SV DSA Mutual Aid Fund

Resolved that SV DSA shall create a Mutual Aid Fund to raise money for community aid projects and crisis relief. Appropriate projects include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

• Wildfire relief
• COVID-19 crisis relief
• Support for people facing evictions, displacement, and/or homelessness

The fund may be used to:

• Provide direct support to individuals in need of food, shelter, or other personal necessities. This may take the form of material necessities or financial support.
• Support reputable organizations providing such support to people and communities facing hardships.
• Cover other costs directly related to the aforementioned work (such as mileage reimbursement for volunteers performing meal delivery, or direct outreach to inform people of mutual aid opportunities).

Disbursement shall be at the discretion of the SV DSA officers by a majority vote, or an appropriate body created by the officers or the chapter, consisting of members of SV DSA. The officers may revoke disbursement authority by a simple majority.

The initial expiration date of the fundraiser shall be 9/30/2020. SV DSA may extend the duration of fundraising by a chapter vote. The officers ask the chapter membership to consider extensions on a quarterly basis beginning 9/2020. This way, the fundraiser may be extended as long as members believe SV DSA is able to make appropriate use of the money raised.

When the fundraiser expires, SV DSA shall speedily disburse the remaining money per the criteria above. Additionally, SV DSA may donate the remaining money to any Bay Area organization doing social welfare work in a way compatible with the mission of SV DSA. Only in the event of the dissolution of SV DSA may the remaining money be donated to National DSA.

Resolved that in the course of mutual aid work we use the following priorities as guidelines:

• The needs of people and communities who are the most impacted or the most in need, as expressed by those people and communities. Typically this would include people who are undocumented, without pay, at risk of eviction, homeless or living in a vehicle, sick, elderly, queer, people with disabilities, Black people, Indigenous people, and/or people of color. In the context of a crisis like the 2020 California wildfires, this would include people directly impacted by the fires.
• Rapid use of money available in the Mutual Aid Fund, prioritizing immediate ways of providing relief.

Resolved that the SV DSA Treasurer shall set up an online fundraising method for us to be able to begin collecting donations to this fund.