Open Letter to Governor Newsom in Opposition to CARE Court

August 11, 2022

The Honorable Governor Gavin Newsom California State Capitol
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Newsom:

The undersigned individuals and national organizations are collectively dedicated to promoting equity and justice for people with mental health disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other People of Color (BILPOC), and others who will be disparately impacted by your proposed Community Assistance Recovery and Empowerment (“CARE”) Court system. We all share the goal of a California, and an America, where no one has to face mental health issues while living without adequate housing. But CARE Court will not solve the complex issues of homelessness in California, nor will it meet the needs of unhoused people with mental health disabilities – primarily because the investment of funds is in a new court system. Evidence shows unhoused people with mental health disabilities need community-integrated, deeply affordable, accessible housing with voluntary services.

The CARE Court bill would create a new civil court system with mechanisms to force involuntary medical treatment and loss of autonomy and liberty in addition to the collective loss of other human and civil rights. Concerningly to us, because of California’s nationwide leadership role, a harmful policy like CARE Court is likely to be replicated across the country. As the Governor of California, with a highly visible national role, you have a moral imperative to lead in protecting and promoting human and civil rights. We call on you to stop promoting the CARE Court legislation and to redirect your energies toward creating the trauma-informed, evidence-based solutions of integrated housing and voluntary services at the scale needed to serve all of California’s residents.

In April of 2021, following the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial, you stated that “We must continue the work of fighting systemic racism and excessive use of force.”[1] Yet, we already know that because of systemic racism in the housing, economic, medical, and law enforcement systems, the use of CARE Court will disproportionately fall on BILPOC, and LGBTQ+ people with disabilities.[2] CARE Court would pour millions of dollars into a new coercive civil court framework, while ignoring the State’s desperate needs for deeply affordable housing and supportive services. Further, it will only lead to institutionalization and criminalization of those already isolated in the streets and increase stigma, discrimination, and the likelihood of abuse and exacerbation of current abuse experienced by people with mental health disabilities. The Governor of California should not be in the business of systemically furthering the loss of bodily autonomy, when our own state history demonstrates that systems like these not only ultimately fail, but cause generational harms.[3] Let your legacy as Governor be one that takes active pro-human rights, anti-racist steps to reduce state-imposed violence against unhoused BILPOC with disabilities, not one that further embeds and perpetuates racist and ableist structures.
 

We know that you recognize the need for leadership on bodily autonomy: just two months ago, you signed the Abortion Accessibility Act, with First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom emphasizing, “California will continue to lead by example and ensure all women and pregnant people have autonomy over their bodies and the ability to control their own destinies.”[4] Just as we know that forcing pregnant people to carry fetuses to term has many harmful effects, evidence shows that involuntary, coercive treatment is not only ineffective, but harmful.[5] We need you to again lead by example to protect the bodily autonomy of your unhoused residents with mental health disabilities, not create systems of oppression.
 

In the alternative, we strongly urge you to implement policies that uphold the human rights to housing, healthcare and equality by investing in a robust infrastructure to house individuals who live on the streets, and to provide the comprehensive mental health services needed to achieve stabilization. Community- and evidence-based practices show a combination of Housing First principles and robust treatment services are the answer to ending homelessness and promote equitable outcomes. With investment in permanent, affordable, and accessible housing alongside voluntary treatment, you can help California lead our nation’s efforts to achieving and maintaining dignity, liberty, and integrated communities for people with disabilities.

Respectfully,

 

California Organizations

ACLU California Action

Affordable Housing Advocates, San Diego

Bay Area Legal Aid

Black Men Speak, Inc.

Caduceus Justice

Cal Voices

California Association of Mental Health Peer-Run Organizations

California Black Health Network

California Foundation for Independent Living Centers

California Institute of Behavioral Health Solutions

California Homeless Union Statewide Organizing Council

California Pan-Ethnic Health Network

Calloway Holistic Peer Concepts Centro Legal de la Raza

Community Advocates for Just and Moral Governance (MoGo)

