Upcoming PCAP EVENTS:
1. Squeegee Action and No-Poorbashing Leafletting: Saturday May 31
2. Squatting Tour & Affordable Housing Action: Sunday June 15th
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1. Squeegee Action & No-Poorbashing Leafletting Saturday May 31st @ Ptbo Square (George & Simcoe St)
PCAP invites you to squeegee downtown and/or hand out leaflets against poorbashing.
-Support the rights of panhandlers
-Tell the DBIA to stop poor-bashing
-Confront police harassment of poor people
This is a legal action. Participate or observe. All welcome.
Tell the DBIA to Stop Poor-bashing!
The Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) has recently launched an anti-panhandling campaign to discourage local residents from giving money to panhandlers. Instead, residents are encouraged to give panhandlers 50¢ coupons which can be redeemed at local businesses for food and clothing. To promote this campaign, the DBIA is using poor-bashing rhetoric to convince the public that panhandlers spend their money on booze & drugs.
Not only are these claims false (the majority of panhandlers use the money for basic survival - food and shelter) but the DBIA is taking away panhandlers' rights to manage their own money.
The DBIA anti-panhandling campaign is just another attempt to demonize, humilate and control poor people.
PCAP won't stand for it!
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2. Squatting Tour & Affordable Housing Action
Sunday June 15th, 2003
3pm - Meet at Inverlea Park: One block East of Water St. & Parkhill Rd. "Give it or Guard it" Housing Campaign and Squatting Free food; child-friendly; peaceful event; all welcome. About the "Give it or Guard it" SQUATTING TOUR & Campaign: Over the next few months, PCAP will be publicly identifying buildings which are empty in Peterborough and could be used for AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
Using the principle of "Give it or Guard it", PCAP will publicly announce the locations of empty building which they plan to take over for affordable housing. The property owners and police then can choose to "guard it" (ie. surround the building and prevent it from being used for housing), or "give it" up to those seeking shelter. The purpose of this strategy is to draw attention to the empty buildings in town that could be used for affordable housing.
At some point, one of these buildings will be taken over by community members for housing.
WHY THIS ACTION?
The shelters are overflowing. Eviction rates have skyrocketed. Thousands on a 5 year waiting list for affordable housing. The governments have refused to act.
We can't wait any longer. If they won't build it, we will take it! AFFORDABLE HOUSING NOW!
Join us on the following dates for the Squatting Tour:
SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2003 Time & Location TBA
SUNDAY, AUGUST 17, 2003 Time & Location TBA
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The Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty (PCAP) is a group dedicated to political struggle against an economic system that maintains and profits from the inequality, indignity and needless suffering of poverty. PCAP organizes actions to support and protect low income persons or groups who are being oppressed. PCAP helps people deal with social assistance claims, housing issues, police harassment, squatters^Ò rights and poor-bashing. If you need assistance or want to get involved, call PCAP.
Office: 393 Water St. Unit 17 Peterborough K9H 3L7 Office Open Daily. Call for details: (705) 749-9694
About Us
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- PCAP is a direct action anti-poverty group made up of poor people and their allies. We believe in the power of people to organize themselves. PCAP mounts social justice campaigns against regressive government policies that affect poor, homeless and working communities. We also provide free advocacy for individuals and families. Please note there is a change of office hours and location. We are hosting outreach meetings within Peterborough County. FIGHT to Win! Email: pcap@riseup.net;