Letters to Obama: 2009

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Pastor Scott Wagers, San Jose

Dear President Obama:

We at the CHAM Deliverance Ministry send our prayers and our sincere gratitude to you, your family and your administration. We know that you are mindful of, and concerned about, the suffering of the poor and homeless across America due to the ongoing housing crisis and lack of universal health care. We have sent you hundreds of letters from those languishing in forgotten corners who wonder what will become of their American dream. We are sending the letter to you because we know that you care about their plight and you hear their voices echoing from tent cities, abandoned buildings, freeway overpasses and river-beds across America.

We pray these letters will be the harbinger of a "new day" in America. A day that you, Dr. King and many other great Americans have spoken about: That day when all of God's children can join as one and say in the words of that old spiritual, "Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty We are free at last."

Sincerely,

Rev. Scott Wagers
Founder, CHAM Deliverance Ministry
San Jose, CA

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Maria del Rosario Alba, Alexis, & Janette, San Jose

Ola Obama,

Necesitamos conocerte para poder compartir muchas necesidades.

Wilfred P. Lopez, San Jose

Maria Redmond, San Jose

I need section 8 or low-income housing. I can't survive with children in the tough economic time we are having.

Ramona Gonzalez, San Jose

Teofilo Reyes, San Jose

There are plenty of needy people in Santa Clara County, especially the homeless like me. Please help. Thank you.

Luz Elena Godoy, San Jose

Cucho Thi, San Jose

I live in my car, I have no money for housing. Before, I lived in a room on Aborn. I have a seven year-old son and my husband who is disabled. I have a problem with the police because I don't have money for insurance and registration. I pray every day that they don't take my car away from me.

Jose de Jesus Briseno, Santa Clara, CA

Christopher K. Lewis & Christopher Jr., San Jose

More extremely low-income housing and help for homelessness. Help everybody no matter what their background is. No discrimination.

Leticia Blanco, San Jose

Pues con la economia en que estamos, me quedo sin trabajo. Necesitamos mas trabajo.

John Milkovich, San Jose

Why are they giving billions of dollars to corporations, but yet cutting food, housing, and medical for the poor?

Yolanda Vasquez, San Jose

The state of California is in critical need of funding for homeless and low-income housing needs.

Jose Gonzalez, San Jose

Le agradecemos su ayuda por favor para mas vivienda y comida. God bless you.

Rosemary Martin, San Jose

Harold Fleming, San Jose

I have been out of work for two years and I am living in the street with nothing.

John Deleong, San Jose

We need more subsidized housing.

Patricia Solis, San Jose

The pay I receive is not enough to cover the rent, so I need to get food and clothing at places like Sacred Heart. We need more resources in the community. Thank you sincerely.

Lorraine Arevalo, San Jose

Keep up the good work!

David Pacheco, San Jose

Se necesita mas ayuda por favor.

Evelynne S. Masten & Amy Samuelson, San Jose

We need lots of help!!

Mona Gorum, San Jose

Damaris Giron, San Jose

Dios lo ha puesto a gobernar esta nacion para buenos cambios. Ayudenos, confiamos mucho en usted. Le deseo exito en los propositos que tenga en bien de esta nacion

Louie Sandoval, San Jose

First and foremost, congratulations. You made history. GOD BLESS.

Sir, it saddens me that there are no housing facilities for men with children, and help to educate them in parenthood. If you are interested in ideas please contact me. I will make time to express my ideas to you.

Thank you. GOD BLESS.

P.S. I have you in my prayers. keep up the good work.

Tuyet Bustos, San Jose

Genny Carranza, San Jose

There are a lot of homeless families that are in need of serious help.

Juan Ramirez, San Jose

I am from here but I have been away in Mexico for six months. Now I can't find any work here at all.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Grace Mendoza, San Jose

Help my household.

Magdaleno Perez, San Jose

Eva Rios, San Jose

Que por favor ayude con cobiendas y que no quite el MediCal.

Ronda Enriquez, San Jose

Low-income people need a lot more housing, not condos that we can't afford.

Donna Jean Hinck, San Jose

Dearest President,

Our community really can use your help. I have lived here all my life and I really need to find a JOB. I type 50 wpm, have office skills and 15-20 years experience, but I am 48 years old. Please help ME find a JOB. Thank you.

