4. ENSURE PEOPLE’S ACCESS TO HOUSING, FOOD, & ECONOMIC SECURITY

This crisis has underscored the need for all people to have access to stable housing, necessities such as food and water, and economic security immediately. These are necessary for survival, yet the prison industrial complex feeds off of and perpetuates people’s inability to have access to these basic resources. Given the heightened precarity of so many already vulnerable people that leaves them without basic needs while they are criminalized for their efforts to survive, the only solution is to meet the needs of communities to ensure the health and safety of everyone.

• HOUSING FOR ALL

  • Cancel/Waive all rent payments

  • Freeze all mortgage payments

  • Immediate end to all home evictions and property repossessions

  • Open up unoccupied homes for anyone who needs one

  • End all utility shutoffs and waive utility charges for the period of social distancing (plus some time), as people won’t be able to pay these bills once they are able to work again.

  • Restore access to water, gas and power to all homes, even in the midst of payment issues

  • Immediately enable those unhoused, those being released from jail and prison facilities with no housing set up, and those fleeing potential harm from intimate partners or guardians to inhabit vacant property, free of charge, and in a long-term capacity

  • Immediately end all police sweeps and patrols of houseless community members, and provide guaranteed housing for all

• FOOD FOR ALL

  • Provide access to adequate and healthy food for all

  • Ensure equitable distribution of basic food and supplies during the period of social distancing

  • Put price caps on all food and supplies to prevent profiteering during the period of social distancing

  • Ensure food delivery to those with restricted mobility and access

• UNIVERSAL INCOME / NO DEBT

  • Provide financial and material assistance plans for people who have lost their jobs, been laid off or are expected to refrain from working

  • Provide a livable universal basic income for all individuals

  • Suspend all loans payments, foreclosures and parking enforcements

  • Cancel all student, medical and credit debt

  • All aid/relief must include undocumented people

  • Relief/ aid must prioritize people over profit