Coping with the Loss of a Beloved Pet: The Special Support Offered by WDWG

Everyday we advocate, provide legal services, are involved in civil rights litigation, and we also assist with the unique needs of individuals experiencing homelessness. Many individuals experiencing homelessness have pets that are family. A constant companion in a very difficult world.

For example, recently we received a call to help an unsheltered woman who just lost her tiny dog to a vicious attack by a much larger dog. The Pets Referral Center on University Avenue in Berkeley, California provided emergency vet care but sadly the dog did not make it. WDWG received a call at 10 pm, asking if we could provide funds so that the dog could be cremated and returned to its owner. In the background, we could hear the woman's painful cries of grief. WDWG made that happen for the woman who experienced such a painful loss of her much loved companion.

Please consider a donation to WDWG. It is with these donations that we provide free legal services, legal defense, advocacy, material support, and assist with very important needs of the unsheltered community. Please donate today to help us continue our work.

WDWG Releases Audit Of "Rodeway Inn" Shelter

Where Do We Go Berkeley has released a comprehensive report outlining shelter resident grievances and allegations of misconduct and abuse from Abode Services and the Rodeway Inn Shelter in Berkeley. This report has been released to the public and is available to be read and shared widely.

Rodeway v.1.3

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Where Do We Go Berkeley Takes California Department Of Transportation to the Federal Courts

This posting is being written well past the initial filing for a restraining order against the California Department Of Transportation (Cal-Trans). I will break it down into a wildly oversimplified explanation of what happened so that future articles will make more sense to our readers.

Beginning: Cal-Trans announces plans to evict over 30 people experiencing homelessness along the ashby freeway exit citing safety concerns from fire hazards, traffic accidents, and more.

Where Do We Go Berkeley organizes members of the encampment and files a Temporary Restraining Order against Cal-Trans blocking their ability to evict encampment residents. The case is presided over by the Honorable George Chen a 9th Circuit Federal Court Judge appointed by Barack Obama. The TRO is approved and WDWG is given more time to assist the residents in finding housing.

The TRO moves into its next phase to become a Preliminary Injunction further blocking Cal-Trans from being able to evict residents. Judge Chen orders the injunction and gives encampment residents 6 months to find housing. Where Do We Go Berkeley argued that evicting these residents, many of whom have disabilities was a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act by which Cal-Trans implemented a state program for homelessness abatement that did not take into consideration the physical and mental disabilities of residents. A common misconception (one echoed by misinformed Berkeley Politicians)was that Where Do We Go Berkeley was trying to

6 months later the preliminary injunction was lifted and an eviction is scheduled for May 4th and 5th To be Continued...