By Carlos Wadkins

From keeping thousands of children in cages at the border to kicking 25,000 mixed status families out of Section 8 housing, every detail of American immigration policy has been diligently refined over time to inflict the most pain and suffering possible onto immigrants and their families. It truly covers all bases. Zero tolerance policies and concentration camps at the border offer a violent reception to so-called “illegal” immigrants, while visa restrictions and third-country asylum agreements make it harder and harder to enter the country legally.

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Rest in Peace, Nebane Abienwi.

by Ella-Rose Kessler

The beginning of October was marked by the tragic death of Nebane Abienwai, a Cameroonian immigrant awaiting asylum at Otay Mesa Detention Center, a private camp in San Diego run by CoreCivic, a private contractor based in Nashville. Abienwai, who died from a brain hemorrhage, is one of eight people who have died at the hands of the federal government so far in 2019.

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By Mirjam Washuus

In September, housed residents of Clinton Park sparked disorder in the community by attempting to rid their street of drug dealers and homeless people living in encampments. They decided to do so by crowdfunding the installation of boulders onto the sidewalk.

Clearly, someone among the residents have read Albert Camus’ philosophical essay, “The Myth of Sisyphus.” Here, Camus contemplates the purpose of living in a universe devoid of order and meaning,

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By TJ Johnston

As Street Sheet goes to press, a ballot initiative that could put unsheltered people with mental challenges under further scrutiny from law enforcement and court system has been introduced.

On October 10, a proposal called the California Compassionate Intervention Act was submitted to the state attorney general’s office. Under the plan, police would be further empowered to arrest homeless people under existing state codes — including those for illegal lodging and drug-related offenses — and divert them to a special behavioral court in their county.

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By J de Salvo

Food or drugs? Yes, you. I’m talking to you. Well, which is it? Food or drugs? What? You need to do laundry? You want a cup of coffee? I’m sorry. Your choice is simple: food or drugs.

That would get annoying after a while, wouldn’t it? Suppose you weren’t hungry, or you didn’t do drugs. Suppose there was something you really needed to get done in order to move forward with your life,

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From the Coalition on Homelessness

On the tails of the Trump Administration blasting California cities including San Francisco and Los Angeles for the homelessness crisis, and calling for the creation of camps, members of  the Trump administration, including Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson visited San Francisco’s Potrero Hill housing development.   

According to Jennifer Friedenbach, Coalition on Homelessness Executive Director, “Look around any major United States city and one can see people who are suffering as a result of the Trump government’s indifference to poverty and homelessness.

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by Mirjam Washuus

“The San Francisco Department of Public Health’s top priority is patient care. (…) We share the urgency to improve the lives of San Franciscans who are experiencing homelessness, mental illness and substance use disorder.”

These were the opening lines of a September 20 statement from Public Health director Grant Colfax in the wake of a prematurely adjourned Health Commission meeting three days earlier. It was shut down by a coalition of activists and nursing professionals who showed up with signs,

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Millions March Globally To Protest Unsustainable Environmental Practices and Policies

by Quiver Watts

Young children crouched with paintbrushes over brightly painted murals as Food Not Bombs volunteers wandered around offering cups of water or slices of watermelon to beat back the scorching heat. An ATM machine was blocked by a banner bearing a menacing depiction of Brazilian authoritarian Jair Bolsonaro while hand painted signs carried strident demands for climate action. Crowds swayed to the beat as musicians strummed and sang,

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State law gives new protections, but there’s still more to be done

By Sasha Perigo

originally published by the SF Examiner, reprinted with permission

Starting this January, San Francisco renters will see an unprecedented expansion in their rights thanks to statewide legislation.

Well, some of us will.

Thankfully, our Board of Supervisors has the power to fill in some gaps.

On Wednesday housing justice organization ACCE celebrated the legislature’s passage of AB 1482 on Twitter:

“We still can’t believe it.

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