On One-Year Anniversary of Obama Presidency, Homeless Advocates Demand Real Change

Hundreds of people from up and down the West Coast converged in San Francisco today to rally, march and organize to eradicate homelessness. Looking to the skies, they collectively exhaled with a giant sigh of relief when the clouds parted and the sun came out over Justin Herman Plaza just in time for the noon gathering.

Paul Boden, Director of the Western Regional Advocacy Project in San Francisco, pointed out that today is the one-year anniversary of President Obama's swearing-in ceremony. Boden said that the homeless are still waiting for the change Obama campaigned for and added that, "President Obama needs to provide significantly increased HUD funding in the federal budget."

The San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness and the Los Angeles Community Action Network were well represented at the rally where hundreds filled the large plaza across from San Francisco's towering Ferry Building . Groups with colorful names such as Sisters Of The Road and Street Spirit also joined the organizing team. The Raging Grannies sang a song calling for funds for housing to the tune of "Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella", and carried parasols with painted slogans.

Following the rally, the event continued with plans for a march to go past Speaker Pelosi's office in the Federal Building at Mission and 7th then move on to the Civic Center Plaza. Marchers sloshed through puddles left by recent thunderstorms, but as one participant pointed out, "ain't nothing tough about this compared to sleeping on the streets."