LA's Homeless Blog

Hurray For Hollywood! Making Plans For Affordable Housing

2008-05-16T08:42:00.000-07:00

The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) of Los Angeles unveiled a five-year development plan for the Hollywood region of Los Angeles.

Hotels, like the W Hotel, and first-class office buildings are on the drawing boards for this world-renowned area. Included in this plan, are 404 affordable housing units.

We all know that when redevelopment occurs in any neighborhood, the rents and housing costs increase and people with lower incomes are forced to move away. Planning responsibly and compassionately for the future, like these Hollywood leaders are doing, with hundreds of affordable housing units is great leadership.

Included in this plan is the “Villas At Gower”, a 70-80 unit Permanent Supportive Housing development for very low income families, adults and transitional aged youth. PATH Ventures and A Community Of Friends, two leaders in the affordable housing development world, are co-developing this cutting-edge housing development.

Kudos to Council President Eric Garcetti, the City of Los Angeles, and the CRA in Hollywood for their visionary leadership for Hollywood.

People talk and talk, meet and meet, even have press conferences in their “commitment” to address homelessness. But the only real way to end homelessness, is when the talk stops and the action begins—action like developing affordable housing for the homeless.

By the way… PATH Ventures also has another 60 unit Permanent Supportive Housing development on the drawing boards for east Hollywood. This will serve formerly homeless adults and transitional aged youth. And Council President Garcetti is proposing a scattered-site leasing program in Hollywood, linked to supportive services, for homeless adults and families. (We call it “Housing Now.”)

(Pic from LA Times)

Presidential Endorsements More Of A Priority Than Poverty Campaign

2008-05-15T08:59:00.000-07:00

There is an interesting article in the Huffington Post that specifically shows how the mainstream media controls the attention and agenda of our country.

They use the example of former Presidential candidate John Edwards. This past Tuesday, Edwards was in Philadelphia to announce an incredible new anti-Poverty campaign whose goal is to reduce poverty in America by a half in ten years. The campaign is called “Half in Ten.” (He is doing this in partnership with ACORN, the Center for American Progress, Coalition on Human Needs, and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights.)

Only one major daily newspaper covered the event.

The next day, Wednesday, Edwards announced his endorsement for Barack Obama for President. Literally every media outlet in the country covered this event.

The article, written by Peter Dreier, states this: “…the complete failure of the media to cover Edwards' anti-poverty event tells us a great deal about what the journalistic establishment considers important.”

I believe we see this also in homelessness. Yes, there are a spattering of articles and news reports about homelessness. But typically they are small pieces on a person (LA Times columnist, Steve Lopez’s story of Nathanial), or on controversial subjects (the cleaning up of Skid Row, the hospital homeless dumping, or cities flying their homeless to Hawaii.)

The media is not seriously looking into homelessness as a shameful tragedy in one of the riches country in the world.

(I guess that’s why blogs are so important.)

“Homeless Parking Meters” Are The Latest Craze In Solving Homelessness

2008-05-14T09:00:00.001-07:00

Started in Denver a year ago, these “innovative” collection boxes for helping the homeless are now in San Francisco, Portland, Baltimore, Tempe, Chattanooga, and even in Canada. (Just a note... the city of Santa Monica, CA created "dolphin change" programs years ago, where people could put their pocket change in metal dolphin statues that would help the homeless.)

They look like parking meters, but are really collection boxes for people to donate their change. The money goes to help the homeless. Compared to the amount of money that local and federal government funding sources are invested into helping the homeless each year, these meters are simply pocket change.

But cities are saying that these meters are also reducing panhandling. People are not willing to donate their money to roadside panhandlers, because they now know that they can give their money to the homeless meters, and be certain the money will go to truly help homeless people.

Is this effective? To collect funds to help homeless people, it is ineffective. To encourage people to stop giving to panhandlers, it is effective.

But the real solution is not some Madison Avenue marketing campaign to stop people from begging on the streets. The real solution is to help these people find living wage jobs and permanent affordable housing, so they don’t need to panhandle.

“Dumping” Homeless To Hawaii

2008-05-13T08:36:00.000-07:00

I was interviewed yesterday by the Hawaiian television news station, KHON, regarding that state’s concern of mainland cities flying their homeless people to Hawaii. The logic is that it would be harder for them to return back to their original community. (An airplane ticket is expensive.)

A local Honolulu City Council member is adamant that this practice is going on. They have interviewed local homeless people in Honolulu, and found a handful of people who were paid to go to Hawaii. Others from the mainland came to Hawaii with their own resources.

