Our letter to the President

Dear President Obama,

Please take action to end America’s affordable housing and homelessness crisis. We need:
  • More section 8 vouchers immediately
  • Build public housing to meet the need
  • Full funding of the National Housing Trust Fund
  • Stop foreclosures

Friday, May 15, 2009

Theresa Garcia, San Jose


I do believe it is very hard out in the world. It would be nice and beautiful, and a blessing for myself to receive section 8 vouchers. I am on the section 8 waiting list. So please help make this possible. I pray to God to help me. Thank you, Mr. Obama. I have two children, ages 5 and 14, and myself. Thank you.

Alicia Ramirez, San Jose

Le escribo estas palabras para si esta en su alcanse ayudarme para una vivienda o la renta, para comida y ropa para mis ninos. Se lo agradesco muchisimo ya que hasta corte me enviaron por motivo de que no podia ni tenia donde meter a mis hijos se lo agradeseria. Gracias.

Jose Rodriguez, San Jose


A lot of us really need help. Please help us. We would really appreciate it.

Thomas Lopez, San Jose

We need more housing for people who are homeless and more housing for the elderly.

Cindy Hubbard, San Jose


Please don't forget about the poor and homeless, and please help the agencies that provide the resources for us.

Patrice Sweeney, San Jose

Maria Quiroz, Yvette, & Janette, San Jose


Perdi mi casa en 2009. Se le pide mas ayuda para que no se sigan perdiendo las casas las familias.

Patricia Molina, San Jose

Dear President,

My family needs help in housing and food so please help out the people.

Andrew Hunt, San Jose


We need more section 8 vouchers and more jobs.

Geoff Altman, San Jose

More progressive programs for the people!

Rita T. Tarozzi, San Jose


Many people need homes. Why can't families like grandparents and a son or daughter share the same house. Many people are very family-oriented. Even people who have been incarcerated still need some kind of sanctuary. They may not deserve it, but they are human beings, and the Lord God Almighty loves them too. He loves all of us.

Steve Redemer, San Jose

Lillian Jaime Gil, Watsonville, CA


More section 8 vouchers.

Social Security recipients that receive S.S.I. should be drug tested one week after they receive their check.

Thank you.

Dora Gonzalez, San Jose

Esperamos amnistia pronto. Gracias.

Marion Maese, San Jose


I think you are doing a good job. Keep it up.

Nedra Ferguson, San Jose

Please help the homeless.

Bertha Verastegue, San Jose


Obama,

Con todo respeto le saludo, y le doy gracias a Dios que Dios le puso como Presidente de los E.U. Pues ya sabiamos que con usted de Presidente hiba a haber muchos cambios para el beneficio del pais.

Le agradecemos pues por las oportunidades de residencia a los que ya viven aqui y que trabajan. Y que nos ayude a bajar las rentas, pues estan muy caras.

Gracias y que Dios lo bendiga a usted y su familia.

Elisa K. Romandia, San Jose

More section 8 vouchers are needed. I have been homeless for 17 years. Affordable housing to help the homeless is needed in the state of California, especially in San Jose and Santa Clara County. Also more jobs are needed for people with felony backgrounds. Also wages need to be increased. Homeless shelters need more funding.

Josie Paragus, Joseph Saiz, & Jonathan, San Jose


We take care of our son and live day by day.

It is hard out here on the streets and it would be nice to have a little help. We are not asking for a handout, just some assistance for everyone. Thank you!

Yolanda Engiles, San Jose

In Santa Clara County there are over 7000 people homeless, including almost 900 kids. Many of these people have been on the streets for 25 years or more, and many have major health issues. Many cannot access meals on a regular basis. I myself was homeless for roughly 8 1/2 years, but was fortunate enough to begin working with a local church that consistently helps the homeless as much as possible.

However, as rich as America is, we need to do more to help our less fortunate brothers, sisters, and children. If we can spend billions on wars in places like Iraq, why can't we help people that need it? Why can't we stop foreclosures? Purchasing a home is out of reach for many. How many more people will be put out into the streets, and how many will die on those streets, before we say "enough is enough"?

I am willing to continue to do what I can to end the housing crisis. But we need to do more, including building more housing, and ensuring that EVERYONE has an adequate income, meals, and health care.

Please do NOT let this important area be pushed aside. Thank you!

Yolanda Engiles, CHAM

Hilda Martinez, San Jose


Dear Mr. President,

We are hoping that you can help us.

Thank you.