Gregory R. Sanchez, San Jose

Dear Mr. Obama, Mr. President,

Yes you have a great amount of catching up to do. And we the people have great concerns: what is in all of our best interest, and the planet's well-being. Not wars that are life-destroying for both men and women

Amy Bravo, San Jose

I lost my nursing job and now I cannot afford housing. I am currently homeless and do not qualify for any assistance.

Salvador Bustamante, San Jose

Maria Garcia, San Jose

People are graduating from college or the university and they do not have a social security number to find a better job. Please help people be able to work by ensuring that they can get social security numbers.

Thank you very much for your help!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Angel Luna, San Jose

We need an immigration reform, Mr. President Obama.

Adelina Cabrera, San Jose

Necesitamos ayuda. Apoyenos por favor. Pues nosotros vivimos en muy malas condiciones. Muchas gracias por escucharnos.

Karon Lambert, San Jose

My husband and I just lost our home. I had become disabled after a fourth back surgery and was not able to return to work. My husband was downsized. I went to the section 8 department and was told the waiting list is ten years and they are not accepting any applications. I went to social services and was told we were not eligible because I made about $100 over the limit.

We live in SILICON VALLEY and $1100 a month does not cut it! California is being left by the wayside. Take a good look around and see the suffering of those that followed the rules (went to school, went to work, and paid taxes). And also take a look at all the immigrants that are here and receiving the resources we put our hard earned money into. Take a look at your average person.

Yiiella Ayala, San Jose

Mildred Rodriguez, Gilroy, CA

I need housing really bad. I have been in the streets for years and I need a decent place to live. Thank you.

Hector Garcia, San Jose

Robert Crawley, San Jose

People are in need of basics. Survival is tough. There are too many homeless who need mental health care. Please send aid! Thank you.

Joy Fernandez, San Jose

Latoya Mitchell, Neanna, & Tius, San Jose

Dear President Obama,

We are in need of various day to day things to survive, such as shelters, food, and help with the electric bill. Please help us make our life better.

Benny Gallego, San Jose

I would very much appreciate if you could help with these issues. Thank you.

P.S. You are doing a good job.

Elvia Reynoso, San Jose

I have been waiting for my housing for more than ten years. They sent my first voucher to my old address, so I had to reapply. I am still in the process of waiting for my voucher. Please help out the housing situation. I feel you are a great president and have made so many changes for our country. We are all blessed.

God bless you. Thank you.

Love, Elvia R.

Griselda Osuna, San Jose

Sarah Jordan, Sunnyvale, CA

Please stop building shopping malls and parking structures. We need more affordable living for our families! Thank you.

Daniella Navarette & David Poole, San Jose

A country with an abundance of wealth should not have an abundance of impoverished people. All humans deserve to have their basic needs fulfilled. Yes to public housing!

We have the power to make change. Help our country take another step forward.

Carmen Gutierrez, San Jose

Por favor a bajar los precios de las casas. Los bancos ponen mucho interes. Los aprecio a todos que trabajan en estos problemas Dios les ayude mas. Yo estoy perdiendo mi casa y por esta razon no me hicieron cuando yo les pedi. Yo no se ahora a donde voy a vivir.

Patricia Kulty, Campbell, CA

This housing "thing" has left me and my daughter homeless for six months!

Elizabeth Ramirez Juarez & Karyn, San Jose

Jocelyn R. D. Hernandez, San Jose

I need housing just to survive in this expensive area.

Anita Miles, San Jose

Section 8 vouchers would greatly improve the quality of life for myself and my three children.

Carlos Sanchez, San Jose

More mobile home parks with affordable prices.

Frank Xavier Michel Alvarez, San Jose

We need section 8 housing.

We do NOT need more parking lots.

We need libraries, community centers, and art schools.

Cassandra Perry, San Jose

Juanita Bates, San Jose

Our homeless and seniors need help, not cuts! I am a home care provider!

Mayra Choza, San Jose

Yo necesito ayuda para vivienda o que bajen las rentas.

Vladamir Kurugev, San Jose

Eduardo Manuel, Sandra Mendoza, & Giovanni, San Jose

Necesitamos que nos ayude por favor a todos los de su estado.

Jim W. Finley, San Jose, CA

Destiny J. Roberts, San Jose

I have been on the section 8 list for the last four years and my number is 25,984. I lost my job and it is hard to find work. I need any kind of help, with the budget being cut and services being discontinued.

