When Gary Diaz was homeless, all he could think about was how he was going to make it to the next day. Now that he’s staying at a temporary housing program at Tully Inn, he’s been able to get his head above water to do things that are important to him — and that includes voting.
For individuals who are homeless, many don’t know they have a right to vote. And even if they do, a lack of transportation and access to any technology or information about the issues or candidates are problems that confront this disenfranchised community, according to current and former homeless individuals and advocates.
“When you’re in a shelter it’s a lot better because you have more freedom to get things done. But being on the street, it’s just too hard,” Diaz told San José Spotlight.
This election is particularly important for Diaz because he doesn’t want former President Donald Trump to win.
“Now that I’m grounded and staying (in a place), I see a lot of things,” Diaz said. “I think he’d be bad for our country. He wants to give tax cuts on the millionaires. It doesn’t help us. He takes away a lot of the things that we want to get from the county.”