[antiwar-van] *SATURDAY* Vancouver Grand March for Housing!

[Kira Koshelanyk]

Announcement from the Citywide Housing Coalition
 
Grand March for Housing, April 4, 2009 
 
On Saturday, April 4 2009, thousands of people from communities across BC will come together to demand immediate government action to end homelessness, build social housing, protect rental housing and raise welfare and minimum wage rates.
 
Please join us on April 4th for a family friendly march at the following locations:
Noon at:
-Thorton Park (Main Street Skytrain Station)
-Main and Hastings
-Peace Flame Park (South End of Burrard Street Bridge)
 
Or join us for speakers and music at the Vancouver Art Gallery, 1:30 where thousands of people will come together and show their support to bring about positive change. Housing is everyone's issue. 
 
To help you can post the poster in a prominent place; staff room, lounge, common area.  Poster can be found at www.citywidehousingcoalition.org 
If you have any further questions or would like to volunteer for the march please do not hesitate to contact us at grandmarch at gmail.com.
 
For more information please visit www.citywidehousingcoalition.org.
See you all on April 4th. 
 
WHO IS Citywide Housing Coalition? 
This march is being organized by the Citywide Housing Coalition, a group of
organizers who live in neighbourhoods across the city from West Point Grey 
to Hastings Sunrise.  We believe that public education and raising awareness will result in a change in government policy so that social housing will be built and income levels raised.  We came together in the Spring of 2007 when it was clear that the housing promises made in the bid for the 2010 Olympics were not going to be kept.  Since then we've organized dozens of actions including the letter writing campaigns, demonstrations, press conferences, marches and "Stands for Housing" in Vancouver and throughout the Province. We have organizers tackling affordable housing issues directly in the West End, the Downtown Eastside, Fraser area and Little Mountain. 
 
MORE INFO: 
www.citywidehousingcoalition.org 
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
- Canada is the only wealthy country in the "G8" without a national housing program 
- According to a provincial study, BC tax payers would save $32.8 million 
annually if governments would build permanent housing and put in supports. 
- Welfare rates today are 25% lower than in 1995, once inflation is factored 
- Poverty is the single greatest cause of homelessness 
- Aboriginal people comprise 32% of the Metro Vancouver homeless population, but only 2% of the general population. Nearly half of the homeless women counted in March 2008 identified themselves as Aboriginal. 

 
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