Wpkn Community Radio

The February 19, 2023 Episode of Mic Check was In Memory of Donny Simmons and Sade Billie, who both tragically passed away early this year. This program revisits host Mike Merli's December 16, 2018 conversation with Donny and Sade about their work with the Housing Not Jails Collective in New Haven. The version of that conversation here is lightly edited, and includes the introduction from last night (Sunday February 19, 2023). Housing Not Jails was an initiative under the Connecticut Bail Fund that was led by homeless / unhoused folks in the community. They organized, strategized, mobilized, and drafted policy proposals. They held rallies and press conferences, spoke out, and fought for their rights and the rights of everyone experiencing homelessness. Donny and Sade were two of the lead organizers with Housing Not Jails. They loved each other, and they loved their people. They fought hard against criminalization, profiling, and constant police harassment, while organizing for the homeless community in New