Rochester Catholic Workers Against Local Bank Eviction

Rochester Catholic Worker, St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality  8/4/2015

CURRENT U.S. CATHOLIC BISHOPS ADVOCACY POSITION REGARDING HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS:

The Catholic bishops believe decent, safe, and affordable housing is a human right. Catholic teaching supports the right to private property, but recognizes that communities and the government have an obligation to ensure the housing needs of all are met, especially poor and vulnerable people and their families. At a time of rising homelessness and when many workers’ wages are stagnant and living expenses are rising, it is important to ensure housing security. (USCCB.org)

Rochester resident, Joe Woods lived and raised his family on Webster Avenue for 25 years until the Rochester City Police assisted Federal Marshals and Midfirst Bank  in June, 2015 to evict his family.  Seven people were arrested, including Joe Woods and his daughter.

You may perhaps practice side effects for instance nasal overcrowding, body pains or nervousness, however be anxious not, viagra ordination none of them should be a chief reason for the loss of erection of the penile region during the actions of copulation. These days with the improvements manufactured in the field of medical science, there are 100% natural, FDA approved medications are there which you should buy OTC drugs online and move ahead from the problem phase. viagra france All other generics are produced even from the same disease whereas people who have sildenafil without prescription a family tendency of cholesterol related problems never experience high levels in them. A good buying cialis in spain http://cute-n-tiny.com/tag/aligator/ night effectively reduces stress and helps body release beneficial hormones, says an expert. St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality, a Catholic Worker House in Rochester, believe and draw inspiration from the current advocacy position on housing and homelessness issued by Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops which states that housing is a human right and that communities and governments have an obligation to ensure the housing needs of all are met. 

St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality knows all too well the suffering and hopelessness people endure while experiencing homelessness.  We operate an emergency shelter and a soup kitchen and hear the personal stories of our guests, many whom once owned homes, and now wonder where they and their children will spend each night.  Currently, we have a young mother and her two year old daughter in our shelter. Last night, they slept outdoors in a local park.

We call on Mayor Lovely Warren to stop enforcing bank evictions and using Rochester Police Department (RPD) resources to do so.   Rochester has enough people sleeping in local shelters, living in tents, bus shelters, and on couches of family and friends.  By having the RPD stand down, banks will need to negotiate with homeowners so no person, of any age, will need to sleep in our parks, shelters, bus stops or tents.  By standing down, families stay in homes instead of adding to our area’s zombie-home inventory that plagues too many neighborhoods as it is.  By standing down, the city administration shows solidarity with Rochester residents, not out-of-town banks that have no stake in our community.

Joseph Woods is facing the same issue St. Joseph endured when there was no room at the inn for the Holy Family.   We call on the local faithful (and fallen!) Catholics, and all Christians to speak out loudly against bank evictions.   Let our prayers be as loud as our actions.  Join other advocates at 394 Webster Avenue to show support for our neighbor who is in need of your voice and presence.  Join the community and show solidarity with your neighbor by reminding our government of their obligation to ensure the housing needs of all are met.