The No-Evictions Sheriff

[marmar]

from YES! Magazine:



The No-Evictions Sheriff
Cheri Honkala promises to be a sheriff who will stand up for families, not banks.

by Sarah van Gelder
posted Sep 26, 2011


There’s a new sheriff in town—or there could be soon. Cheri Honkala, a single mom, sometimes homeless, who launched one of the country’s biggest multi-racial movements led by the poor and homeless, is running for sheriff of Philadelphia.

Her platform? No evictions. No throwing people out on the street because of a financial crisis that they didn’t create. Her slogan: “Keeping families in their homes and protecting the 'hood.”

Cheri knows a few things about evictions. As a homeless mom, she faced a stark choice when the shelters filled up: a night on the frigid Minneapolis streets with her young son, or breaking and entering a vacant HUD-owned house, where the heat was left on to prevent the pipes from freezing. Cheri chose the latter.

Thus began a series of home occupations, evictions, and arrests. Eventually, Honkala joined with others to form the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign, whose members work together to defend their basic right to health care, housing, education, and living wage jobs. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.yesmagazine.org/people-power/the-no-evictions-sheriff

[AnOhioan]

1. Her election victory would be a victory for the ppl of Philadelphia

[ceile]

2. I hope she wins. n/t

[sam11111]

3. "all housing belongs to occupant"- a Progressive idea that solves MANY problems

Mom and pop landlords would be compensated for the lost value of an apartment "in the side" of their house.

[lumberjack_jeff]

7. Until no one will loan money to buy one.

People! Think this through.

Seriously, would you give anyone a mortgage in her county?

[sam11111]

8. three times what it cost to build the house - thats what u pay the bank weasels in a mortgage

WPA built housing in the 1930's. It can again. Any type of housing. With NO evil mortgage weasel in your life.

OR, you can keep landlords and mortgage bankers on top of you. And face eviction whenever the landlord wants your flat for his kid to stay in.

[lumberjack_jeff]

11. If you can't buy a house, you have to rent.

If you don't want to rent, but can't pay cash, you need a mortgage.

You only get a mortgage if you promise to repay. If the sheriff promises that no one in her county will be required to pay, only an idiot would give loans.

[steve2470]

10. hope she wins also nt

[lunatica]

4. She's a wonderful person

She was right to break in and keep warm. Survival is paramount, and no bank or mortgage company should force people to die in the streets.

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. When people start to die in the streets because of banks and mortgages, it's time to change things.

Actually, it't seriously past time.

[sam11111]

6. 10,000/month die from the effects of homelessness

Seen in the Poverty Forum here some years back

Also : hmlss die at three times the normal rate
-----------------

RR cut Section 8 rent aid 77% in the early '80's, causing the beginning of modern hmlessness.

No matter what other factors exist, lack of rent money is the real bottom line final CAUSE of hmlsnss.

Don't let the GOP blame-shift. They caused it.

[Odin2005]

9. You get 'em, Sheriff!

[kelly1mm]

12. A sheriff who refuses to follow court orders (eviction orders) will soon

find themselves in their own jail. There was another sheriff (in Indiana I think) that made the news about 18 months ago for stating he was going to do the same thing. Within a week he reversed his stance and stated that he would, in fact, serve eviction orders. Judges don't take to kindly to officials that do not follow their orders.