Juana Juarez, San Jose

Maura Hernandez, Regina Martinez & Magdalena, San Jose

I think the housing situation is drastically in need of change. More funding is needed. It is a serious issue that needs help.

Lourdes Reyes, San Jose

Delfino Basurto, San Jose

Juanita Chavez, San Jose

Please open up the section 8 housing program. All the layoffs and and the unemployment line is so terrible. Please. If you can't open up the housing, what is happening to our country? I have two daughters in a shelter right now due to lack of funds and housing not opening. Please help this world.

Jessica Sanchez, San Jose

Brandi L. Dutton, San Jose

Betsy Preciado, San Jose

Sofia Bermudez, Castroville, CA

Please help us in getting more low-income housing.

Mario Camdel, San Jose

Maria Gorman, Salinas, CA

Patricia Santiago, San Jose

Please do something about housing and many other issues affecting our country.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Celia Sandoval, Elizabeth, & Hector, San Jose

Hola! Necesitamos su ayuda. Que Dios lo bendiga.

Rabbi Sheldon Lewis, Palo Alto, CA

Angelina Sierra, San Jose

Que pueda ayudar a los Mexicanos que mucho lo necesitamos. Hemos venido a este pais a luchar porque en nuestro pais no se puede.

Gracias por todo, Obama. Gracias por su ayuda. Dios le bendiga.

Isabel Tello, San Jose

Joan, U.S.A.

It is my firm belief that if you lower rental rates to an amount affordable to minimum wage workers, and then place a cap on rents, it would help not only low-income families, but also the economy in all areas across America.

And please stop making cuts on those who are already barely surviving now on disability, or you will have an even greater homelessness rate in America. Thanks.

Allen Talton, San Jose

Please help us. We need you. We are living in the streets.

Iliana Vanessa Silva, Alex Jeremiah, San Jose

Mas ayuda y oportunidades gobernales.

Vivian Chavez, San Jose

Dear Mr. President,

I am a 24 year-old single parent of two beautiful little girls ages five and three. I am currently living in a San Jose family shelter. All of my life I have had big dreams, dreams to be and do something big in this world. I have always wanted to have an important impact on people's lives, but I put my dreams on hold the day I became a mother.

I have learned now to put others' dreams before my own. My girls are what matter to me now, and I will live my dreams through them. I have never really had a home all my life, I have just moved from house to house. So now as a parent, that is all I want for my girls, but it is so hard out here. It is hard to find work and hard to find a home.

I have even stopped going to school to become a counselor so that I can look for at least some kind of job right now. I have been on the housing waiting list for about three years now, and they say I won't be called for about another ten years. And my time at the shelter will be up next month.

I am asking for your help for us with housing, for me and my girls, and for others who are in serious need of it.

We deserve a chance and our kids deserve a better life.

Cecilia Ramirez, San Jose

Si necesitamos viviendas de bajos recursos para toda la comunidad.

Joan Hildreth, San Jose

Housing is a human right. Thank you.

Alejandro Viveros, San Jose

Crear un plan a corto plazo para mejorar nuestra economia.

Michael Herrera, San Jose

Marisol Mendoza, San Jose

Isele Valdovinos, San Jose

Rentas mas bajas.

Mas trabajo.

Aseguranzas.

Licensias.

Timothy Flournoy Jr., San Jose

Please give us more housing options 4 da homeless.

Maria M. Silva, San Jose

Necesitamos viviendas para personas de bajos ingresos. Gracias por tomarnos en cuenta, y ayudenos a que no recorten la MediCal para el dentista, para nosotros los residentes. Gracias por su apoyo.

Chavon Anderson, San Jose

Please, Obama, we need your help, the community needs your help. Anything you are able to do for people on section 8, or people that want to be on section 8, will be greatly appreciated.

David Baker, San Jose

Maria Cendejas, Jazmen, Rafael, Christopher, & Guadalupe, San Jose

Necesitamos mas ayudas para nosotros que no tenemos suficiente dinero para rentas tan caras. Gracias.

Yolanda Garcia, San Jose

Please help those of us who have not yet been foreclosed, but cannot find work. It is so hard to make the payments. There should be a bank program to assist us. Thank you.

Dean K. Wedlow Jr., San Jose

Laura Mondragon & Katia, San Jose

Maria Socorro Martinez, San Jose

I think that the rents are too much, and also we need more section 8 vouchers.