Community Legal Aid SoCal

Coalition on Homelessness

Corporation for Supportive Housing

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance – California

Disability Rights California

Elder Law and Disability Rights Center

Escuchen mi voz

Housing and Economic Rights Advocates, Oakland

Housing California

Housing is a Human Right, Orange County

Immigrant Defense Advocates

Justice2Jobs Coalition Sacramento

Law Foundation of Silicon Valley

Law Office of Robert Rootenberg

Mental Health Advocacy Services

Mental Health America of California

Mental Health Association of San Francisco

National Association of Social Workers (NASW) California Chapter

National Lawyers Guild, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter

North Valley Radical Mental Health

People’s Homeless Task Force, Orange County

Public Counsel

Public Interest Law Project

Racial and Ethnic Mental Health Disparities Coalition

Sacramento Homeless Union

Sacramento Loaves & Fishes

Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness

Safe Black Space

Salinas/Monterey County Homeless Union

San Diego Tenants Union

San Francisco Pretrial Diversion Project

San Francisco Public Defender’s Office

Stanford Sierra Youth & Families

Starting Over, Inc.

SURJ Sacramento

Venice Justice Committee

We Are Not Invisible

Western Center on Law and Poverty

 

National Organizations & Organizations Outside of California

504 Democratic Club, New York

Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program

American Association of People with Disabilities

American Civil Liberties Union

Arizona Center for Disability Law Center for Public Representation

Community Legal Aid Society, Inc., Disabilities Law Program, Delaware

Connecticut Legal Rights Project

Crip the Vote

Disability Law Center of Alaska

Disability Law Colorado

Disability Rights Advocates

Disability Rights Arkansas

Disability Rights Center of Kansas

Disability Rights Center – New Hampshire

Disability Rights Connecticut

Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund

Disability Rights Florida

DisAbility Rights Idaho

Disability Rights Iowa

Disability Rights Maine

Disability Rights Maryland

Disability Rights Michigan

Disability Rights Mississippi

Disability Rights Montana

Disability Rights Nebraska

Disability Rights New Mexico

Disability Rights New York

Disability Rights North Carolina

Disability Rights Oregon

Disability Rights Pennsylvania

Disability Rights Rhode Island

Disability Rights South Carolina

Disability Rights South Dakota

Disability Rights Texas

Disability Rights Vermont

Disability Rights Washington

Human Rights Watch

Indiana Disability Rights

Justice in Aging

Keep the Promise Coalition, Connecticut

Kentucky Protection & Advocacy

Mental Health America

National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse

National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy

National Disability Rights Network

National Health Care for the Homeless Council

National Homelessness Law Center

National Union of the Homeless

Native American Disability Law Center, New Mexico

Northern Marianas Protection & Advocacy Systems, Inc.

The Asian Americans with Disabilities Initiative

The Coelho Center for Disability Law, Policy and Innovation

The Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement

Western Regional Advocacy Project

 

Individuals

A. Smith, Sherwood, OR

Aaron Hodgson, Ventura, CA

Abigail Coursolle, Los Angeles, CA

Adela G. Ortiz, Truckee, CA

Adelina Farias, IHSS, Madera, CA

Adrian Egli, San Diego, CA

Adrian Spinks, Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Adriane Baade, Soquel, CA

Adrianna Lucero, Sacramento, CA

Alessandra Muller-Thym, New York, NY

Alex Frost, Los Angeles, CA

Alex Campos, Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Alexis Hurtado, Oxnard, CA

Alfredo Valverde, unhoused individual 3 years, Stockton, CA

Alice Bruns, Cerritos, CA

Alisa Neary, Mezzo Consulting, LLC, Saint Charles, IL

Alison Candiloro, Carmichael, CA

Alison Brunner, Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, Los Gatos, CA

Aliya Daniels, Los Angeles, CA

Allen Cooper, SDA, San Francisco, CA

Allen Jones-Stowers, unhoused individual 4 years, Stockton, CA

Allis Vallejo, Fresno, CA

Alondra Castillo, Disability Rights California, Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Alvin Kimbrough, Corncerned citizen, Sacramento, CA

Amanda Peraza, Long Beach, CA

Amber Paoloemilio, Esq., Northglenn, CO A

mber Jones, Calvoices, Sacramento, CA

Amelia-Marie Altstadt, Lincoln, NE

Amy Holbert, Family Connection of SC, Columbia, SC

Amy Lauder, DBSA Greater Attleboro, North Attleboro, MA

Amy Breckenridge, Santa Rosa, CA

Amy Cunningham, Disability Rights Idaho, Pocatello, ID

Amy Tannenbaum, Public Counsel, Los Angeles, CA

Andrea Schulz, Fresno, CA

Andrea Crider, Martinez, CA

Andrea Wagner, California Association of Mental Health Peer Run Organizations (CAMHPRO), Chico, CA

