The city of Longview wants to shut them down

Meet Amanda Veasy and her team at One Love Longview, a nonprofit that offers services to meet the needs of a diverse community. Thousands of people have received free assistance, and the ripple effect of these acts of kindness and human respect has spread hope and inspiration throughout Longview, Texas. Essential services include counseling for substance use disorder, medical and prescription care, resources for those experiencing homelessness and marginalized communities, support for veterans, care for human trafficking and abuse victims, and they facilitate an adult high school education program where individuals graduate with a Texas-accredited diploma. Also, through extensive case management, they offer assistance in gaining the necessary documentation to obtain housing and employment. They also provide clothing, meals, showers, laundry, mail services, resources and care coordination, and other vital help their clients need.

Amanda and her staff have recently been the focus of a concerted effort by the City of Longview to shutter their facility since city officials and the Longview Police Department co-hosted an official meeting at a local church as a public stoning of the organization. This was followed by law enforcement physically arresting One Love Longview’s clients at alarmingly higher rates under local ordinances. At the same time, other citizens received only verbal warnings or citations for the same offenses, which included walking against the flow of traffic, riding a bicycle against the flow of traffic, and jaywalking.

Amanda, to protect her clients from the city’s aggressive campaign targeting the homeless, allowed them to take shelter on her property, a refuge from harassment and the threat of being ticketed or jailed. When the authorities could not legally remove citizens from One Love Longview’s property under the city’s current ordinances, a new ordinance was written and passed to prevent vulnerable individuals from sleeping on private property. The citizens who this ordinance targets remain ineligible for services at the two local shelters.

The city government has used selective enforcement of local ordinances, such as citing Amanda for allowing people without housing to sleep on her property during inclement weather. Amanda was also cited because the organization held a private event for their clients at the facility. In addition, One Love Longview endured months of harassment and even had their food permit suspended. This treatment is a clear example of the unjust and discriminatory practices that Amanda and her team endure.

Amanda faces up to $2000 in fines and penalties per citation for both offenses, and the city continues their efforts to interfere with the organization’s ability to conduct business. Criminalization is counterproductive, and One Love Longview is forced to “stomp on ants while they have elephants on their back.”

One Love Longview is a sanctuary for those who need it. Now, more than ever, Amanda and her team need the community’s support to continue its invaluable mission. Your support is crucial in ensuring that One Love Longview can operate without being bullied or harassed by the city government.

Here is how you can help. Using the provided template, send emails to the involved city officials and demand they collaborate with One Love Longview, not work against them, to create long-term effective solutions for their vulnerable community members who need it most, rather than criminalize.

One Love Longview in Action