Homeless “dumping” is not just a local or regional issue. I write about this in my book. Where cities conveniently give rides to homeless people to other communities. One city in Los Angeles County used to post on its website where the feeding programs are—and they were conveniently located in another city.

Homelessness is a national issue. So it is not surprising for people who are homeless to be sent across state lines. Or in this case, across the Pacific Ocean.

It just shows, once again, that local jurisdictions are not willing to invest enough resources to build a housing and service infrastructure that seriously addresses homelessness.

(Pic from http://pacificprogress.org)

Dallas Addresses Homelessness In a Major Way

2008-05-12T09:53:00.000-07:00

There is a terrific article in the Dallas Observer that highlights the new approach that Dallas is taking to end homelessness. Led by the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance, and its leader Mike Faenza, the central facility for this new initiative is “The Bridge”, an amazing multi-service center for people who are homeless in Dallas.

The center will open next week, after years of hard work and over $20 million of city funds.

The approach is simple—accept all people who are struggling with homelessness, especially those who have been on the streets the longest and who struggle with the most barriers (the “chronic homeless”.)

The article says: Mike Faenza likes to tell his staff that the more times a person has been in jail, arrested or beaten up, the more welcome he will be at The Bridge.

The origins of this center is described in the article:

The task force settled on a campus setting for the new center where people could eat, sleep and have access to services. The idea—a kind of shopping mall of social services—was gaining national popularity, and centers had sprung up in Miami and San Diego. The Dallas facility would have a courtyard with plenty of natural light. "We did not want it to be an enclosed environment," Dunning [Dallas’ former Homeless Czar] says. "Many chronically homeless people have a fear of being in an enclosed environment." The task force also envisioned that the homeless, by availing themselves of the services offered at the center, would be primed for re-entry into regular life.

One program, which gives homeless people keys to their own apartments, ended in chaos. "In six months, many of the apartments had been trashed, the furniture had been sold, and the copper had been ripped out," Dunning says. "What we found from talking about chronic homelessness is that once a person has been on the streets for many years, it's hard to transition them into single-room occupancy or an apartment without proper counseling."

Next week is the beginning of the end of homelessness in Dallas. (PATH Dallas is privileged to be one of the program partners at The Bridge.)

(Pic is of Mike Faenza standing in front of The Bridge.)

Saving Existing Affordable Housing Is A No-Brainer

2008-05-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

You don’t really need to be a rocket scientist to conclude that if a city ensures that existing affordable housing isn’t converted to market-rate housing, they will keep people off the streets.

Sadly, cities are working hard to invest in and develop affordable housing, only to find older affordable housing buildings converted into market-rate housing. It becomes a zero sum game of building affordable housing.

The Los Angeles City Council has smartly decided to pass an ordinance that prevents developers from converting old affordable housing buildings into expensive lofts or market-rate units.

LAist.com says that nearly 18,700 affordable housing units are affected by this ordinance.

“Millionaire Birthday Boy Parties With Homeless”

2008-05-09T08:57:00.000-07:00

This 29-year-old San Jose millionaire has the right perspective. Rather than throw a birthday party for himself in Vegas, why not have the party at a homeless shelter where those in need can benefit.

That’s what he did.

Here is the article.

Homelessness Among Both Rich And Poor Nations

2008-05-08T20:23:00.001-07:00

With Myanmar struggling with death and homelessness because of its recent cyclone disaster, we typically think of extreme poverty in the developing world.

Then we see homelessness in America. A dilemma that exists not because of poor national resources, but because of neglect. But we are not the only wealthy nation that is neglectful.

I was in the United Kingdom last week. Although homelessness is not anything close to LA’s homelessness, there are certainly people living on the streets of the UK. (They call people who are homeless in the UK “rough sleepers.”)

I took the above photo in central London. (Notice the tents on the edge of the grass area.)

It’s sad when poor nations don’t have enough resources to feed and shelter their citizens. It is a tragedy (and criminal) when wealthy nations choose not to feed and shelter all of their citizens.

A Billion Dollar Campaign To House One Family

2008-05-07T17:01:00.000-07:00

This season of selecting a new leader for the free world is like none other in the history of our country, especially in the very important money game. By the time February 2008 ended, all of the Presidential candidates raised a combined total of $800 million. This is just shy of the total collected in the 2004 primary and general election campaigns. Experts are projecting that another billion dollars will be donated just for the general election.

We all know this has not been your typical campaign of “Where’s the beef?” debate adages or “Willie Horton” fear-inducing television ads. (Although the general campaign hasn’t started yet, so “swift boat” tactics will certainly be in store for us.) The traditional political process, however, is changing in our country, where people are more connected to the process, much more invested, and actively involved in supporting their candidate.