Andy Imparato, Disability Rights California, Sacramento, CA

Angela Hassell, Sacramento Loaves & Fishes, Sacramento, CA

Angela F., Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Angie Sutherland, Sacramento, CA

Anita De Asis Miralle, Village in Oakland, Oakland, CA

Ann E., Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Anna Hun, Fresno, CA

Anna Disser, San Diego, CA

Anne Marie Call, San Jose, CA

Anthony K., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

April Smith, San Clemente, CA

Ariel Nieves, DSA, Madera, CA

Arthur Blaser, Orange, CA

Asha Albuquerque, Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, San Jose, CA

Audrey Herloff, Arcadia, CA

Avalon Edwards, Starting Over, Inc., San Francisco, CA

Barbara Sulanchupakorn, Montclair, CA

Barbara Minnick, Centennial, CO

Barbara DiPietro, National Health Care for the Homeless Council, Baltimore, MD

Barisha Spriggs, Ashland, CA

Beatriz Durant, TAY Action Team @ Mental Health Association of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

Bernadette Franks-Ongoy, Disability Rights Montana, Helena, MT

Beth Kenny, Alameda, CA

Beth Franco, Disability Rights South Carolina, Columbia, SC

Bob Erlenbusch, Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness, Sacramento, CA

Branden Sigua, San Diego, CA

Brandon Nash, BNASH6539, Sacramento, CA

Brandon Moncur, San Diego, CA

Brandon Espinosa, San Clemente, CA

BreeAnn Poulson, Oceanside, CA

Brenda Castro, Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

 Bridgette H., Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Brittany Applebee, Huntington Beach, CA

Brittney Cannon, Mental Health Advocacy Services, Northridge, CA

Brooke Weitzman, Elder Law and Disability Rights Center (ELDR), Santa Ana, CA

Bruce Herron, Stockton, CA

Cailin Lechner, Davis, CA

Caitlin Belforti, CHC350, Brooklyn, NY

Caren Howard, Mental Health America, Alexandria, VA

Carie Rael, Alhambra, CA

Carlos Simpson, Division of Juvenile Justice Life Coach, Sacramento, CA

Carmen Varela, Long Beach, CA

Carol Denney, Pepper Spray Times, Berkeley, CA

Carol Kim, DSA, Fresno, CA

Carol Johnson Bichsel, Castro Valley, CA

Carrie Manning, Lakeport, CA

Carrie Basas, Disability Law Colorado, Denver, CO

Casey Thompson, DSA Sacramento, Sacramento, CA

Catherine Rodman, Affordable Housing Advocates, San Diego, CA

Catherine Johnson, Disability Rights Iowa, Des Moines, IA

Cathie Ortiz, Transitions Mental Health Association, Santa Maria, CA

Cathy Costanzo, Center for Public Representation, Holyoke, MA

Celeste A., Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Celita Garcia, Step Out Step Up, CA

Chanj Lu, Long Beach, CA

Charlene R, Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Chelsea Fink, Sacramento, CA

Chris Medeiros, Disabled and Mental Health Issues, Jackson, CA

Christa Turnell, Durango Warmline, Co, CO

Christin Evans, San Francisco, CA

Christina Mills, Benicia, CA

Claire Steeves, DBSA, Aliso Viejo, CA

Clara Jaeckel, Oracle, Redwood City, CA

Clarissa Henry, Long Beach, CA 

Clarissa Woo Hermosillo, Alhambra, CA

Coach Ron, World Famous Skidrow Community Clean Up, Los Angeles, CA

Colin Clarkson, Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Colleen Kubes, Valencia, CA

Corey Walker, Pine Grove, CA

Courtney Hanson, CA Coalition for Women Prisoners, Sacramento, CA

Courtney Mendoza, Lawndale, CA

Courtney Bergan, Baltimore, MD

Courtney Poole, SURJ Sacramento, Sacramento, CA

Crystal Nanavati, Mountain View, CA

Crystal Sanchez, California Homeless Union Statewide Organizing Council, California

