Homeless Advocate Begins New Fast

WASHINGTON —  Homeless advocate Mitch Snyder, whose 51-day fast in 1984 forced the Ronald Reagan Administration to allocate funds for the homeless, launched another hunger strike Saturday in the nation’s capital.

Snyder began his fast at noon and was joined by 21 members of his Community for Creative Non-Violence homeless advocacy group.

The organization is protesting a District of Columbia committee’s plan to cut the department budget that funds shelters and other services to homeless families by one-third this year and by nearly one-half next year.

The committee voted Friday to cut the department’s budget by $19 million over the next two years. The action will be voted on by the district’s council March 20.

Snyder, 46, vowed to “do whatever is necessary” to change the committee’s actions.

Starting Monday, the group of fasters will take turns demonstrating in front of City Hall, he said. Snyder said he was unsure whether the group would continue to fast if the committee’s actions were sustained by the council.