HomeMy WebLinkAboutDuncan 12.07.20From: Gabriella Duncan <lifterofspiritz1@gmail.com>
To: Council <Council@Rentonwa.gov>
Bcc: jmedzegian@rentonwa.gov; eprince@rentonwa.gov; rcorman@rentonwa.gov; rperez@rentonwa.gov; rmcirvin@
rentonwa.gov; vohalloran@rentonwa.gov; kvan@rentonwa.gov; abenedetti@rentonwa.gov
Date: 2020-12-07 10:03
Subject: Urgent sign up
CAUTION:ThisemailoriginatedfromoutsidetheCityofRenton.Donotclicklinks,replyoropenattachmentsunlessyouknowthecontentissafe.
Dear Renton City Council,
I would like, to be able to speak at the city Council meeting this evening in this email.
My name is Gabriella Duncan and I am from a local, documentary born in Renton, regarding homelessness
called, Time to Listen. There is also a face book page called Change Homelessness. It was done by New Life
Church, Seattle University, Faith and Family homelessness project, and others. These individuals never
housed me, or gave me anything more than this platform. It is a 14 minute film.
https://youtu.be/RvC87v4-AQ0
I am still on lists for housing after signing up for it five years ago. I have four more years to go. During this time
some very generous people, have given me rent to have a home, to heal and to recover from illness. I have
served, many people either out of the kitchen or with a place to sleep temporarily. I say this not to brag, but to
see if I can do it we can do it! . I say this to help you understand, that I understand homelessness first hand.
I have spent many hours, living in tent cities, and living in a van. I have studied this problem inside out and
can provide numerous documentation and photographs and narratives. I am educated in social work and have
raised 180 treatment foster children, many of which are now living, on the street, and with their children. My
daughter is currently residing in a shelter and about to give birth. It is a generational and ancestral problem
with people, who grew up in the foster care system or who were not “enough”, for those who do have enough.
This roof, also enables me to understand the human being having this experience.
I am also, educated in social work and have raised 180 treatment foster children, many of which are now living
on the street, and some with their children.
I was very sick, and struggling, I needed the proper health care. With a roof I have been able to overcome
many many obstacles that I would not have gotten over without two specific things: the proper healthcare, and
a roof over my head while I recover. I still live in fear without Housing even though I have a roof because I
know, that that’s not going to keep being paid forever.
An individual space, to heal, is huge to the human spirit, suffering with not “enough”. Especially while, all of
those around you that have enough and do not wish to share it. It’s gaslighting and it will keep you down if it
doesn’t burn you down!
If we took care of the least of these, that’s where you’re going to get your utopia, your perfect world. If a
person has personal space, to be who they are to breathe, to cry, to dance until they are well, we all would
benefit from that. It is absolutely shameful, what people have done to me just because of the title, homeless.
We insist on putting the word homeless, on and in and great deal of things. Words really matter, and using
positive ones on those who are struggling with negative circumstances, is absolutely vital as well as giving
them a roof.
The only thing that is going to bring about change in this world is our personal accountability towards the
vulnerable.
I would like to state my extreme gratitude, to the red lion and its owners for stepping up to the plate. I know it
hasn’t been easy because you begin to lose your ability to track and be of sound mind when you cannot be in
sound in safe places.
Thank you for taking, ‘time to listen.’
Gabriella Duncan
Change Homelessness
505-315-5922
LR - 000773