Crystal Sanchez, National Union of the Homeless, Nationwide, CA

Crystal Sanchez, Sacramento Homeless Union, Sacramento, CA

Curtis Paullins, Sacramento, CA

Cynthia Espinoza, Dinuba, CA

Cynthia Castillo, Western Center on Law and Poverty, Sacramento, CA

Damon Shuja Johnson, Black Men Speak, Inc., Oakland, CA

Dan Okenfuss, California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, Sacramento, CA

Dana F., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Daniel Van Sant, The Harkin Institute, Des Moines, IA

Danielle Burden, Undergraduate Student, Syracuse University, Buffalo, NY

Danitha Campbell, Unhoused individual 5 years, Stockton, CA

Dante Ruiz, Stockton, CA

Dara Weinger, CSH, Los Angeles, CA

Darlene Dickinson, Centro Legal de la Raza, Oakland, CA

David Fleurant, Disability Law Center of Alaska, Anchorage, AK

David Duran, People's Homeless Task Force OC, Anaheim, CA

David Mauroff, San Francisco Pretrial Diversion Project, San Francisco, CA

David DeLay, Denver, CO

David F., Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

David Elliott Lewis, Ph.D, Mental Health Association of SF, Board of Directors, San Francisco, CA

Dawn Everra, Fresno, CA

Debbie Chase, Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Debbie Davis, Disability Rights California, Sacramento, CA

Deborah Meyer-Morris, Ventura, CA

Deborah Dorfman, Disability Rights Connecticut, Amherst, MA

Debra Kempker, Cal Voices, Sutter Creek, CA

Debra Shepherd, Santa Monica, CA

Debra Roth, Disability Rights California, Sacramento, CA

Delphine Brody, Mad Love Underground, Oakland, CA

Dennis L., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Dennis Tran, Asian America With Disabilities Initiative, Los Angeles, CA

Derrek McCasken, Unhoused individual 9 years, Stockton, CA

Desiree F., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Desiree Martinez, We Are Not Invisible, Fresno, CA

Diana Montoya, OVCDC, Hanford, CA

Donald Whitehead, National Coalition for the Homeless, Washington, Washington D.C.

Dr. Lee A Turner, Sacramento, CA

Dylan G, Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

E. Conner, National Lawyers Guild: San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, Oakland, CA

Ebony Chambers McClinton, Stanford Sierra Youth & Families, Sacramento, CA

Eddie Davila, Stockton, CA

Edmund Asiedu, New York City, NY

Edwin Carmona-Cruz, Glendora, CA

Elana Metz, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

Elizabeth Harmon, Disabled, Playa del Rey, CA

Elizabeth Rodriguez, unhoused individual 7.5 years, Stockton, CA

Elliot R., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Emery Wedel, Santa Cruz, CA

Emily Holloway, Cowarts, AL

Emily Hargraves, Sherman Oaks, CA

Emma Martin, Sacramento, CA

Eric Buehlmann, National Disability Rights Network, Washington, Washington D.C.

Eric Tars, National Homelessness Law Center, Philadelphia, PA

Eric Harris, Disability Rights California, Sacramento, CA

Erica Jaramillo, Sacramento, CA

Ericka Lett, Sacramento, CA

Erik Nickels, Mental Health Advocacy Services, Los Angeles, CA

Erika Cervantes, Disability Rights Legal Center, Fullerton, CA

Erika Soria, TPOCC, Fresno, CA

Ernest Mack, Stockton, CA

Esperanza Cuautle, Pangea Legal Services, San Francisco, CA

Esra Hashem, Fresno, CA

Etsegenet Makonnen Teodros, Speaker/Advocate, Inglewood, CA

Eva Paterson, Equal Justice Society, Oakland, CA

Eydie Kent, San Ysidro, CA

Fern Darling, San Clemente, CA

Frank M., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Gabby G., Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Gabriel M., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Gail Jonas, Healdsburg Climate Action, Healdsburg, CA

Galen Smith, Minneapolis, MN

Gary Grey, Loma Linda, CA

Gary A., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Gary Housepian, Disability Rights New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM

Gary Blasi, UCLA School of Law, Los Angeles, CA

GeneviÃve Jones-Wright, Community Advocates for Just and Moral Governance (MoGo), San Diego, CA