This political grassroots movement is a sign of hope for our country. But where there is hope, there is also hopelessness. Because hidden, and sometimes very visible, within our society is a layer of extreme poverty called homelessness. Although the number is often debated, experts project about one million of our citizens are living on our streets here in America, the richest and most powerful country in the world.

I was recently interviewed on KIIS-FM, a popular national radio station, and was asked what their listeners could do to help resolve homelessness in America. I know many of these listeners are enthusiastically involved in this political season, the first time in their lives.

I responded with a simple question of my own. Why is our country spending two billion dollars to provide subsidized government housing for one American family—albeit, it’s the White House—when there are hundreds of thousands of families and people in our country who have no home? Especially when we read that income tax returns recently unveiled to the public show that all three of the families currently competing to win the presidency are millionaires.

The obscene amounts of money spent on obnoxious television and radio ads, direct-mail letters not worth the paper they are printed on, gold-plated political consultants, chartered jets and hotels, and those picture perfect rallies, could very well have been spent on providing subsidized housing for thousands of homeless American families.

Recently, the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development proudly announced a new $75 million funding initiative to house 10,000 homeless veterans. That is about the same amount of money that one Presidential candidate, alone, raises in two months.

So imagine a new scenario. What if we suspended the American Presidential campaign, perhaps letting Super Delegates choose, and redirected the $2 billion (a billion on the primaries and another billion on the general campaign) to ending homelessness in America? By leveraging these funds, we could build 100,000 subsidized housing units. With this type of investment, homelessness would be a mere memory in hundreds of cities around the country.

This scenario is not just some crazy wishful thinking. We just need the same zest that we currently see during this historical political season to be transferred to the struggle to end homelessness in America.

The political fervor is growing exponentially like a fanatical crowd at a Justin Timberlake concert. People, young and old, are hosting house parties, jazz brunches, car washes, even setting up lemonade stands to raise money and encourage voters.

One new political website was set up to raise $1 million in one minute. Facebook.com and MySpace.com political websites are all over America’s computer screens to raise even more cash.

So much effort to place one American family in the most famous government subsidized housing in the world.

This is this same level of enthusiasm, optimism, hope—and frankly, money—that is desperately needed to house the hundreds of thousands of families and individuals who go to bed on our streets each night.

(Thanks to the PATH Dallas staff for their amazing insight on this blog last week. I hope to have others share their views. And we are still working on a new design for this blog.)

Pic from www.brainfuel.tv

The Importance of Urgency...

2008-05-05T10:36:00.000-07:00

“We’ve got to get out of here, right now!”

I spoke those words to the 20 homeless men and women who were seeking shelter in a building that was leased by the hospital I worked with, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, which is about 100 miles northeast of New Orleans. For the second time that day, on August 29, 2005, in light of the category 5 gale force winds of hurricane Katrina, we were forced to relocate, due to the caving in of the ceiling, and what seemed to me, to be a river of water flooding into the area where only minutes before, fatigued people were trying to sleep. The people who were chronically homeless, were homeless again, and perhaps for some, once again, their lives were in great peril. Fortunately, we made it out of the building safely, and none of the people who I worked with suffered any physical harm from the horrendous events of that day.

Up to that point in my life, I had worked with people who were homeless for 17 years, and I took great pride in being an agent of change in their lives, and I felt honored to partner with them, and work with them, and to see them achieve self-efficacy and become self-sufficient from their current condition of being homeless. I took great pride in partnering with HUD, the City of Hattiesburg, and many other public and private organizations in working to convert a 5,000 square foot residence into a place where up until August 29, 2005, had provided 30 beds for people who wished to exit their homeless condition. Although a challenge at times, I did enjoy working with the multiple agencies, federal, county, hospitals, rehabilitation, faith-based and others, that teamed up to effectively deliver services to the people who needed them, especially during the months that followed hurricane Katrina, before we were able to relocate again into the residence.

In coming to Dallas to work again with people who are homeless, and whose life experience may still reflect them being in some form of physical or psychological peril, I remember those words I spoke some 3 years ago. This time, without a hurricane driving me, but with the help of partner agencies that work at The Bridge, I hope to react methodically, but in some respect, with the same urgency, to see people escape the perils that come along with being homeless…right now!

Dr. Ken McGill
Director
PATH Dallas

PATH Dallas Hires Hearts for Service

2008-05-02T10:57:00.000-07:00

At PATH Dallas we are so excited to be part of the new Homeless Assistance Center at the Bridge, which is scheduled to open shortly.

