing takeovers.

Event updates and details will be available throughout the day/night on Monday Oct. 10th at www.HomesNotJailsSF.org and 1.877.50.SQUAT

MEDIA CONTACT: 

Bryan Wilkes

415-230-2392