George G., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

George Garcia, Downey, CA

Georgia P., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Grace Miller, Fresno, CA

Grace Barrett-Snyder, Concord, CA

Graham White, El Cajon, CA

Grant Lehner, Mental Health Advocacy Services, Los Angeles, CA

Gregg Beratan, #CripTheVote, West Henrietta, NY

Gregory Meronek, San Francisco, CA

Gregory Cramer, Disability Rights California, Sacramento, CA

Gregory Borja, Northern Marianas Protection & Advocacy Systems, Inc, Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands

Grisel Ruiz, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, San Francisco, CA

Guillermo Fernandez, Pasadena, CA

Gwen Wilson, MSW, LCSW, Retired Community Mental Health Social Worker, Hayward, CA

Haley Bauser, Los Angeles, CA

Hamid Yazdan Panah, Immigrant Defense Advocates, Sacramento, CA

Heather Hieb, All Seasons Mental Health, Nampa, ID

Heather Fong, Cupertino, CA

Hector Ramirez, National Disability Rights Network and Disability Rights California Board Member, Chatsworth, CA

Ilhan Dost, North Valley Radical Mental Health, Chico, CA

Iliana Conteh, unhoused individual 3 years, Stockton, CA

Isaiah Swasey, Youth Leadership Forum, La Mirada, CA

Ivan Guillen, Disability Rights California, San Diego, CA

J.J. Rico, Arizona Center for Disability Law, Tucson, AZ

Jack Tyler Lewis, Fresno, CA

Jake Cornett, Disability Rights Oregon, Portland, OR

James Tucker, Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program, Tuscaloosa, AL

James Janz, , Atherton, CA

Jan Costello, LMU Loyola Law School, Palmdale, CA

Jane Christol, San Jose, CA

Jared Bendifallah, Los Angeles, CA

Jasmine L., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Jayden Gutierrez, Sacramento, CA

Jaz Colibri, Oakland, CA

Jeff Schler, San Clemente, CA

Jeff Edwards, Kentucky P&A, Frankfort, KY

Jeffrey Caiola, DBSA/NAMI, Oakland, CA

Jennifer Clancy, CA Institute of Behavioral Health Solutions, Sacramento, CA

Jennifer Rohrig, Shrewsbury, MA

Jennifer Orthwein, Medina Orthwein LLP, Alameda, CA

Jennifer Lee, The Asian Americans with Disabilities Initiative, Edgewater, NJ

Jennifer Higley-Chapman, SURJ Sacramento, Davis, CA

Jenny Olson, Disability Rights California, Sacramento, CA

Jillian M, DRC, San Francisco, CA

Jo James, Oakley, CA

Jo Bloomfield, Santa Monica, CA

Joanna Xing, Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, San Jose, CA

Jode Keasler, Coalinga, CA

Joe Ruiz, Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Johana Lozano, Academia del Este de Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

Johann Carrillo, Sacramento, CA

John Sweeney, Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, San Jose, CA

John B., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

John Brown, John Brown's Body Cam Investigations, Fresno, CA

Jordan Fairchild, Keep The Promise Coalition, New Fairfield, CT

Jordona Santiago, Centro Legal de la Raza, Martinez, CA

Jose G., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Jose N., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Josefa Vega, ACLUNC, Fresno, CA

Josh I., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Joshua Graham, Los Angeles, CA

Judy Mao, Glendale, CA

Julia Moncur, San Diego, CA

Juliet Lee, Prevention Research Center, Berkeley, CA

Kailani Walker, Fresno, CA

Karen Vicari, Mental Health America of California, Sacramento, CA

Kate Marr, Community Legal Aid SoCal, Santa Ana, CA

Katherine MacMillan, Ventura, CA

Katherine Lancaster, San Diego, CA

Katherine Perez, The Coelho Center for Disability Law, Policy and Innovation, Los Angeles, CA

Kathy Flaherty, Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Newington, CT

Katie Arnst, Visalia, CA

Katrina Ozier, Cal Voices, Jackson, CA

Katrina Logan, Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, CA

Keith Persons, Cal Voices, Jackson, CA

Kelsey Goldman, Woodland, CA

Keris Myrick, Hollywood, CA

Kevin Baker, ACLU California Action, Davis, CA

Kevin Brassington, San Clemente, CA

Kim Moody, Disability Rights Maine, Augusta, ME

Kim Arnold, San Clemente, CA

Kimberly Fuentes, California League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), North Hollywood, CA

