OYC - Homes Already Occupied Meeting 1

Homes Already Occupied is OccupYrCorner's answer to the enlarging mortgage crisis that is overtaking American neighborhoods. Shocking facts and terrifying statistics are the true effects that "trickle down" as money supersedes morality in the minds of certain corporate titans, bankers, policy makers, and mortgage brokers. The basic issues we have talked to people on corners about these last few months are the ones that started this slow avalanche across the states.

So we do what we do best: come up with a simple and straight-forward, low-impact way for anyone to help reach out and educate fellow Americans of this dilemma. A dilemma that may come to their neighborhood—or may already be—and take away their dreams and everyone else's. This time, we are employing easy-to-cut-and-create door hangers, three to a photocopyable page. These door hangers can say a variety of messages in a variety of languages, but our standard template to date seeks to grab attention with the following text, still in the works:

"FORECLOSED"
Thousands of families and home-owners nationwide are struggling to avoid hearing that word as mortgage companies and big banks are cashing in by turning over bad loans to consumers only to bet against them and reap rewards. They lure loyal customers into purposely failed refinancing schemes and “missing paperwork” loops while many politicians and regulators benefit from ignoring these made-to-fail deals. Have you had enough with this rampant greed destroying the American dream and ripping neighborhoods apart?
Educate Yourselves, Help Others.

Which then leads to homesalreadyoccupied.com, our quick online fact guide about some of the most shocking figures about the mortgage fiasco and what homeowners can do to help themselves and others. 

Here are the notes from our first meeting on Wednesday, December 28th:

Agenda

Overview and Review of Idea

• Occupier Josh: "What is the message? What are we doing? What is our goal?"
  
  Answer: Throughout the meeting we refined the solutions to these questions. OccupYrCorner has always made awareness and education the primary goal in our endeavors, and this practice is no different. By tagging areas that are chosen logically, we hope to inspire people to seek out information and talk about these issues, sign petitions available at sites we refer, attend or form groups and committees focused on keeping neighborhoods sound, and ultimately help others through action, careful voting, and offering support. Through "subtle seduction" we hope to "re-empower" homeowners who may feel they have no choice but to watch things crumble around them, in the world or in their own home. Also, it would be great for visitors of the site to download their own door hangers and tag their own neighborhoods.
• Some other goals we touched upon were inciting homes in danger to invite an "Occupy Our Homes"-style lawn occupation and intervention. Inspiring new 99%ers to come down to a GA meeting and take part in the process. Also, getting some media attention after we get a few outings done also was a topic discussed. A future goal could be to motivate groups of neighborhoods to help make motions and push actions in municipal and state political arenas to create legal limits, "moratoriums", and tax boundaries to help limit fraud-lined fast foreclosures.
• We talked about the technicalities of quantifying a goal. The hits can be tracked through the site, and we can expand the analytics to get an idea of downloads. But we also talked about the sensitivity of morale and how trying to measure this type of silent outreach could be couter-productive. The fact that we are doing it, and physically bringing this information into the community and out of the "Occu-encampments" is success in itself. 

Materials and Website

• We started the discussion of materials with a demonstration from Occupier Anoki of how the door hangers work. All were in agreement they were simple, and the language on the hangers was straight forward enough for our general template. But we all agreed everything was a work in progress.
• Occupier Mari surprised us with an amazing gift of hundreds of prints of not only Door Hangers, but Table Tents, Lost Lindas, and Flyers! Thanks Mari!
• We touched upon the concept of the site and it's contents. Everyone agreed to take a look through the site's content, especially the videos, and see if they have any edits or suggestions. But we all were in agreement that getting people to the site was our initial goal, as it focuses on having easy-to-digest information for the visitor to take and reflect upon.
• We had a small vote on whether the site should focus on sending visitors on to just one other site (Occupy Our Homes) or a variety of sites. With the vote in favor of multiple options, Occupier David suggested we split the selection by the viewers personal position: 1) In foreclosure and needs information and help; 2) In danger of foreclosure and needs information and help; 3) Interested in this and wants to know more and help. We all agreed to work over the Facebook group to try to find some links to lead to.
• We also voted that the Occupy Our Homes link should go directly to their Petition page, which we should specify.
• We discussed modifying the text to match the areas we outreach to. We agreed to have one standard template, but for certain outings in areas with one or more specific interests, demographics, or issues - we should specialize. Occupier Josh stressed the importance of handling the translated text comfortably and thoughtfully, as well as reaching out to already existing area Occupations. Terms and concepts such as "target discrimination" and "losing the wealth of the family home" are some of many culturally specific points we can be sensitive of.
   
