Kensington Welfare Rights Union

HOMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS
OPERATION BRING THE MONEY HOME
THE KENSINGTON WELFARE RIGHTS UNION BUILDS WINTERTIME TENT CITY

Initial Updates
November 24
Several homeless families filled the KWRU office this rainy morning, ready to set up our tent city. Cots carpets, chairs, and blankets were caravaned to our encampment site on Broad and Clearfield, home of the hsitoric Roxanne Jones mural. Roxanne Jones was the first welfare recipient and African American women to serve in the PA State Senate and a major supporter of the work we do in KWRU.

After setting up some tents we distributed turkeys and fliers to the surrounding neighborhoods and were met by great support. The rest of the day was spent finding a way to stay warm and dry on this cold rainy day. Many of the families have no where else to go tonight; while the city allows vacant HUD properties to sit abandoned and unused. Please join us in the coming weeks as we continue to fight for affordable housing for these families.

November 25 Thanksgiving Day
We fought through the wind and rain last night, but it will in no way deter us from our fight for affordable housing this holiday season. Spirits were high as the sky cleared up and members of KWRU pooled together their food stamps to shop for ingredients for a humble Thanksgiving meal. On this Thanksgiving we are thankful to be together as a union and we are thankful to be part of a movement for economic human rights.

Until we, the poor and homeless of this country build a massive movement to end poverty in this country, we will continue to struggle and call attention to our situations; even on days that our considered holidays. Our lives and our children' lives depend on it.

November 26
Today we were joined by some of our community allies in the fight for affordable housing. Members from Philadelphia Disabled in Action joined us and members of New Jerusalem, a recovery community in Philadelphia brought tools, building supplies, and their talents to help us build even more structures for our Bushville. By the end of the day Bushville has doubled in size and our movement is multiplied in strength and commitment. After dinner our families gathered together for an educational on the history of this movement and the history of our housing struggles in Philadelphia. KWRU has successfully won housing for over 500 families by putting pressure on the city, building tent cities, taking over abadonded HUD houses, and using Civil Disobedience. The only way we can continue to grow as a movement is to ensure the survival of our key members. Our new members feel better knowing this and are eager to learn more about this movement.