Kimberly Renninger, Pennsburg, PA

Kristee Haggins, Safe Black Space, Elk Grove, CA

Kristi O'Neil-Gonzalez, Oxnard, CA

Kristin Colino, DBSA California, Morgan Hill, CA

Krysten Cooper, Pasadena, CA

Lance Baga, Stockton, CA

Lani McDonald, Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Larry Ackerman, San Francisco, CA

Laura Waterland, Community Legal Aid Society Inc. Disabilities Law Program, Wilmington, DE

Laura Ciseneros, Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Lawrence Reyes, Community Member, Los Angeles, CA

Layla Sharief, Advocate, Santa Cruz, CA

Leslie Napper, Disability Rights California, Sacramento, CA

Leslie Burns, San Diego, CA

Ligia Montano, San Francisco Senior and Disability Action, San Francisco, CA

Lili Graham, Disability Rights California, Los Angeles (work), CA

Lily Huang, Stockton, CA

Linda Hermansn, San Diego, CA

Linda Lehnkering, Anaheim, CA

Lindsey Owen, Disability Rights Vermont, Montpelier, VT

Lisa Anderson, Port Hueneme, CA

Lisa Manca, San Francisco, CA

Lisa Knox, Oakland, CA

Lisa Cooley, Rancho Cordova, CA

Lito K., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Liz Blum, Decarcerate Sacramento, Sacramento, CA

Lorena Luna, Hayward, CA

Louie B., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Lucia Mirande, Riverside, CA

Lucie Hollingsworth, Legal Aid of Marin, Marin, CA

Luis Arevalo, Los Angeles, CA

Luis A., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Lydia Nicholson, Los Angeles Center for Community Law and Organizing, Los Angeles, CA

Lyle Funderburk, Portland, OR

Lynette Belsky, San Diego, CA

Lynn Berkley-Baskin, Justice2Jobs Coalition Sacramento, Folsom, CA

Mackenzie Wilson, Sacramento, CA

Madison Romine, Sherman Oaks, CA

Maeve Brown, Housing and Economic Rights Advocates, Oakland, CA

Marcia Poole, Berkeley, CA

Mari Castaldi, Housing California, Sacramento, CA

Maria Town, American Association of People with Disabilities, Washington, Washington D.C.

Maria Canton, La Mesa, CA

Maria Santiago, Tarzana, CA

Maria Garcia, Disability Rights California, Los Angeles, CA

Maria Rivera, NAMI, Fresno, CA

Maria Fragoza, Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Mariam Afredi, Mission Viejo, CA

Marie M., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Marielle Reataza, National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse, Alhambra, CA

Marissa Khetan, Mental Health Advocacy Services, Pasadena, CA

Mariza Ochoa, Escuchen mi voz, Stockton, CA

Mark Stroh, Disability Rights Washington, Silverdale, WA

Mark Lucas, Riverside, CA

Mark T. Harris, Ben Crump Law, PLLC, Sacramento, CA

Marlena McCrea, DBSA, San Diego, CA

Martin S., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Martinez SÃra, Cudahy CA, CA

Mary Huston, Oakland, CA

Mary M., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Mary Ellen Gale, ACLU So Cal, Pasadena, CA

Marykate Connor, Caduceus Justice, San Francisco, CA

Matt Gallagher, Cal Voices, Sacramento, CA

Matthew B, Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Maya Morris, El Sobrante, CA

Mayeli Soto, Oakland, CA

Megan Duhr-Vannelli, Harrison, MI

Megan Kelly-Neil, Sherman Oaks, CA

Melanie Minor, El Granada, CA

Melanie Kim, San Francisco Public Defender's Office

Melissa Keyes, Indiana Disability Rights, Indianapolis, IN

Melissa Morris, Public Interest Law Project, Campbell, CA

Melody Taylor Stark, Essential Caregivers Coalition, Monrovia, CA

Meron Agonafer, California Black Health Network, Sacramento, CA

Micah Hoffman, Sacramento, CA

Michael Gabriel, Santa Cruz, CA

Michael McConnell, San Diego, CA

Michele Kaplan, New York, NY

Michele Mashburn, San Jose, CA

Michelle Roberts, Disability Rights Michigan, Lansing, MI

Michelle Cunningham, Unhoused indivudal 5 years, Stockton, CA

Michelle Trejo-Saldivar, Oakland, CA

Mike Schweinsburg, 504 Democratic Club, New York, NY

Mike R., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Mimi Mier-Rosales, Mental Health Association of San Francisco, San Pablo, CA

