Rally for Richmond supportive housing May 17

richmond supportive housing rendering

A note from our friends at RUSH in regards to a rally taking place this Thursday. Please see below, and sign up on the Facebook event page if you plan on attending. Thank you!

 

Greetings Richmondites United for Supportive Housing:

We finally have confirmation that Richmond city council will be holding their Open Meeting on Supportive Housing Thursday, May 17 — this is the date we have all been working towards. You can register to speak from 6 p.m. on (there will be a sign-up sheet inside the hall just outside the council chambers), and the meeting commences at 7 p.m. sharp. The agenda is available here.

Call to action

RALLY: Participants will meet on May 17 in the city hall plaza at 5.45 p.m. latest. The rally will commence at 6 p.m. and while some people go to sign up to speak, the rally will continue. The agenda for the rally will follow. Bring your friends, family, work colleagues, club members, union flags, handmade signs, etc. We want to keep the Rally short, from 6 to 6.30 p.m. so we can start filing into council chambers as soon as the doors open. Remember the anti-group will also be there and we want to get in first to get seats.

SPEAKERS: At our planning meeting on May 3, many people volunteered to speak. Read on for the areas of focus. If you are moved to speak out, please do. Consider these ideas to write a speech. FYI, a written speech can be handed in after you speak and it will become part of council minutes.

  • What Canada stands for, our values
  • A better life, welcoming community
  • Immigrant experience: think about what is important!
  • Personal stories of survival, a second chance, a society that cares for me
  • Cost of poverty (courts, hospitals, emergency services, police, etc.)
  • Stopping the generational cycle of poverty
  • People in distress need support and housing
  • Vulnerable people should have access to services
  • Right to a home, compassion for all
  • Government funding goes elsewhere if Richmond says ‘No’

PETITIONS: Deadline to hand in your signed paper petitions is May 16. Please deliver to Richmond Presbyterian Church by 2 p.m. We need to count the names and have a final tally to report to council. So far, we have 1,500 paper, 1,500 on-line and counting!