In just a few months, we’ve recruited, retained and trained a highly diversified population of staff who have been equipped to greet our long awaited guests (single men and women who are homeless). Our staff is diverse and range in age, color, creed, nationality, race and economic status yet, coming together to reach our common goal – to be of service.

During the recruitment process, we searched for employees considered best fit for the new PATH Dallas team. We sought out to find individuals who were experienced but more importantly, have a heart and passion for service to others.

A word on experience. As we examined our definition of “experience”, we wanted a range of individuals that would complement the environment at the Bridge. We hired licensed mental health practitioners, certified social workers, individuals who have extensive backgrounds working in homelessness, as well as individuals who have experienced homelessness themselves. One such person is Chuck Price. Chuck has an amazing life story you will find heart-warming and hopefully will serve as an example of the “soul”, the character, and the depth of our staff’s capacity for service.

As part of a training session, the staff was asked to reflect on their training experiences to this point. They were asked to write down what they think and feel would be helpful for the clients at the Bridge to hear "Words of Wisdom", that would result in them becoming “skilled at living”. Here are Chuck’s comments:

Life is a journey. It’s a journey of the heart. And it’s a long journey. In my personal experience with homelessness – and every other form of trial & trouble in general – I’ve learned that the key to surviving the trouble, and thriving afterward, is to let your heart be nourished constantly with the overcoming faith, hope, and love that comes by way of a personal relationship with God. I personally came to my relationship with God through Jesus Christ. During my homelessness one day, I said, “Lord”, I’m lonely.” Then he gave me a friend. I looked up into the darkness of the predawn night sky early one winter morning, when I was walking alone down one of the lonely and empty streets of Dallas. Seeing the vastness of the heavens, and the infinite expanse surrounding the moon and the stars, I stopped, and thought to myself, “what am I doing out here in the dark and the cold with nowhere to go and no one to be with? Look how insignificant I am in the universe. And no one really cares whether I live or die. Why should I go on?” Then I felt the Lord dose my heart with a gentle ray of hope. And I heard a whisper in my mind, which said, “There is still value in your life. Your purpose will unfold. And there is a brighter day ahead”. With those comforting thoughts, I received the motivation I needed to take a few more steps toward the dawning of the day. Then some weeks later I said, “Lord, I’m languishing out here. This life is bad for me. All I’m doing from day to day is getting bored and fat.” Then a few days later he gave me a job. So, my journey of homelessness has given me a greater capacity of heart to understand and to have compassion for people in need. And to encourage them to believe that their struggle is only meant to be one leg of life’s journey that ultimately leads to a happier heart and a better life.

Chuck’s writings remind us of a great insight –Trials happen to ALL of us. Willingness, perseverance, along with the encouragement of others (faith, intervention, support network), provide us an opportunity to, as Chuck put it – have “a happier heart and a better life”.

I look forward to witnessing the PATH Dallas staff exemplify Chuck's encouraging words and making a difference in the community!

LaTanya Justice Brown
Human Resources
PATH Dallas

2008-05-01T11:39:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

Many who read this will not know me, my name is Donald Clemons. I am the Housing Manager for PATH Dallas. My endeavor has been to assist individuals on the margins of society to improve their condition. Since 1994 I worked as a residential and out-patient substance abuse counselor and for the past eight years as program manager of an emergency shelter and transitional housing program in Dallas, Texas.

Considering my experience working with Dallas’ homeless population, I was asked to describe the needs of the homeless population in the area. After thinking about the usual things: affordable housing; healthcare, psychiatric care; substance abuse services; vocational training; and the likes, I asked myself a deeper question - What does EVERY human being need?

Do you want love?
To be healthy?
To have a level of respect from your peers?
To have decent housing?
To feel that you belong?

Often times I think we place one another in categories that attempt to describe who we think others are or should be. Many times this happens without any real attempt to understand the other person or group.

Let me share a personal story: As stated earlier, I worked as a counselor in a facility that had a substance abuse program as well as an emergency shelter. While working, I would visit a friend that worked in the shelter program area. After visiting my friend, I would develop a weird itch each time I left the shelter area. Subconsciously, I believe I categorized the homeless individuals in the program as having some type of communicable disease that automatically transferred to me each time I visited. The interesting thing about it is- in the eight years that I worked in my area, I never once felt that itch. I think it was because I understood the clients I worked with ere just like me with different circumstances- so I saw them as ok. Once I realized what was going on in my head, I was able to see things differently – and subsequently, the itch never returned!

People may have tried to attain things in ways that you and I might not, and others may need additional help in aspiring to their goals, but essentially I think we all need the same things.

So back to the original question: What do Dallas’ homeless need? The answer is: the same things you and I want and need are the same things homeless individuals want and need.