Mitchell C., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Molly Gordon, Suquamish, WA

Monique Berlanga, Centro Legal de la Raza, Oakland, CA

Monique McDonald, Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Morna Murray, Disability Rights Rhode Island, Providence, RI

Mouse Garcia, Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Mr. Adams, Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Mynesha Whyte, Oakland, CA

Nancy Beltran, Anaheim, CA

Nancy Alisberg, National Association for Protection Rights and Advocacy (NARPA), Huntsville, AL

Natalie Monterrey, Carmichael, CA

Natalie Conrad, CAMHPRO, Chico, CA

Nia MooreWeathers, Sacramento, CA

Nicholas A., Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Nichole Mendoza, Stockton, CA

Nick Goyhenetche, Emeryville, CA

Nicolette Sandoval, Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Noel Smith, Sacramento, CA

Nolan Johnson, Unhoused individual 1 year, Stockton, CA

Olivia Ensign, Human Rights Watch, New York, NY

Orlando Vera, Peer Voices of Orange County, Santa Ana, CA

Paris Alcaraz, Galt, CA

Pat Davis, Housing is a Human Right OC, Anaheim, CA

Patricia Morton, Los Angeles, CA

Patti Prunhuber, Justice in Aging, Oakland, CA

Paul Simmons, Lotus, CA

Paul Boden, Western Regional Advocacy Project, San Francisco, CA

Paula Tobler, Disability Rights California, Los Angeles, CA

Pavithra Menon, Mental Health Advocacy Services, Burbank, CA

Peggy Lee Kennedy, Venice Justice Committee, Venice, CA

Peri Jude Radecic, Disability Rights Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA

Phil Dulay, Porterville, CA

Phyllis Foxworth, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Chicago, IL

Polly Tribble, Disability Rights Mississippi, Jackson, MS

Priscilla Huang, Center for Asian Americans in Action, Aliso Viejo, CA

Quetzal Cornejo Molina, Larkspur, CA

Rachael Farrokh, Laguna Hills, CA

Rachael Allen, Alviso, CA

Rachael Chavez, Santa Cruz, CA

Rachel Dante, DBSA California, Anderson, CA

Rachel Mino, San Jose, CA

Rafael Bautista, San Diego Tenants Union, Lake elsinore, CA

Randy Coombs, Fresno, CA

Raoul G., Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Rebecca Gonzales, National Association of Social Workers (NASW) California Chapter, Sacramento, CA

Rebecca Basson, San Jose, CA

Rebecca Moskowitz, Oakland, CA

Rev. Liz Weber, Concord, MA

Richard Gallo, Cal Voices, Santa Cruz, CA

Richie E., Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Richmond S., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Ril Werstler, Chico, CA

Robert Rootenberg, Law Office of Robert Rootenberg, Joshua Tree, CA

Robert McCloskey, Fresno Homeless Union, Fresno, CA

Robert Coplin, Sacramento Homeless Organizing Committee, Sacramento, CA

Robin Murphy, Disability Rights Maryland, Baltimore, MD

Robyn Gantsweg, Disability Rights California, Crestline, CA

Robyn Ayred, Sacramento, CA

Rocky Nichols, Disability Rights Center of Kansas, Topeka, KS

Ronald Coleman Baeza, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, Sacramento, CA

Rosenda Valle, Thermal, CA

Rosy Tellez, Woodland Hills, CA

Rowen Kade, Everett, WA

Ruby Rodriguez, St. Mary's Center, San Leandro, CA

Rufus L., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Russ R., Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Ruth Roofless, @rooflesser, Los Angeles, CA

Ryth Haney, Scotts Valley, CA

Sabina Holber, Santa Cruz, CA

Sandra Rives, Transitions- Mental Health Association, Santa Maria, CA

Sandra R., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Sandra Galindo-Navarro, San Diego Tenants Union, Chula Vista, CA