Jessica Rodriguez, San Jose

Johnny Rudy Avila, San Jose

Please we need more housing vouchers for homeless people. I have been homeless for a long time.

Maria Silva, San Jose

Reduce monthly rent.

Brandy Medina, San Jose

Well, I think all we mothers that have children should be able to get housing first, since we are the ones in the greatest emergency need.

Eve Orten, San Jose

Socorro Torres, San Jose

We need more housing, we need more work, and more help tea ching people to read.

Veronica Hattis, San Jose

Pedro Aguilera, San Jose

Necesitamos viviendas y lo mas importante, trabajos. Gracias, Senor Obama.

Silvia Valdovinos, San Jose

Bajar las rentas.

Ayuda para las escuelas.

Papeles migratorios.

Martha Contreras, San Jose

Zulma Reyes, April, & Michelle, San Jose

Dear President,

First of all, our family is very happy to have you as our President. We are a family of five daughters ages 3-18, and myself, a single mom. We have had to move five times in the past three years. We have been on a housing waiting list that long. Rent is almost impossible for a family like ours, unless we rent with more than one family in a home.

Thank you for your time. God bless you.

Ann Rosenzweig, Morgan Hill, CA

Mandy Aleyda Ruano Giron, San Jose

Le suplicamos que usted nos escuche porque usted es nuestra esperanza. Para todos los Latinos usted es nuestra luz al final del tunel.Los humanos indocumentados lo necesitamos porque somos humanos ante todo y trabajadores. Que Dios lo bendiga. Gracias.

Ezequiel Guillin, San Jose

Gracias por su atencion, Senor Presidente. Yo estoy muy necesitado. No pude pagar mi casa y la perdi.

Jim Balquist, Sunnyvale, CA

It doesn't feel like America when so many people are suffering, and so many basic needs are going unmet......and it doesn't have to be this way!

Victoriano Legis Vega

Que nos den papeles.

Angela Conroy & Deborah Hardcastle, San Jose

Angela: Yes, I am on section 8 housing. I have been on unemployment and looking for work for about four months now since I was laid off. President Obama, you are doing a great job and everyone loves you.

Deborah: Housing in the Bay Area is very expensive. Section 8 vouchers are needed.

Tom Gilbert, San Jose

People really need help, and I am one of them! Thanks!

Aurora Felanoca, Santa Clara, CA

Bonifacio C. Jordan, San Jose

We would greatly appreciate more housing for the poor and homeless. May God bless you and your family, you are always in my prayers.

Margarita Maldonado, San Jose

Estoy pidiendo nos ayude en el costo de viviendas y en una reforma migratoria para todos.

Bettina Vasquez, San Jose

Maria Flores, San Jose

Tenemos un problema con empleadores que abusan a personas en los trabajos. Hacen que trabajen mas de 8 horas diarias sin pagar overtime porque no tiene una identificacion.

Por eso le pedimos que aya pronto una reforma para no vivir mas en oscuridad.

Gracias.

Maria Lopez, San Jose

Elias Leonard Madrid, San Jose

Mr. President,

When you ran for this office, one of your goals was to start a program that would be fair for the American people. Well sir, the problem is bigger than you thought.

As an American born in the U.S.A., I believe that we as Americans are UNDER ATTACK by illegal and other groups of people that are here for money and do not want to be part of what this country has to offer. Please do what is right and close the borders. Let Americans have a chance at affordable housing an d jobs.

Thank you and good luck.

Elias L. Madrid, an American trying to survive in my own country

Maria Teresa Barcenas, San Jose

Teresa S. Gordon, San Jose

I have had children and been on welfare but never been able to receive a section 8 voucher.

Jill Kelly, San Jose

Housing is very expensive in the Bay Area and the salaries here for low level jobs are not enough to cover the rent. Please give us more funding for housing.

Art Martinez, San Jose

I really need housing very much. Rent is very high.

Juanita Borrego, San Jose

Agueda Pool, San Jose

Necesitamos viviendas mas baratas y de bajos ingresos.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Sabrina Ivory, San Jose

I am currently living in a shelter and need all the help I can getting section 8 and low-income housing, for people who have not been on the waiting list. When the waiting list was open I did not qualify, but today, now that I do qualify, the waiting list is closed.

Allow short sales to be treated as normal sales and not be reported on credit report.

Thanks.

Our letter to the President