Lourdes Garcia, San Jose

Erik Webb, San Jose


Please put more funding in section 8 programs. We need help to get off the streets. It is so hard to get help in our situation. I would like a government that does not overlook the needy. Thank you.

Alma Gonzalez, San Jose

Senor Presidente Obama,

Cumpla su promesa referente a los indocumentados de dar amnistia. Gracias.

Rolando M. & Minerva B. Parnaso, San Jose


Please increase wages and make houses more affordable.

Thank you, and more power to you!

Aurora Vasquez, San Jose

I am disabled and the expense of living in San Jose is much more than the SSI income I receive. We need support for people like me.

Carlos Vallejos, San Jose


Please give us these housing programs, but do not give the funding to the County. It should be spent on more housing to meet the low-income need.

Also, I voted for you.

Thuong Van Pham, San Jose

All poor people need housing, food, and jobs.

Pajon M. Esposito, San Jose


I am homeless, living in my car with four children. I am unable to get into an apartment because I have no money for an I.D. or a credit check. Thank you.

Joe Cesena Reyes, San Jose

Obama,

I have three children in the military.

You are doing a good job.

Rosa Torres, San Jose


Un saludo muy cordial. Lo apreciamos mucho y que le puedo decir esperamos lo que nos prometio - una reforma primero que todo. Gracias.

Salvador Lopez, San Jose

Please help!

Jean Farrell, San Jose


I experienced homelessness several times in my life. Right now I have my own home. I have been working with programs to end homelessness for 14 years. Housing is too expensive and we have too many wonderful people including children who have no roof over their heads. Please help them to find a home.

We all need to make this a top priority - please!

Blanca Molina, San Jose

Necesitamos que bajen las rentas por favor.

Stella Denise Hawkins, San Jose


We need more section 8 vouchers soon.

Lucia Carreno, San Jose

Mr. President Obama,

Yo soy mama de tres hijos y desafortunadamente no podemos pagar los gastos de nuestra casa. Esperamos que usted pueda ayudar a los mas necesitados. Gracias!

Terry DeVera, San Jose


Mr. President,

I am a homeless person in dire need of your assistance with low-income housing.

Karen Lemes, Los Altos Hills, CA

I am old enough to remember when there was no homelessness in our country. We had a policy of providing public housing and other assistance to people. It is embarrassing to travel abroad and see the difference between our country and European countries. In our country people are sleeping on the street, while this is not seen in other countries.

We spend more of our budget on armaments than any other country and yet we cannot provide shelter for our own people. This is simply a matter of public policy. We need to adopt a policy that values enusring that everyone has a place to live.

Sylvia Silva, San Jose


We need more funding for housing.

Antonia Alvarez, San Jose

Necesitamos mas trabajo.

Rochelle Castillo, Johnny R. Brown Sr., Ashley, Johnny Jr., & Amaya, San Jose


We are in desperate need of affordable housing. Food costs have gone through the roof, and it is an everyday struggle to pay bills, along with rent and other everyday necessities.

Brenda McNeil, Fremont, CA

I have been working in non-profit housing for four years. AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A MUST!!!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Rachel Gutierrez & Priscilla, San Jose


I am homeless. I have seven children and I really need help.

Michelle Giron, San Jose

Mr. President,

I think we need more section 8 vouchers, more opportunities for those who do not have strength to do the paperwork for themselves. Also house the homeless as well as the low-income families.

Jennifer Viens, San Jose


Thank you for increasing assistance for addicts - many are able to get help because of YOU! God bless.

Maria Montiel Macheca, San Jose

Necesitamos mas ayuda para la gente hispana.

Leo Hodges, Santa Clara, CA


Mary M. Marquez, San Jose

Being a senior citizen, I need all these things above. I believe you are the President that can do them. God bless you.

Rodrigo Garcia, San Jose


Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Greg Plant, San Jose


My housing situation is OK but many people, in our area and nation-wide, need housing assistance. Increasing the number of Section 8 vouchers would help house people currently living on the street or with family (“doubling up”).

In addition, please build public (not private) housing for the extremely poor! They cannot afford to purchase a house, and making housing a for-profit industry denies their right to housing.

Public housing could be apt. or single-family homes – a good investment for the government (and a way to boost construction jobs, which we need!).

For more on this issue of public housing please contact Charities Housing in the South Bay Area (near San Jose, CA) at info@charitieshousing.org .

Omar Tafollo, Maria Qunonez, & Oscar Jr., San Jose


Tim Blackwood, San Jose


Madeline Blackwood, San Jose


Mercedes Ortiz & Mireya Blancas


Estimado Presidente,

Le pedimos que nos ayude la gente que estamos sin trabajo y tambien de que bajen la renta porque no hay trabajo, y le damos las gracias.

