At 9:00AM on Sunday, June 19th – Juneteenth and Father’s Day – Harold and his daughter were sitting on their car, enjoying music together when Sacramento PD rolled up and told them they were taking his vehicle due to expired registration. Because there were many other cars with expired registration nearby, it appeared to be targeted. What’s worse, Summer and Harold were scammed by the lot where this car was purchased, who claimed they were transferring title + registration, and did not -- and are now defunct.

When Harold called his job to inform them that his only mode of work transportation was being stolen by the state, they replied “you have 24 hours to figure it out.”

 

Rather than paying the state – and then a tow company contracted by the state – thousands to get the car out, they would like to purchase a different car and not have to deal with any of that.

 

Harold and Summer are the loving parents of 4 beautiful children, two who have special needs. Up until recently they both worked full time at an auto parts store, but Summer recently quit her job to be a more consistent presence for her autistic son. They have been unhoused for 6 years, and have been living in an RV community, which means neverending harassment and displacement thanks to the City of Sacramento’s ghoulish policies toward our unhoused neighbors.

 

The fact that this family is unhoused is a travesty in and of itself.

 

But the fact that the state would send a pack of armed men to traumatize these children (again) and steal a basic need from a family that is doing everything anyone could reasonably expect to lift themselves out of poverty...on Juneteenth/Father's Day...there are simply no words for the capacity of cruelty this city has.

 

But you know what? Fuck them. WE keep us safe and WE take care of each other, and I KNOW we can raise the funds to get this family transportation they need to survive.

 

This family is very dear to me, our kids are buds -- and believe me when I tell you that this is just the tip of the iceberg of what they have endured in their 6 years being unhoused.

 

This is one small thing this community can do to show our solidarity. No amount is too big or too small.

 

Let's get the Hamilton Family a car!!!!