No Child Left On The Streets!

What civilized, first-world, wealthy country in this world would allow its children to live on its streets of a dangerous urban neighborhood? It just doesn’t make sense that the second largest city in America—Los Angeles—would allow children to be homeless in downtown Skid Row.

Yet, a report by the United Coalition East Prevention Project recently released numbers showing that 700 children are living in welfare motels or on the streets of Central City East. With the dangers of crime linked to prostitution, drugs, and violence in that area, it doesn’t make sense to allow the most vulnerable of our population—children—to live there. Here is an article about the study. Here's another article.

We certainly can do something. If our country can house hundreds of thousands of Hurricane Katrina victims in a matter of days, we certainly can take 700 young children off the streets of Skid Row. I wrote a chapter in my book called, “Hunting For Good Will.” There should certainly be political and community will to do something about this.

I propose this...

That the city and county of Los Angeles pass an ordinance that would give every child in Los Angeles the right to a safe and secure bed—away from crime, victimization, and hunger.

What city councilmember or county supervisor would vote against such an ordinance? Who cares if we don’t have the facilities to house them now? If we were able to find enough housing for hurricane victims, we should be able to find enough housing for 700 children.

Let the churches, synagogues, YMCA’s, nonprofit groups, and political offices find enough space for these children. Let both public and private dollars fund places for these children.

Let’s pass a community ordinance… No Child Left On The Streets of L.A.