Countywide : Support for Housing Demonstration Sought

The county Human Relations Commission is urging community groups and residents to support a national demonstration called Housing Now in Washington next week that is aimed at the problem of homelessness.

The commission unanimously endorsed the event and its three major goals: ending homelessness, providing permanent affordable housing opportunities and restoring federal housing-assistance funds. The goals were announced by the national spokesman for the event, Mitch Snyder, an advocate for the homeless.

“Recognizing that the budget for federal housing assistance has been cut 77% over the last eight years, the commission is appalled by the thousands of Orange Countians unable to find suitable housing,” said Jean Forbath, chairwoman of the commission. “This crisis calls for a massive demonstration in our capital in order to bring a strong message to the President and Congress to make housing a national priority.”

The Housing Now event will be held in Washington Oct. 5 to 7. People interested in joining Forbath and an Orange County delegation in the Washington demonstration, may contact the Orange County Homeless Issues Task Force at (714) 740-1157.