Love, respect, and acceptance – and oh, by the way- the services required to end their homelessness.

Leaving My Comfort Zone to Make Change!

2008-04-30T08:42:00.000-07:00

My name is Mistie Wolfe and I am the Guest Services Manager for PATH Dallas. I have worked with homeless individuals for 9 years now. Consequently, I have worked for the same organization for 9 years.

So…Why did I choose to leave my comfort zone? And why PATH Dallas?

As I look back over the last few years in Dallas, the buzz has been the ever evasive homeless “problem”. People wanting to see something done about the homeless in Dallas but no one wants to do it. And with good reason –there were few examples of how to address chronic homelessness effectively.

Let’s factor in politics, social services, a bond package passed by the voters, and here we are…The Bridge/PATH Dallas. (This is kind of the time lapse version.)

Like many others, I had reservations and curiosities. Being an advocate for homeless individuals, I felt a sense of responsibility and possibility – that perhaps I could be part of the solution. So when I saw the posting for jobs at PATH Dallas, I thought- OK, maybe this is my opportunity.

I began to research PATH Partners. I went to the website (www.pathpartners.org) to read up on all the information I might need to make a decision to be a part of this organization. Are they effective? Are they innovative, creative and flexible in their approach to addressing chronic homelessness? What does their mission mean to me? Could I stand proud to work for PATH Dallas? The answer to these questions was YES!

PATH Partners has already implemented many of the “common sense” ideas that my colleagues and I have discussed for a long time. I mean c’mon, the “Mall” concept almost seems like a no-brainer! With that in mind, I made the decision to step out of my comfort zone of 9 years to apply with their organization.

I am proud to say PATH Dallas hired me. We are counting the days until the Bridge opens and counting the days till our efforts, combined with the expertise of our partners, will help the homeless get off the streets to get the help they need.

I am proud to have left my comfort zone to be part of the PATH Dallas team and look forward to making a contribution to end homelessness in Dallas!

------From Los Angeles to Dallas: The more things change the more they stay the same, or do they?

2008-04-29T10:40:00.000-07:00

It amazed me how often I heard these words from a homeless individual, "...because I heard there are more services..." or "...better resources..." when asked: Why did you decide to come to Los Angeles? It is disappointing for those individuals when they realize they have to jump through the same hoops and navigate the same challenging systems regardless of their geographic location. Although there are many social service agencies in Los Angeles providing a myriad of incredible services to the homeless population, the deficits remain ever present: the lack of financial resources, living wage jobs, affordable housing, mental health treatment and substance abuse treatment. Sound familiar? Different city, same issues.

Prior to coming to PATH Dallas, I had the privilege of sitting on the City of Santa Monica's Chronically Homeless Project committee for four years. This committee is comprised of providers from all of the above mentioned resources, and is dedicated to reducing barriers and providing the necessary services to chronically homeless individuals to aide them in obtaining (and the equally important goal of maintaining) permanent housing. The effectiveness of bringing all of these providers together has been outstanding, underscoring the importance of programs such as the PATH Mall and The Bridge that bring all of the resources under one roof.

I eargerly await the opening of the The Bridge and am hopeful about the positive impact it will have in reducing the number of homeless individuals in the Dallas community. In recognizing the barriers affecting homelessness, through the creation of The Bridge, we are reducing the amount of "hoops" that need to be jumped through -and the ever challenging social service system that must be navigated.

By adapting the "Mall" model, we recognize that whether we are assisting one of 70,000 homeless in Los Angeles or one of 6,000 in Dallas, people and their needs remain the same.

Blake Vieane, LMFT
Associate Director
PATH Dallas

“We’re glad to see you”

2008-04-28T09:14:00.000-07:00

“We’re glad to see you” were the words spoken to a PATH Dallas employee, by a man who is homeless, leaning against a fence, waiting in line to receive a noontime meal at a local service provider in Downtown Dallas. Perhaps he was reacting to the enthusiasm and energy shown on the faces of the 40 PATH Dallas employees, as we were walking toward our soon to be completed new home, The Bridge (http://www.pathdallas.org/), a sprawling 4 building campus that has been much anticipated in this area for the past 4 years.

For the past 20 years, I have worked with humanitarian organizations that work with the homeless, and I have to say that I have never been as excited about the opening of a place like The Bridge. Brought into being by the City of Dallas, public and private contributions, and under the leadership of the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance, The Bridge is largely based on the PATH Partner’s “services-to-housing” model, which, along with other services, will provide for the rapid re-housing of people who are experiencing homelessness.

