TENT CITY:15 YEARS LATER

Detroit, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor



On November 11th, 2006 it will be 15 years since we organized the fight back against poverty and homelessness by erecting "Tent City" in Detroit, Lansing, Flint and Ann Arbor, Michigan against Governor Engler, the State Leaders and certain local leaders in their attacks on the citizens of Michigan by eliminating and cutting badly needed programs, such as General Assistance. These protests were organized by the Detroit-Wayne County Homeless Union, the Michigan Up and Out of Poverty Now Coalition (including MWRO), and several other community groups.

Michigan was one of the first state’s to cut General Assistance to adults—over 100,000 Michigan residents—and contributed to additional homelessness and poverty for single persons. Meanwhile, in 1991, the City of Detroit had a 42% vacancy rate in its public housing units and was failing to make repairs in HUD apartments.

We would like to invite you to the gathering on
Saturday, November 11, 2006 at 4:00pm
Central United Methodist Church

23 E. Adams, 2nd Floor (at Woodward), Detroit

We need to come together and look at the past and understand what we must do for the future.

Homelessness has increased, more people's utilities are shut-off (water, lights and gas), education means no-education, people are not able to feed their families and the housing question is a joke, fewer and fewer people are without health care and children are being taking away from their parents because they are poor. Further, we cannot find good jobs with benefits.

President Bush is implementing his corporation agenda. He is implementing laws to enact Fascism. We owe our children a better future. Please come out and see friends, bring your family, friends and find out what is going on. We need you to bring some of the following for the homeless hygiene kits we are putting together for the homeless for Holidays at CUMC. We need items such as toothpastes, toothbrushes, soap, lotion, deodorant, face towels, socks, gloves, etc.

You can call for more information at (313) 964-0618 or 965-5422, or leave a message. We are looking forward to seeing you.

Organized by the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization, League of Revolutionaries for a New America, Metro Detroit Labor Party, National Welfare Rights Union, and the peace and environmental community.