A los duenos de apartamentos, que baje un poco la renta mientras que no tenemos trabajos y nos suben mas.

Escuchenos.

Jo Balzar, San Jose


Rosa Martinez, San Jose

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Pilar J. Mauricio, San Jose


I need help to build a city underground. Because we are losing our ozone and it's going to get hot for us up here.

Kathie Morales, San Jose

Susan Butler-Graham, San Jose


Neandra Sharee Wright, San Jose

My major concern is the amount of funding allocated to section 8 and related housing services. My questions are as follows:

1) How does the government come up with the amount going to such programs?

2) With the economy in such a crisis and billions of dollars going to bail out huge corporations, why hasn't the government bailed out our poor and disadvantaged?

Thank you.

Rosa Marcelo, Yasmin, & Milagros, San Jose


Somos una familia de siete, y en estos momentos estamos en una situacion muy critica por la economia y por las altas rentas. Gracias.

Jorge Prieto, San Jose

La renta esta muy alta, y quisiera que huviera mas oportunidades de trabajo.

Steven Stein, San Jose


Natali Mendoza, San Jose

Si puede ayudar a personas con madres solteras, ayudeles con viviendas y ayuda para los ninos.

Matiana Macias, San Jose


Mis hijos estan batallando por trabajo. Por favor ayude. Yo soy anciana, y mi esposo tambien es anciano. Gracias.

Santos Lino Moncada, Campbell, CA

Le doy las gracias por toda la ayuda.

Liesl Wirtz, San Jose


Dino Do, San Jose

Thomas Seccombe, San Jose


Our local housing authority opened its waiting list for section 8 vouchers two years ago, and in only six days 59,000 people registered on the list. Our county, Santa Clara County, California, as well as all counties, needs more vouchers please.

Maria Romero, San Jose

Ignacio Chavarria, San Jose


I need work. I worked for ten years in the V.A. veterans clinic before I got laid off

Ediluzma Barragan, San Jose

Monty Low, San Jose


Olga King, San Jose

Carolina Aguilar & Isais, San Jose


Los Mexicanos estamos en este pais por necesidad. Yo soy una madre soltera y tengo dos ninos. No tengo donde vivir. Por favor, necesitamos su apoyo.

Mis ninos tienen ocho anos y dos meses. Gracias por su atencion.

Tambien deseo que se nos abran las puertas para trabajos porque tampoco no tengo un trabajo.

Olivia Navarro, San Jose

Stop the foreclosures and have a work-out plan so people can stay in their homes.

Maria Mendoza, San Jose


Yazmin Ballesteros, San Jose

Quisiera poder hagarar apartamentos de bajos ingresos.

John Lomeli, San Jose


Senor Presidente,

Yo escribo esta carta para que de una amnistia para los Latinos y todos los estranjeros del mundo. Dara que ya no separen familias y puedan trabajar libremente.

Mary Helen Montez, San Jose

Monica Chavez & Leilani, San Jose


Dana M. Martinez, San Jose

We have more of a need for housing for families with children, and better environments. Thank you.

Henry Ruddle, San Jose


Maria Mayela Gonzalez, San Jose

Dear President Obama,

My family asks you to attend to this ASAP, because we see so many people in the streets. Their conditions are really poor and they need your help.

Martha Sorin, San Jose


Please be aware and help others. We need for all the people to be O.K.

Gricelsa Marisol Carpio, Sunnyvale, CA

David Sisson, San Jose


The difference between me in my lovely section 8 apartment, and me being alone and terrified on the street, is the section 8 program. I can truly say that section 8 has saved and IS saving my life.

Araceli Tristan, San Jose

Danny Altamirano, San Jose


Build more public housing to meet the needs.

Araceli Morales, San Jose

La renta esta muy alta. Necesito un apartamente que no esta muy caro, porque ahorita el trabajo esta en crisis y necesitamos su apoyo. Gracias.

Eleanor White, San Jose


Housing is and will be becoming a bigger and bigger problem, so PLEASE make it a priority on your agenda.

Leonora Ancheta, San Jose

Jackelin & Nelson Mairena & Dominic, San Jose


Nosotoros personalmente en nuestra familia tenemos muchas necesidades.

Es importante su ayuda para la vivienda de bajos recursos. Tenemos dificultades para pagar el alto costo de las rentas, y en muchas cosas mas necesitamos su apoyo. Gracias.