Homeless Organizing for Power and Equality (H.O.P.E.) is the name of a Mid-South Peace and Justice Center sponsored organization who’s members are exclusively people who are currently or have formerly experienced homelessness. Over the past few months our members have been hard at work not only planning, mobilizing and organizing a movement for justice on our streets but also building community through mutual emotional support within the group itself.
On May 1st H.O.P.E. and a coalition of local progressive and social justice organizations and groups to stand together around issues of poverty, justice and equality. H.O.P.E hosted it’s first day of action with a protest and press conference outside of the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center at 201 Poplar around four issues of urgency to our members.
- H.O.P.E. lead the charge on SB2508. This grossly unconstitutional law was recently passed by the Tennessee Legislature and shamefully signed into law by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. SB2508 makes it a Class A Misdemeanor to sleep on public property owned by the state. This new law will make homelessness a crime with a penalty of a jail sentence up to 11 months and 29 days and/or a $2500 fine. We see this illegal and mean spirited law as a further attempt to criminalize poverty and homelessness. On May 1st we held a protest and press conference to speak out against this law and met with District Attorney General Amy Weirich to discuss our concerns. The DA released the following statement:This office is tasked with enforcing the laws that the General Assembly enacts. We do not pick and choose which laws we enforce,” Weirich said in a statement. “We do, however, have the discretion to review cases and decide the proper resolution based on the facts, circumstances, and the reasonable probability of conviction. This new law will not change how we prosecute cases in Shelby County. Nor will it change the way we work with outside agencies to do what we can to prevent issues that lead to crime.
The DA also reaffirmed their support for alternatives to incarceration such as the Shelby County Drug Court and programs such as the Jericho Initiative and the newly proposed Shelby County Veterans Court. These nationally recognized programs divert vulnerable people out of the criminal justice system to individualized treatment programs for mental illness and substance abuse rehabilitation. - H.O.P.E. also met with Deputy Chief Berryhill from the Memphis Police department about issues of harassment and misconduct of individual officers in interactions with people experiencing homelessness. H.O.P.E. is pleased to announce that MPD has appointed Officer Larry Howard from the crime prevention unit to be the official liaison with H.O.P.E. to not only address complaints of harassment but to also to aid H.O.P.E. in dealing with hate crimes and the economic and sexual exploitation of those experiencing homelessness. We wish to thank Director Toney Armstrong, Deputy Chief Berryhill and Officer Howard. H.O.P.E. looks forward to a positive future relationship with MPD based on trust and mutual respect.
- H.O.P.E. is working with MPD to implement new homeless sensitivity training for patrol officers based on the training materials created by the Nashville Homeless Power Project in cooperation with the Nashville Metro Police.
- H.O.P.E. stands in full support of Judge Bill Anderson’s proposal for the creation of a Veterans Court within General Sessions Court. This Court will help veterans who suffer from the trauma or war to be diverted out of the Criminal justice system and into programs suited to address their needs with dignity. 20%-30% of those experiencing homelessness are veterans as such this is a core issue of concern to H.O.P.E. We urge everyone to contact their Shelby County Commissioners immediately and voice your support for funding to support the creation of the Veterans Court.
PLEASE CALL YOUR SHELBY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AT (901) 222-1000
Note: Everyone has three commissioners. You can look up your commissioners here. You can find emails for commissioners here.
Make the call today!