Another similarity to PATH Partners is that PATH Dallas will operate in facility tailored after the PATH Mall in Los Angeles (http://www.epath.org/services/pathmall.php). Some 15 or so organizations will be housed and working together on one campus, in a combined effort to facilitate immediate care and service delivery to anyone who is homeless, and who desires assistance in seeking vocational, housing, medical, legal, educational, counseling and other assistance, in their effort to exit homelessness.

The gentleman we encountered on our walk mentioned he was glad to see us. Like him, I too am enthusiastic as I anticipate the day that the Bridge will open. Like him, I am truly encouraged as I walk the streets of Dallas with our 40 employees, knowing that our partnership together with the City of Dallas, and the 15 partner agencies at the Bridge, in our “mall-like” atmosphere will deliver effective services that will help men and women like this gentleman escape homelessness. The gentleman is glad to see us working together to help people who are homeless.

On behalf of the PATH Dallas employees and the partner agencies who will help the homeless, I’m glad to see us as well.

Dr Ken McGill, LMFT
Director

PATH Dallas

More Bloggers Than You Can Shake A Stick At…

2008-04-28T07:53:00.000-07:00

This week is Dallas-week on this blog, thus the reason for the Texan title. I am flying to the UK tonight for a week.

You will hear about homelessness from a Texan point of view. One of our staff members endured Hurricane Katrina, another came from Los Angeles, and others have years and years of experience helping Texans who were homeless.

These compassionate Texans are “brave enough to eat in a boomtown café.”

(Pic from http://www.usatourist.com/)

How Many In Your Backyard?

2008-04-25T14:15:00.000-07:00

For the past three years, we have heard and read about numbers and numbers of people who are homeless. In 2005, Los Angeles said there were 90,000 homeless people. Two years later it became 73,000. San Francisco announced 15,000. New York 35,000.

After a while these dizzying numbers just became an abstract. Sometimes it is just good to count the number of people who are homeless in your area.

The Hollywood initiative, called Project Y!MBY (Yes! In My Backyard), did just that. They picked an area of about 5 square miles in the Hollywood area. What did they find?

In that small area of their neighborhood, 384 people were sleeping on the streets or in cars. Of that number, a third were youth. A team of local neighborhood groups—business, faith, council office, service providers, and outreach teams—spent the whole night last month counting people.

In our treks to work, we don’t always see these people hidden in the cracks of society. Sure, we see them on freeway off-ramps or in the downtown areas of our cities. But they are there.

So how many are in your backyard?

Here is the press release:

(Los Angeles/Hollywood)—A recent street count revealed 384 homeless individuals in Hollywood living on the streets. The one night count was conducted by Project Y!MBY (Yes! In My Back Yard) Hollywood, in partnership with PATH Partners, The Hollywood Entertainment District, The County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Council Districts 13 and 4, LAPD, The Hollywood Homeless Youth Partnership (HYP), the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), as well as many other Hollywood volunteers and stakeholders.

The faces of homelessness in Hollywood are considerably different from the perceptions of the general public. Over one third of the population identified were homeless youth (persons less than 25 years of age).

"For the first time, we have worked to count and capture a snapshot of the men, women, youth, and children who are living on the streets of Hollywood,” says Council President Eric Garcetti. “This information will help us to more strategically and effectively provide the housing and services the homeless need to get off the streets so that we can end homelessness in Hollywood."

The one-day event relied on observation surveys (street counts) of homeless individuals. This method involved sending service providers, law enforcement, government representatives, business leaders, Faith communities and volunteers out to canvas five square miles of the Hollywood region to count the number of unsheltered homeless.

“Addressing homelessness is a major challenge for many communities,” says Joel John Roberts, Chief Executive Officer of PATH Partners. “Without understanding how many people are experiencing homelessness, we can only guess at what it will take to solve the problem. The significance of this snapshot is that it provides a starting point for which Hollywood can now address homelessness in the region."

Project Y!MBY Hollywood, a PATH Partners and Hollywood Homeless Youth (HYP) community mobilization initiative, is a local solution to ending homelessness by connecting people to existing care and resources. By mobilizing local community stakeholders, Project Y!MBY facilitates a collaborative approach to improve coordination of homeless services.

For more information about Project Y!MBY, visit www.epath.org/yimby.

(Pic from www.herhome.com)

Service Malls in the News

2008-04-24T07:55:00.000-07:00

The city of Calgary in Canada is doing a Project Homeless Connect Day. They call it a temporary “one stop” service center (or a mall.) Critics say that services should not mix different populations—i.e., homeless mothers and children should not enter with chronic adults. The reporter goes on to say that this temporary “one stop” should (or could) be a permanent one stop—24/7—rather than just one day every other month.

