"Homeless Families Occupy Philadelphia Army Recruitment Center"

Kensington Welfare Rights Organization

Today [Tuesday, November 30], as part of their "Homes For The Holidays: Operation Bring the
Money Home" Campaign, dozens of homeless families belonging to the
Kensington Welfare Rights Union (KWRU) have moved their Bushville
Tent City to sit in at the main Army Recruiting Office in
Philadelphia.

As police and Civil Affairs officers attempted to lock
the families out of the office, the families quickly placed signs
saying "Billions for the War, Still Nothing for the Poor" and
photographs of homeless children with the words, "Bring the Money
Home" on every available space in the office. See here for photographs and updates.Background:

November 30, 2004: Early this afternoon, members of the Kensington
Welfare Rights Union — homeless families currently living at the
KWRU's BUSHVILLE in North Philadelphia — attempted to meet with the
Office of Housing and Urban Developement (HUD) in Philadelphia. Soon
after the families entered the building the elevators were turned off
and we were denied our right to speak with government officials.

The growing protest then moved to the Army Recruiting Office at Broad
and Arch where the families then took over the Army Recruiting
Office. Others have set up to spend the night outside. No family
should ever go homeless one night in Philadelphia. Your support is
needed.

The Kensington Welfare Rights Union is insisting that Alphonso
Jackson, the current Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, fly
to Philadelphia to witness firsthand the impact the recent budget
cuts made by the Bush Administration have had on the families in this
city.

"The Bush administration continues to put billions of dollars towards
a needless, brutal war while families across America suffer without
the basic necessities of life. This is not a fight for a bed in a
homeless shelter; it is a fight for decent, affordable housing for
everyone is this wealthy nation." — Cheri Honkala, Kensington Welfare Rights Union/ Poor People's
Economic Human Rights Campaign

Kensington Welfare Rights Union
NUHHCE, ASFCME, AFL-CIO
PO Box 50678

Philadelphia, PA 19132-9720
Phone: 215/203-1945
Fax: 215/203-1950

Email: kwru@kwru.org

Web: KWRU