“If you want peace, work for justice.”
- Pope Paul VI
We selected 2 core issues for 2022 in our founding assembly.
Affordable Housing / Homelessness.
Participants in house meetings shared many stories about the lack of affordable housing in Manatee County…
Teachers worried about impact of homelessness on their students’ learning
Coworkers concerned about minimum wage colleagues who can’t afford rent
Friends worried about people who work but are homeless because they can’t afford rent
Parents concerned about children who can’t afford to rent/buy in the area
Soon-to-be retirees worried about being able to afford housing on a fixed income
Manatee Countians should be able to afford to live in Manatee County, but currently tens of thousands cannot. The wage needed to afford housing in Manatee County is more than 30% higher than the median wage. Housing instability and homelessness are an ever-present problem for our residents – and are continuing to rise. We, as a community, must take action so that our community members have access to housing that we can afford.
“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.”
- Isaiah 32:18
Criminal Justice.
House meetings revealed numerous concerns about Criminal Justice in Manatee Country based on experiences of family members and friends…
Inability to find employment due to past arrests (some occurred 40+ years ago)
Being falsely arrested and/or searched for “looking suspicious”
Inability to find employment due to past minor drug arrests (even after serving time and undergoing treatment)
Being thrown into jail for minor offenses (expired car tag) due to inability to pay bail
Going to jail after being falsely arrested and incurring significant legal fees to prove innocence