Sandra Simon, Contra Costa Heath Services, Antioch, CA

Sandra G., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Sandra A., Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Sandra Smith, Disability Rights California Board President, Sacramento, CA

Sandy Perry, Affordable Housing Network of Santa Clara County, San Jose, CA

Sara Connor, Sacramento SURJ, Rancho Cordova, CA

Sara Shortt, Treatment on Demand Coalition-SF, San Francisco, CA

Sarah Millhoff, San Diego, CA

Sarah Lee, Garden Grove, CA

Sasha Ellis, Bay Area Legal Aid, Oakland, CA

Scott Hewicker, San Francisco, CA

Sean Betouliere, Los Angeles, CA

Sean Jackson, Disability Rights Texas, Austin, TX

Senator Tom Harkin, Former US Senator and co-author, Americans with Disabilities Act

Sergio H., Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Sharifah Rosso, CA

Sharon Rapport, Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), Los Angeles, CA

Sharon A., Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Sheerin D., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Shelby Wayment, Berkeley Law, Berkeley, CA

Sherrie Caldwell, CA

Shiba Bandeeba, HomeRise-SF, San Francisco, CA

Shirley Strand, Lompoc, CA

Shishoney P, Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Silvia Brandon-Perez, Oscar Romero and Simone Weil Catholic Worker House, Hayward, CA

Skittles, Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Sky Ross, Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance, Pasadena, CA

Stacie Hiramoto, Racial and Ethnic Mental Health Disparities Coalition, Oakland, CA

Stanislav Kirdey, San Jose, CA

Stephanie Patrick, Disability Rights Center - NH, Concord, NH

Stephanie R., Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Stephen Ruderman, Sacramento, CA

Steve Perry, Laguna Niguel, CA

Steven Kong, Yucca Valley, CA

Susan Gallagher, Cal Voices, Fair Oaks, CA

Susan Henderson, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, Berkeley, CA

Susan Haas, Hopewell, OH

Susan Mizner, ACLU, San Francisco, CA

Tania Diaz, Disability Rights Nebraska, Lincoln, NE

Tania Collins, Stockton, CA

Tanya A, Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Tanya Glosson, Arcata, CA

Tatum Tricarico, YO (youth organizing) Disabled and Proud, San Diego, CA

Taylor Wisham, Los Angeles, CA

Teresa Palmer M.D., San Francisco Gray Panthers, San Francisco, CA

Teya Looney, Democratic Socialists of America, Fresno, CA

Theo Cedar Jones, Wood Street Commons, West Oakland, CA

Therese Yanan, Native American Disability Law Center, Farmington, NM

Thomas Zito, Disability Rights Advocates, Berkeley, CA (organization's residence)

Tiffany Elliott, Adelanto, CA

Timothy Clune, Disability Rights New York, Albany, NY

Timothy Schneider, Homeless Survival: Rights2Survive, Oceanside, CA

Timothy Neyhart, Disability Rights South Dakota, Pierre, SD

Tom Behrendt, Oakland, CA

Tom Masseau, Disability Rights Arkansas, Little Rock, AR

Tom Lee, Unhoused individual 4 years, Stockton, CA

Tony DePalma, Disability Rights Florida, Tallahassee, FL

Tony G., Unhoused individual, Los Angeles, CA

Tony Coelho, Former US Congressman and co-author, Americans with Disabilities Act

Tracey Bank, New York, NY

Trixxie Smith, Cal Voices, Jackson, CA

Tyler Kyser, Coalition on Homelessness, San Francisco, CA

Ute Saito, Portland, OR

Valerie M., Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Vanessa Ramos, Disability Rights California, Los Angeles, CA

Vera Calloway, Calloway Holistic Peer Concepts, Inglewood, CA

Vesper Moore, Kiva Centers, Worcester, MA

Victor F., Unhoused Individual, Los Angeles, CA

Virginia Knowlton Marcus, Disability Rights North Carolina, Raleigh, NC

Virginia Barnes, Fresno, CA

Wes White, Salinas/ Monterey County Homeless Union, Salinas, CA

Wes Mukoyama, Retired, Santa Clara, CA

William Brown, San Clemente, CA