• Occupier Holly brought up the idea of setting up a Google Voice number that we can put on door hangers that are going to low-income areas that has our message on the voicemail recording, in multiple languages. From there we can motivate people to act or we can gather voicemails.
• Occupier Susan, Mari, and Mike brought up the idea of creating a leave-behind map of the areas we reach out to showing neighbors how many local homes are in foreclosure and vacant.
• Occupier Mike and Occupier Dave brought up the idea of hooking up a donation button on the HAO site so, if at the very least, someone may feel the urge to pitch in a few dollars to the cause if they are too busy to tag a neighborhood. Mike discussed doing this through Activist San Diego.
• We talked about Occupier Martha's idea to repurpose the door hangers for her SD Clean Elections campaign, and the options and issues of printing on cardstock, laminated or not, recyclable or not. 

Planning and Outreach

• For planning we talked about the different ways to ascertain what areas to go to and how to go about it. Occupier Anoki mentioned Occupier Josephine was pitching in some zip code work she had pulled together, and that Occupier Linda offered to help us plot out a map using GIS, which Occupier Jonathan was impressed with.
• We agreed that specifying and targeting actual foreclosing homes was not our goal, but locating and going to areas with many foreclosures could be. Any neighborhood will do, really!
• Occupier Tammy, Occupier Holly, Occupier Susan, Occupier Mike and Occupier Dave all had input on areas we could grab data ranging from seeking info from Title companies, mortgage companies, public records, and ACCE.
• Occupier Josh discussed the importance of connecting with such neighborhood organizations and Occupations in areas like Barrio Sherman, etc. before we begin as to not step on anyone's toes and give a feel of co-optation.
• Occupier Mike brought up the importance of setting up some sort of media exposure, possibly through KPBS, so we have initial control of any publicity. Occupier Dave stressed the importance of keeping OYC ninja-like and subtle, but we all discussed the possibility of separating the two more if it came to that.
• Occupier Mari felt we should take advantage of lamp posts and poles to post Lost Lindas in neighborhoods we visit as well, which we were in agreement.
• Occupier Mike and Occupier Josh both touched upon ideas of bringing this to the GA to motivate more Occupiers to help out.
• Occupier Tammy offered her home for a materials day, Wednesday the 4th, where we can all get together and cut door hangers, review information we've been able to gather, and further refine everything in preparation for our first outing. 

Legality and Do's & Don'ts

• We talked about legality and best practices - to use logic, sensitivity, and mindfulness when going into someone else's yard.
• Avoid gated homes, homes with dogs, or homes that look to house disgruntled or unwell people.
   
• When going out, if in a team of four, break up into two and go down each side of the street, keeping the other Occupier in view at all times.
• If approached by a person, we voted to opt out and get out, but if you feel like engaging, use caution and common-sense. And always be polite - this is their home and neighborhood. And always preamble any suggestions with "I am not a legal advisor, I cannot offer legal advice".
• We discussed formulating a list of topics and references to share in case of approach, possibly a small card.
• Occupier Mike suggested we get matching "OCCUPY" T-shirts so we look like a team, and not like bill-collectors.
• We agreed to never touch the mailbox, as that can be construed as a Federal Offense.
• We agreed a lot will be revealed as we gather and do these outings.

Thank you so much for everyone for coming and helping make this idea a reality! We have a lot of ground work already completed, and in closing we all agreed to do our parts to gather information, links, and ideas to process over the week via Facebook prior to our next meeting on Wednesday.

WRAP-UP

• Finalize site contents, links
• Finalize translated text
• Research areas to Outreach, contact existing neighborhood orgs, map out
• Gather to create Door Hangers
• Go to areas and tag doors, hang Lost Lindas
• Repeat in new areas; and repurpose tags for events, initiatives.

2012 we are going to open some eyes and save some dreams! 

In other news, there have been a few Occupy Your Lunch sightings reported around town!

In a Chuck E. Cheese in National City! Shared by Occupier Carrie

And of course in Filter Coffee House!