In response to critics, as long as there is good security and management, and perhaps even separate entrances, it’s okay to mix populations. (The only exception would be victims of domestic violence and runaway, or transitional-aged youth. These should certainly be addressed differently.) The ideal would be a separate mall just for families and kids

The mall movement is certainly expanding around the country. There are successful permanent Connect Day facilities going on and being built throughout the country. Cities are using these as the entry point into a community’s system of care. Currently, Dallas and San Antonio, Texas are in the middle of building their 24/7 Connect Day facilities.

The key to these malls, is how to link these services to permanent housing.

In the LA Times today, there is an article about the chronic homeless issue in Laguna Beach, an upscale beach community in Orange County, south of Los Angeles. People are surprised because this is a community far from the urban grind of Los Angeles. But there they are. About 50 of them.

Laguna Beach is also talking about setting up a one-stop resource center to help address this issue. If only all of the cities in LA and OC county would respond like this, we could actually get a handle on seriously addressing homelessness.

(Pic from http://www.calgarybroadcasters.com/)

Who Is The Next Cover Person?

2008-04-23T08:59:00.000-07:00

We are still working on the cover story and magazine cover person for PATH Lines Magazine, a community publication on homelessness and housing.

I blogged about this last month, and we have had many responses to this. Some of the nominations are terrific. Here’s the link describing this unique “contest.”

Here is the link if you would like to nominate someone.

Economy Is Biting The Hand That Feeds The Poor

2008-04-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

It’s tough times out there. For everyday people, and especially the poor. When times are tough, people traditionally go to charities for help—the food banks, shelters, and emergency services.

CNN is reporting that charities are also getting hit hard. Donations are down, and the demand is up.

(CNN) -- Ordinary Americans aren't the only ones being punished by tough economic times. Charities say they need help, too.

Charitable groups that help the poor -- food banks, thrift stores, shelters -- say the slumping economy is eroding their ability to help the nation's needy. They report declining donations and a surge in people seeking help.

Bill Bolling, the founder of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, says he's experienced several recessions but never seen so many working people visit food banks. Bolling's charity donates food to 800 nonprofit groups in Georgia.

"This is new for us," Bolling said. "People are giving up buying groceries so that they can pay rent and put gas in the car.

"National charities like Goodwill Industries International Inc. and The Salvation Army give the same grim assessment -- donations are down, needs are up.

At least 1.3 million more people have enrolled in the federal Food Stamp Program compared to last year, says Ross Fraser, a spokesman for America's Second Harvest, one of the nation's largest hunger-relief groups. It donates food to at least 200 food banks.

"People who have been in food banking for years say it's the worst they've ever seen," Fraser said.People often assume food bank customers are homeless. But several food bank officials across the country say that many of their customers are working-class people and their numbers are increasing.

(Pic from http://members.chello.nl/)

While Pennsylvania Voters Go To The Polls, Penn’s Homeless Go To Overnight Cafes

2008-04-22T08:22:00.000-07:00

With the pressure of more people ending up on the streets of Philadelphia, the city government is keeping their “overnight cafes” open all night. These “cafes” are drop-in centers for homeless people during the cold season. They are like L.A.’s version of Winter Shelters, but without the beds.

They provide warm food and a warm place to go when it is cold outside.

The city of Philadelphia is also committing to build 200 permanent supportive housing units per year. The city has 3,500 people who are homeless. So it will take 17.5 years to house the current homeless population, if you assume that no more people will be homeless during those years.

Providing warm places to go during the cold is a compassionate act. But it is not a long-term solution. Promising to build 200 housing units is also a compassionate act. But again, is not really a serious effort to truly resolve homelessness.

(Pic from http://gloucestercitynews.typepad.com/)

Best Panhandling City in America?

2008-04-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

Local media in Atlanta are reporting on a study recently released by the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau confirming that panhandling is a significant problem in this southern metropolis.

Behind “traffic”, “panhandling” is the second highest issue that visitors dislike about Atlanta.

Interestingly enough, just two years ago, the city passed an anti-panhandling ordinance that basically banned begging in parts of Atlanta. In fact, the Mayor at the time said that panhandling would be eliminated because of this ordinance.

Well, it hasn’t.

Despite the terrific work that the city has done to mobilize a “Ten Year Plan To End Homelessness” (it was called the “Blueprint to End Homelessness in Atlanta”, and was implemented in March of 2003—five years ago), and its work to mobilize the private sector through the United Way, homelessness still seems to haunt the city.

The city even has a terrific multi-service center (“mall”) called the “Gateway” as their entry point into its service continuum.

