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March 15th, 2022 marked the one-year anniversary of the horrific car accident which claimed the lives of three San Diego Homeless individuals (Walter Jones, Randy Ferris, and Rodney Diffendal), injuring several others (James Dysart, Thomas, Jesse, JJ, Jimmy Shorter, and Duane Crawford), and witnessed by several others (Micheal Luke, Del George, Richie, and Mike Davis). Five other victims were taken to hospitals due to severe to moderately serious injuries, and a sixth homeless person was treated at the scene. Some of these individuals claim they received improper treatment.
On March 14th 2022, the Disability Rights of California sent out an immediate email release in respects to holding a vigil on March 15th for those who were killed by the accident, and for other San Diegans who have died unhoused and unsheltered on the streets. It also was to focus on the ending of criminalization of San Diego homeless individuals and families.
In 2021, more than 400 homeless individuals died in San Diego County, more than 20% higher than 2020. The final tally of those who passed away is thought to be much higher, however.
Homelessness is the most extreme deprivation of the right to adequate housing. Sheltering oneself is not voluntary conduct; it is a basic human need, is harmless, and an act integral to the status of homelessness.
Leilani Farha, former Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing on homelessness, stated in 2016 that homelessness is the “failure to implement the right to adequate housing by all levels of government.” The UN Human Rights Office has pushed Member States to guarantee access to safe, affordable, and adequate housing for all.
Although most Counties’ Health and Human Services departments are legally bound to provide adult dependents with adequately heated and ventilated shelter, to protect them from health and safety hazards, (including viral ones, or being forced to live homeless on the streets with all its dangers which causes thousands of deaths) and to administer aid, care, and support to restore such persons to a condition of self-care or self-support, the County of San Diego is currently being scrutinized by the homeless. Some of these individuals, on March 3, 2022, filed a Cease & Desist for breaching that duty and recklessly endangering their lives.
Due to the County grossly failing to provide adequate shelter and housing, for many homeless in San Diego, being homeless and sheltering oneself on the streets is their only option.
It has been reported that as of January 2022, there were more homeless individuals in San Diego than the number of beds available in shelters. The number of beds is not adequate to provide safe shelter to individuals who are trying to avoid traditional homeless shelters to avoid exposure to contagions
Under Martin v. Boise … “so long as there is a greater number of homeless individuals in [a jurisdiction] than the number of available beds [in shelters],” the jurisdiction cannot prosecute homeless individuals for “involuntarily sitting, lying, and sleeping in public.”
We the surviving homeless accident victims of March 15th, 2021, other homeless San Diegans, and others call for the representatives of the County of San Diego to recognize March 15th as San Diego Homeless Memorial Day to remember not only those lives lost and injured on March 15th, but to further pay respect and honor all homeless lives lost in San Diego.
Recognize March 15th as “San Diego Homeless Memorial Day”
Help support by paying your respects to those souls lost on the streets who are homeless in San Diego by signing the petition to recognize March 15th as San Diego Homeless Memorial Day.
San Diegans wishing to assist surviving victims by making monetary donations may click this PAYPAL LINK which is connected to the ministries (Coalition for True World Change) business bank account with MyPoint Credit Union Sports Arena in San Diego. Coalition for True World Change is a California duly registered nonprofit public benefit corporation for public or charitable purposes and not organized for the private gain of any person.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS/DONORS: Upon making any contributions to keep our records transparent in helping the community, it is crucial for contributors/donors to email us (Coalition for True World Change) at 4trueworldchange@gmail.com and please do the following:
1) In your email subject area place: SD Surviving March 15, 2021, Accident Victim Fund;
2) State the surviving victim name (s) of the individuals you are supporting, or if for all, please state such;
3) How much you are contributing;
4) Whether you wish to be anonymous or named for your contribution/donation.
HELP IN OTHER WAYS
Those wishing to help in other ways (e.g., furniture for newly housed surviving victims, clothing, food) may email us with your full name, means of contact, and how you wish to help.
Thank you opening your heart to understanding and compassion.
Coalition for True World Change (C4TWC)
PO BOX 342, Jamul, California 91935, United States
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