As a result of the San Vicente article in the Independent, I sent an email to the St. Vincent's board of directors and management team:
St.
Vincent’s mission statement says it "is dedicated to strengthening
low-income families and seniors through programs rooted in the Social Teachings
of the Catholic Church. Faithful to the charism of the Daughters of Charity of
St. Vincent de Paul, we serve our sisters and brothers by providing affordable
housing, early childhood education, and family enrichment."
I am
writing to urge St. Vincent’s management team and board of directors not to
evict the seniors that are subletting in San Vicente mobile home park. Such an
action, while legal, is clearly a moral wrong that conflicts with St. Vicent’s
mission and will impose a severe hardship on older adults, many of whom are
disabled and/or have a terminal diagnosis and are low income. Some may be
forced onto the streets at the most vulnerable time in their lives. All of the
residents of San Vicente, many of whom have lived there for decades, moved
there with the understanding that subletting was allowed. Clearly, under these
circumstances, the small number of renters should be grandfathered in and
allowed to stay until they pass or move.