I think good “plans”, terrific services and housing, and even ordinances is just not enough. Homelessness is a significant problem in our country. The lack of building a social infrastructure of affordable housing and live-able wage jobs in the past twenty years is not going to be overcome easily.

Significant resources invested into a stronger infrastructure is the only solution.

(Pic from http://cityguides.salsaweb.com/)

When Musicians Promote Social Justice

2008-04-17T20:04:00.000-07:00

Rockers are not always in it for themselves. Take Tom Morello, a musician who has decided to promote local social justice agencies who are trying to help those struggling on our streets. Morello performed in West Hollywood’s famed Troubadour. All proceeds went to PATH (People Assisting The Homeless.)

He also promoted his cause on E! Entertainment, People Magazine, Blabbermouth.net and LA Times. I was interviewed on KIIS-FM, supporting the idea that musicians can make a difference in our world. Morello, and his entourage, also visited PATH.

Here is the beginning of the LA Times article:

When Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello joined Billy Bragg's "Tell Us the Truth" outing in 2003, the guitarist learned a few things from the British singer-songwriter and activist about leading a multi-artist charity tour: "You have to be bossy," laughs Morello. "Billy would say 'Your set is this length; these are the songs we're going to play.' "

This time, Morello is calling the shots. The Justice Tour, a seven-city, two-week cross-country trek masterminded by the longtime Los Angeles resident, pairs music from a diverse rotating lineup with primarily local, socially progressive organizations.

"In every city, on every stop, for one night we are taking back America," Morello said backstage Tuesday at the Troubadour a few hours before opening night. "The idea is to create a little bit of the world we'd like to see."

(Pic from wiredown.com)

Raining On The Poor

2008-04-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

When you are down, you typically don’t want to be kicked in the gut while down. Sometimes it seems that such acts occur among the sick symptoms of our society.

For example, the two older women, also known as the “black widows”, were convicted of murdering two homeless men. They befriended these men, took out life insurance policies on them, then killed them. This is more than just getting kicked in the gut when you’re down, it’s basically putting a gun to the head of a homeless person. A symptom of sickness in our society.

I was at UCLA last night speaking at a student Hunger Banquet. I talked briefly about the foreclosure tragedy going on in our country. The fact that during the month of February in California, 53,000 Californians lost their homes due to foreclosure. I mentioned that these people will typically not become homeless—although some might—but the majority will enter the rental market. And due to the laws of supply and demand, rents will go up because of the demand goes up. Sure enough, an LA Times article this morning validates this fact—LA County rents went up 4%. When it rains (foreclosed house), it pours (higher rents).

Finally, speaking of college students, it looks like the California budget cuts will hit college students as well. UC and Cal State budgets will get a 10% cut. That means less students will access public universities. It’s a temporary budget fix that will reduce the number of people in our State with college education. We all know that a college education helps people leave poverty. Less college educated people means more people in poverty.

It’s raining on the poor.

(Pic from http://images.travelpod.com/)

Is LA’s Skid Row Initiative Working?

2008-04-16T10:06:00.000-07:00

The 18-month old LAPD and City of LA initiative to increase police enforcement in downtown Los Angeles’ skid row area is getting looked at again. This initiative brought in 50 additional police officers to clean up the streets.

Statistics show that after a significant decrease in violent crime at the start of the initiative, called “Safer Cities Initiative”, violent crime has now remained flat. However, property crime has increased 60% over the last year. Officials say it is because more affluent renters and owners are moving into the area, providing more temptation for property crime.

At the start of this initiative, the numbers of homeless people dropped significantly. But now statistics show that the number has leveled off. An LA Times article states that business owners are even saying that they see an increase in encampments.

A couple of thoughts:

First, before the Safer Cities Initiative (SCI) started, PATH was asked to lead a coalition of agencies to start a jail diversion program in Central City called “Streets or Services” (SOS). This allowed police officers to give people who were homeless an alternative to jail—services and housing. When SCI brought in 50 police officers into this area, SOS was overwhelmed with people. This small 2 person team that was designed before SCI, now had to meet the needs that should have been a 10 person team.

I give this background, because some thought SOS was part of SCI, and should have more effectively handled the need to help homeless people who were caught up in the SCI police activities. SOS was a small program to help before SCI started. A new SOS proposal is now going out to bid. My feeling is that these funds would be better used toward building permanent affordable housing.

Second, will the LAPD keep the 50 additional officers in skid row? Especially knowing that the rest of the city desperately needs more officers? If not, will skid row just return back to its old “bad” ways?

Only time will tell.

(Pic from latimes.com)