It’s The People, Stupid

While it’s encouraging there is a re-awakening of public attention on homelessness, I wish we could nail a new sign to the end-homelessness campaign … “It’s the people, stupid.”

Countering the swirl of hopeful plans to reduce homelessness is the same debilitating attitude that has caused homelessness to increase three-fold in the last twenty years in L.A. County— hostile conflict between outlying suburban areas and downtown stakeholders over “homeless dumping.”

Downtown people accuse the suburbs of “shipping” their homeless people into Central City L.A., while outlying communities accuse downtown of the same tactic, all of which threatens the successful implementation of the County’s historic homeless plan.

As do law suits. Recently, the Ninth Circuit Court supported community homeless advocates by stopping the city’s law enforcement strategy to clean up downtown streets. The city plans to appeal. Meanwhile, any serious effort to address homelessness in downtown are put on hold.

And then there is the local neighborhood resistance. While the public and private sector gear up to build new homeless centers and more affordable housing, neighborhoods are gearing up with a battle-driven attitude of, “Not in my backyard!”

If we could all take a deep breath, step back for a moment, and look at the bigger picture of homelessness, the answer is very clear… it’s about people. Disabled seniors in wheel chairs, young mothers with infants, and traumatized veterans who fought in our wars, all victims who have fallen through the cracks of society and ended up on our streets.

“Dumping” and “shipping out” should not be terminology for people. Rather than conflict, there should be collaboration. Rather than law suits, there should be partnerships. Rather than war plans, we should be fighting over who can help the most people.

In Hollywood, there is a new movement called, Project Y!MBY (Yes! In My Back Yard!) The idea is to bring together local neighborhood groups—political leaders, home owners, service providers, law enforcement, businesses, and faith groups—to agree on and work toward realistic solutions to the homeless in their own neighborhoods.

This local initiative seeks convergence, a balanced approach to reaching out to the homeless, and to coordinate services and resources.

We have two choices. Either turf wars or an alliance to help people on our streets. We can either promote law suits, NIMBY campaigns and the transport of the homeless out of our neighborhoods. Or we can create more humane and collaborative solutions that benefit everyone.

I wish there were signs everywhere that remind us that homelessness is about people. Selfish, internecine discord will only serve to jeopardize an historic county-wide plan to end homelessness.

Sometimes we need to slap the side of our heads in acknowledgement and tell ourselves, “It’s about people, stupid.”

Polluted L.A. Beaches:Because of Homeless People?

The Associated Press is reporting that almost every badly polluted beach in California is found in Los Angeles County. Not surprising, given the number of people in our county.

The environmental group, Heal The Bay, grades beaches throughout our state. Ten of L.A. County beaches received bad grades.

Now the kicker… the group states that one of the reasons for polluted beaches is because of homeless people. Again, “finger-pointing” at its worst. I find it hard to believe that a major reason why our beaches are polluted is because of homeless people.

But to look on the bright side of this “accusation”… perhaps this “accusation” might motivate more suburban residents to help solve homelessness… so that they could play on more cleaner beaches…

P.S. I’m Homeless

Even the city of Palm Springs is struggling with homelessness. The desert resort east of Los Angeles has 300 homeless people in their community.

The current controversy regarding homelessness is that many are living in their local parks—not really a surprise. Even those of us in urban Los Angeles know that “controversy.”

The usual first responders to the homeless living in the parks… the police department. So Palm Springs Police officers are going to the parks to tell the people who are homeless that they can’t set up tents to live in the park.

“Palm Springs Police Department spokesman Sgt. Mitch Spike said the people don't have to leave the public park altogether; they just can't set up camp there anymore.”

This struggle between people looking for a place to live, and those who are already housed in the community is not unique. Communities, both small and large, are struggling with the same issue.

Study On Homeless Family Shelters in Los Angeles Is Released

Shelter Partnership and Union Rescue Mission released a study on homeless family shelters last week. Sadly, only one-quarter of the homeless families in Los Angeles County are able to access safe places to sleep.

In the survey, 85% of the homeless programs surveyed said they turn away homeless families because there is a lack of available beds.

One in three homeless families end up on the streets because they were evicted from their housing. Their next stop after being kicked out of their apartments, is a cheap motel. Finally, after running out of money, they end up in an emergency shelter.

It is a sad cycle of homelessness for the families in Los Angeles County.

To access the study, click here (it is a PDF file).

Is Illegal Immigration Adding To The Number Of Homeless in L.A.?

I knew it wouldn’t take long before fingers were pointed at illegal immigration in regards to homelessness in Los Angeles…

The Associated Press is saying that “a shadow population lives among the estimated 14,000 homeless on Skid Row.” That “shadow” population is supposedly illegal immigrants from “Mexico and Central America.”

However, the article states that illegal immigrants are not using the existing homeless service system, because they are afraid of being caught.

Again, I think we need to stop pointing the blame finger at everyone else… other states are sending their homeless to L.A., and now other nations are sending their homeless to L.A.

Instead, let’s garner our resources, provide visionary leadership, and put an end to the embarrassing state of homelessness in Los Angeles.