Upcoming Events in support of the Mayors' Plan to End Homelessness

H.O.P.E. :: Opportunities for Action

Mobilization at City Council :: Tuesday, May 3, 3:30-6:30pm
Phonebanking :: Starting Wednesday, May 4, 6:30-8:30pm
Campaign Organizing Mtg :: Monday, May 9, 7:00pm
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For any questions pertaining to any of these events please contact Brad Watkins, Organizing Coordinator for H.O.P.E. at 901-725-4990 or by email at brad@midsouthpeace.org



Mobilization at Memphis City Council
Memphis City Council Chambers, 125 North Main Street
Tuesday, May 3rd :: 3:30pm-6:30pm * Presentation will occur between these times *


Sadly, the presentation of the Mayor's Plan to End Homelessness has once again been delayed from the Memphis city Council meeting on this past Tuesday April 19th. The Federal budget cuts in Washington DC may have a serious impact on funding of local programs for homeless prevention and housing and shelter opportunities. This is the fifth straight delay in the presentation which was originally set for Feb 15th! We can afford no further delays in this process as the budget hearings on the city and county level are already underway. It is now confirmed that Mayor AC Wharton will present the plan to the council on Tuesday and that there will be no further delays.

We invite you to come join us at 3:30pm to join us we will loudly call out to our elected officials to support of full funding of the Mayor's Plan to End Homelessness, federally and locally. We will also be calling on the council for a percentage of set aside jobs for the homeless and graduates of the Shelby County Drug court out of the millions in blight demolition, board ups and yard work that the city needs done. We can provide jobs for those who have little chance of getting them even in a good economy and curb blight at the same time.

We really need you there, all of you, as we launch our grassroots campaign of lobbying and phone banking high turnout voters across this city to stand with us in the coming weeks to ensure that the administration’s pledge of help to those without shelter is not empty words or just hollow campaign promises.

For those who have not seen this plan, you can download a copy through this link.


Phone banking for H.O.P.E. :: Starting Wednesday May 4th
Volunteers needed!!

We are also seeking volunteers for our phone banking drive, where we will begin to call most likely voters across the city to place calls of support of funding this plan to end homelessness to their elected officials. These calls will be made from the offices of MSPJC starting on Weds, May 4th from 6:30pm-8:30pm and will continue every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday throughout the city and county budget process.
It is crucial to understand that the City of Memphis and Shelby County currently contribute $0 (zero dollars) to homeless services in Memphis. That is if you don't count the money spent on medical care at The Med, MPD and Sheriff man hours spent "policing" this population, jail costs spent locking the homeless up, fire costs associated with fires in vacant houses that people are forced to turn to because we have no free shelter in Memphis. Full implementation of the Mayors' Plan to End Homelessness could put an end to these negative costs, but only if we invest in a positive future for those living on the streets of Memphis.

If you are interested in volunteering please contact Brad Watkins, Organizing Coordinator for H.O.P.E. at 901-725-4990 or by email at brad@midsouthpeace.org.


H.O.P.E. Campaign Organizing Meeting :: Monday May 9th at 7pm

There will be a campaign organizing meeting on Monday, May 9th at 7pm at the offices of the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center.(map) At this event we will discuss how we will push this issue out into our communities in order to rally community support for this plan and how you can be involved. If you are interested in becoming involved in this campaign please attend.
For any questions pertaining to any of these events please contact Brad Watkins, Organizing Coordinator for H.O.P.E. at 901-725-4990 or by email at brad@midsouthpeace.org