𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 “𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠”

Oct 2

Most of us believe the level of division and anger in the community is unhealthy. We’ve been accused of contributing to the “outrage machine” for being, well, outraged at the behavior and attitudes of some in the community.

Here’s our stance: it’s unethical and immoral to ignore, or worst, openly advocate against people in our community having access to food and water. We are outraged by these attitudes, and to trot out the old chestnut, if you aren’t outraged too, you’re not paying attention.

A couple of quotes from an October 1st Action News Now story:

"[providing food is] Pulling them back into the city and the city is getting destroyed by this,” said Chico resident Kim Shy-Burke
“We all have empathy for them but at the same time you are kind of enabling and a lot of the time in some of the encampments it is making it a recurring problem," said Chico resident Stephanie Fountain.

Let us be as clear as possible: working to ensure that people in our community don’t die from lack of access to food and water is not enabling. It doesn’t “pull them back to the city.” It’s basic human decency and there is no excuse for withholding these basic needs from people. It absolutely is outrageous.

In fact, we’ve heard from some that they take the bus to Oroville to get a hot meal…then they return here, because, like it or not, this is where they live. Denying people access to life-sustaining necessities just makes things harder and more miserable for them…but it neither “draws them here” nor drives them away.

The actual subtext of these types of comments is this: “the punishment for being poor, indigent, or unsheltered should be death.”

Many people don’t know that since the Jesus Center closed their Park Avenue location last winter, there is no place in Chico where a person can go to get a hot meal or a shower. The lives of people on our streets are harder now than they have been in 20+ years.

In the coming week we will be highlighting individuals and organizations that have stepped in to fill the gap. We hope you will consider donating some time, money or food to help them provide these critical services. There is no reason people should be going hungry in Chico.