There’s a group called “common ¢ents” that has proposed an idea to end the homeless problem in Seattle. Apparently these people believe that illegally occupying private property is the solution.
From their Craigslist posting:
A banner recently appeared on the flag pole above the Old Seattle Times building, located at 1120 John Street. It reads: “Sweeps Make Squats: FIGHT HOMELESSNESS POST ADDRESSES AND PHOTOS OF VACANT PROPERTIES #HOWMANYVACANT” Another banner appeared on a nearby building. It reads: “You Sweep We Occupy #HOWMANY VACANT.” The “O” of occupied is struck through by an arrow. The collective behind these actions is called common ¢ents.
Common ¢ents aims to draw attention to the absurdity and illogicality of how Seattle is addressing The Homeless Question. Namely, it is absurd to treat homelessness as a housing problem when there appear to be so many vacant, livable properties in Seattle. Common ¢ents does not see tiny houses, legal encampments, RV parks, enhanced sweeps, expanded private housing development or the devout practice of Housing First as solutions to the housing crisis. These reform measures satisfy our desire to see that something gets done. But these solutions divide us, they ask us to presume that the homeless are not like everyone else and deserve special treatment (for better or for worse!).
Our objective is system change. This means understanding, as Peter Marcuse (a lawyer who specializes in urban planning) eloquently puts it, that “homelessness exists not because the housing system is not working, but because this is the way it works.” It also means recognizing the urgency with which we must develop alternative housing solutions.
Let’s not ignore our common sense, particularly with regard to vacant buildings. Our common sense tells us that these buildings are not wasted space. Instead of letting them go to waste, why not reclaim vacant buildings immediately? John Jay Chapman delivers our rallying cry: “all compromise means delay.” Vacant buildings represent a potential for new forms of community engagement: transitional housing, community services, unstructured space, spaces dedicated to spontaneous creativity, etc. Efforts to reclaim them should not be homeless-centric. Anyone in Seattle who is worried about the city becoming divided into homogeneous sub-units, with the richest and whitest areas enjoying the best access to transportation, culture, beauty, festivals, parks, etc., should feel justified in demanding access to a vacant building. Common ¢ents hopes to adhere ruthlessly to principles of self-government. This means our positions and methods can evolve and adapt based on the collective’s membership.
Seattle Times photo
Such an approach does not preclude holding certain opinions, especially towards consumer society. In this regard, John Jay Chapman once again hits the nail on the head: “One effect of the commercial supremacy has been to make social life intolerably dull, by dividng (sic) people into cliques and trade unions. The millionaire dines with the millionaire (sic), the artist with the artist, the hat-maker with the hat-maker, gentlefolk with gentlefolk.” It’s time to un-dull society, or at least Seattle. Step one is to help build our resources. SHARE PHOTOS AND ADDRESSES OF VACANT BUILDINGS to #Howmanyvacant
Hopefully, common ¢ents
The Seattle Times has a full story here.
DCG