December 2022
December 2022 Newsletter
Unhoused not Unheard (anymore!)
“I don’t want to live like this, it’s not comfortable, and I’m just gonna waste my life. I went to school for C++ computer programming and I want to go back and finish for the programming. That would be a nice start for me to do something with my injury and get back to myself.
But I can’t do it in tent city, someone will really steal my homework out there.. ha
We need to have some landlords that are willing to do something .... I don’t expect anyone to house me for free, that’s not but if it’s a voucher that can pay for something. I’ll do whatever I need to do to get it. they dont think its gonna come through, they don’t think they are gonna get paid….There so many people who have the ERA voucher.”
In October, we held a forum called Let’s Talk About It convening around 20 community members, including a few UMA Bangor campus staff and unhoused neighbors from the Tent City behind the Hope House/PCHC transitional housing facility.
We highlighted both the history and current practice of the Greater Bangor Houseless Collective as well as the goals and plans looking ahead. Referring to many statements and actions from the city which have indicated that they are exploring more aggressive sweeping policies. Even though such actions lead to the deaths of 3 people a little over a year ago.
The event began with a slide show and opened into a discussion, where community members sought a a deeper understanding and concrete ways to move humane policy forward. We recognize that the problems facing our communities are multifaceted and the insight of those most impacted must guide our actions.
As our unhoused neighbors explained; often just small barriers like licenses, or missing appointments or paperwork that made getting stably into housing difficult: One such resident shared this when asked about his concerns:
“Penquis ERA voucher is running out first …people starting trashing up motel rooms and ruining it for others and now they don’t want to continue, sometimes things get ruined and I don’t blame them. But that was like the one voucher I had and it put me up with my wife for quite a few months.
And um.. she passed and I couldn’t stay there and I ended up back here [tent city encampment] and I’m doing real bad trying to get housing. no voucher now and um you know ….the shelter, there I feel uncomfortable.”
”I know that being 35 years old, when I have a home to go to to put my head down I can actually get up and conquer the tasks of the next day
But when I gotta worry every second of my life; there’s no fun and there’s no happiness and joy and I’m not having any. Its just…
It’s always like that out here…”
As long as these voices, stories and other injustices in our communities don't get heard, healed and recognized how can we move towards a just future. GBHC continues its outreach and mutual aid work, we at P&JC are looking at how to continue to partner and develop this important work in our community.
The Penobscot County Cares group meeting is also a place to raise these issues with others, as has been highlighted in previous newsletters. PCC meets every other Thursday at 4pm the next is on the 29th and you can attend by clicking this link.
We need your voice and your vision.
Check out our new drop-in calls to talk to an organizer about responding to the urgent need to support the direct mutual aid organizing as well as developing our own plan to help bring these injustices to the public square, the city hall, and the state house.
Speak Peace & Build Justice: weekly drop-in calls with a staff member to share updates, ideas and opportunities about the current housing injustice we are facing and more. Starting December 27th! Tuesdays at 6:30pm
You can also email us: peacectr@gmail.com
Let us know what's moving you in these times. Please take a moment to fill out the survey below.
Wednesday Peace Vigils Weekly at 12:00 Noon
THE WAR RAGES ON
The Peace and Justice Center vigilled for twenty years while the US military occupied Afghanistan. While the pullout last year was not well done, the Center believed the US should never have been there in the first place.
Now we have a new war, in Ukraine; it is destroying the country and traumatizing its people. It is killing Russians and Ukrainians alike, probably none of whom want this war. We vigil each Wednesday from 12 noon to 12:30 PM in front of Bangor City Hall on Harlow Street in downtown Bangor. Join us!!
While a single vigil has not usually ended a war, it is important that we speak on behalf of peace, not an escalation of the conflict. We need multiple pressures for peace—from the US public, the Ukrainian public, and the Russian public.
This is the war that is getting publicity, but it is hardly the only conflict that is killing many and hurting many more. There is still Syria, Yemen, Somalia, and other conflicts.
Our reasons for the vigil include:
*Start and maintain negotiations to stop the violence (use intermediaries like the UN, thousands are dying!!!, )
*Withdraw Russian military from all of Ukraine (they do not belong there)
*Stop militarization of the region—fewer troops and weapons, not more (the more weapons, the harder to negotiate an end to the fighting and the more dead and suffering)
*Support all refugees, including those from other countries and who are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)
*Give more attention to ending wars that have been going on for years or even a decade or more (Yemen, Syria, Somalia, etc.)
*End sanctions that hurt the Russian public (promote sanctions that help Russian people pressure on their government to end the war)
*No regime change by US/EU in Russia or Ukraine (For the Russian/Ukrainian people to decide)
*Support Russians opposing the Ukraine war (so they can build a movement to end the war)
*Stop threats to use nuclear weapons (use of them would create massive casualties)
For more information, Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine: Larry Dansinger, (207) 262-3706 or larryd@myfairpoint.net
A Moment of Remembrance:
Marta Goodale was a longtime supporter of the Peace & Justice Center along with her husband Eric. She died peacefully this weekend. In spite of years of gradual deterioration due to Alzheimer's, she continued to participate in protests, vigils, tabling, and in any other way that she could still contribute. She was a person of deep compassion for all living beings.
May we hold her family and loved ones in our hearts. Let us remember and build on the goodness she fought for and brought into this world.
Stay safe, warm, and in community.
Let Peace and Justice ring out this new year!
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Our mailing address is:
peacectr@gmail.com