Memphis Tent City Action brings awareness to lack of free shelters
On May 6, 2017, H.O.P.E., along side countless volunteers, leaders from other organizations like Fight for $15 and United campus workers, constructed a tent city in the middle of Morris park. The goal of the action was to increase community awareness, as well as the powers that be in Memphis, that we are in dire need of free shelters for single women, single men, LGBTQ community, and people with disabilities.
H.O.P.E won’t rest until we get the leaders in Memphis to listen to our outrage! We chose to do this action in conjunction with the Beale Street Music festival as a protest to it. We feel that between all of the money spent on BSMF and the potential Harbor Town dog park, could and should be rerouted to funding services for people experiencing homelessness in Memphis. We received a great response online as well as from passerbys that came through to see our tent city. However since it was at the same time as the music festival, we didn’t get much media coverage as we wanted. This being said, we plan to follow-up this action with several visits to City Hall to put more pressure on the council. Now is the time to get involved! Please look out for updates on when we will be attending the council meetings and show up with us to stand up for the unsheltered of Memphis!