Help the Jericho Family Support Center
Tax deductible
The Hampton Inn, located at 120 Jericho Turnpike, Jericho, is set to become a transitional housing facility that will provide life-saving shelter to 80 homeless families at a time. In the middle of a global pandemic, finding safe, stable, and secure housing is an unthinkable challenge for the nearly 4,000 homeless people on Long Island (a number that has more than likely grown since the start of COVID-19).
Opponents of the housing site argue that it will endanger "the safety and well being of our families", then fail to support this fear-mongering claim with any evidence. This common myth used to villainize the homeless is false - homeless people are less likely to commit violent crimes than housed people, and are more likely to be the victims of such offenses (Johns Hopkins University). In other words, residents of the facility will not pose a threat to students any greater than any other individual living in the area will. On the other hand, stopping these families from living safely will undoubtedly threaten their wellbeing, which matters just as much as ours. Actively trying to stop children and families from meeting the basic human necessity of shelter is a real threat.
There are more homeless children on Long Island than there are students in Cantiague Elementary, Robert Seaman Elementary, George A. Jackson Elementary, and Jericho Middle School combined (LICH). They deserve safety. They deserve comfort. They deserve housing.
Recently, a GoFundMe page has been created to raise money for legal fees to keep homeless people in Jericho homeless rather than to help them secure safe housing. This misuse of the justice system is disgusting, sickening, and heartless. The safety and security of our future neighbors matter just as much as ours.
If you have the means, please consider donating to support Community Housing Innovations, which supports individuals with emergency shelters, supportive and transitional housing, and permanent housing. Every family deserves a roof over their heads.
Opponents of the housing site argue that it will endanger "the safety and well being of our families", then fail to support this fear-mongering claim with any evidence. This common myth used to villainize the homeless is false - homeless people are less likely to commit violent crimes than housed people, and are more likely to be the victims of such offenses (Johns Hopkins University). In other words, residents of the facility will not pose a threat to students any greater than any other individual living in the area will. On the other hand, stopping these families from living safely will undoubtedly threaten their wellbeing, which matters just as much as ours. Actively trying to stop children and families from meeting the basic human necessity of shelter is a real threat.
There are more homeless children on Long Island than there are students in Cantiague Elementary, Robert Seaman Elementary, George A. Jackson Elementary, and Jericho Middle School combined (LICH). They deserve safety. They deserve comfort. They deserve housing.
Recently, a GoFundMe page has been created to raise money for legal fees to keep homeless people in Jericho homeless rather than to help them secure safe housing. This misuse of the justice system is disgusting, sickening, and heartless. The safety and security of our future neighbors matter just as much as ours.
If you have the means, please consider donating to support Community Housing Innovations, which supports individuals with emergency shelters, supportive and transitional housing, and permanent housing. Every family deserves a roof over their heads.
Organizer
Sivan Komatsu
Organizer
Jericho, NY
Community Housing Innovations, Inc.
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
