Act Now Mayor Villaraigosa

Dear Mayor Villaraigosa,

In 2006, you stood in front of the media and declared “This is the capital of homelessness in America.”

Four years later, nothing much has really changed. So, what’s going to get you to act?

You were elected by the people, so that you could serve the people. Well this is an issue the people want addressed, especially me.

There are organizations, proposed legislation, and many people willing to help, but they need your support. You, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the voice of Los Angeles. Without you, this is not going to get done. You have the power to make a huge difference, so why are you not using it? I understand that it is a BIG problem, but you can start the change. CHANGE LA, Mayor. ACT NOW!

Statistics

According to the Institute for the Study of Homelessness and Poverty at the Weingart Center:

-during some part of the year, there are about 254,000 men, women and children who experience homelessness in Los Angeles County

-on any given night, there are about 82,000 people who are homeless

-the average age of a homeless person is 40

-42% to 77% do not receive public benefits to which they are entitled to

-20% to 43% are in families, most of which headed be a single mother

-About 20% are physically disabled

-About 25% are mentally ill

-As children: 27% lived in foster care or group homes; 25% were physically or sexually abused

-48% graduated from high school; 32% had a bachelor degree or higher

Race	General Population	Homeless Population
Latino	47%	33%
White	30%	14%
African American	9%	50%
Asian/Pacific Islander	12%	2%
Other	2%	Less than 1%

I have two homes. Many have none.

Over the past few weeks, I have experienced many emotions regarding this issue: anger at the fact very little seems to be getting done, sympathy for those living on the streets on a daily basis, hopelessness because I don’t know what to do, and so many more.

I have also been more attentive to anything related to homelessness, especially in the Los Angeles area. I’ve watched newscasts, read articles and posted blogs.

I also went back into the city and really paid attention. Last Thursday, I had a dentist appointment in LA, and outside the office building steps, there were blankets and carts as a basis for a home for a few homeless people. It amazes me how in about two blocks, the city changes from glamorous and modern to dirty and shattered.

Then today, it hit me. I have two homes. Many have no home. I have my own room in my parents’ house as well as a house near campus. I have two beds, many sets of blankets, food, clothes, and so much other stuff. I am privileged, but so many aren’t. This thought is still sinking in, and I really don’t know what to do about it. I want to act and do something, but what should I do and when can I do it? I’m just a 20-year-old just trying to enjoy her last semesters of college, but I know I need to stop being selfish…. welcome to my inner dilemma.

Mayor Villaraigosa, maybe we can act together in collaboration with many others and start to make a difference. What do you think?

It’s Time to “Bring LA Home” NOW!

From 2002 through 2004 the Economic Roundtable carried out research, planning and community education in support of Bring LA Home! Bring LA Home was convened by city and county elected officials and is supported by a blue ribbon panel of community leaders. Their mission is to “prevent and end homelessness in Los Angeles County by creating and implementing a comprehensive, innovative, and realistic 10-year strategic plan to end homelessness.”

The Economic Roundtable maintains this site to support the mission of Bring LA Home through information, dialogue and action for ending homelessness in Los Angeles.

In 2006, the “10-Year Strategy to End Homelessness” was released.

This plan was proposed about 8 years ago and it took them 4 years to develop a strategy. Since then, there has not been much done about it except research and reports. But what’s the point of research and reports if there is no action being taken?!

In 2008, Los Angeles received a D+ on a report card regarding homelessness in LA: “Detailed evaluations are summarized in the report, and suggest that the Los Angles region has much work to do.”

So a 10-year plan was proposed, and research and reports have been done, but there has been no action. And if a D+ is not enough to get government officials to stop talking and start acting, then what is?

“Homeless Has A Name”

Mark Horvath was homeless 15 years ago. Today, he has a video blog (aka vlog) that gives homelessness a name and a face for people to associate with each week. Each of these videos are raw and unedited. Below is from a homeless man in Los Angeles:

On a National Level….

There is a lot that the government and organizations can do to help  solve this problem on a national level. And according to The National Policy and Advocacy Council on Homelessness’ blog , there is proposed legislation that will help. However, without support, nothing will happen. In December, these two bills were proposed:

-S.2800 “THE EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITHOUT HOMES ACT”: Expands school stability, enrollment and support for academic achievement for homeless children and youth. In addition, it expands authorized funding to meet transportation needs so that these children and youth can get to school.

-S.2801 “THE FOSTERING SUCCESS IN EDUCATION ACT”: Establishes a new education program to ensure that all children and youth in foster care have school stability, immediate school access, and support for academic success. It encourages collaboration between education institutions and child welfare agencies so that the foster youth can continue in his/her original school if its in the best interest and not worry about transportation since it will be facilitated by the agencies.

Mayor Villaraigosa, please encourage our senators as well as other senators to support these bills. By helping homeless children and youth succeed, we are preventing them from ending up on the streets as adults.

Thank You, Los Angeles Mission

In my previous blog post, the Los Angeles Mission was mentioned, and I wanted to take the time to share about the Easter meals it provides the homeless and its other programs.

The Los Angeles Mission exists to provide help, hope, and opportunity to men, women and children in need…The Los Angeles Mission strives to be a world leader among missions that provides for the poor, restores the addicted, and eliminates homelessness.

Easter Meals:

First Annual Sleepless Los Angeles

Spend the night on Skid Row, learn about those in need, make a difference in the lives of the thousands of men, women and children on the streets of Los Angeles.

WHEN:
April 24-25, 2010

WHERE:
Los Angeles Mission, 303 East 5th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013

TIME:
3pm Saturday, April 24 to 7am Sunday, April 25

WHY?:
To help others! Ever walk by someone on the street and wish you could change his or her life instead of just throwing them some spare change? Here is your chance!

For more information about services, visit LA Mission Services

Not Enough, Mayor

Today, Mayor Villaraigosa posted a blog entry for his blog on The Huffington Post titled Warm Food and Warm Hearts:

“Today, on Good Friday, I attended the Los Angeles Mission’s annual Easter Meal that feeds 3,000 homeless people, provides Easter baskets with toys for homeless children, and washes the homeless’ feet and gives them new shoes. Every year, I assist in this practice of washing of the feet for the homeless, because it’s such a simple act and it provides our most vulnerable with a sense of dignity, warmth and belonging after countless cold, lonely nights on the streets.

No matter your creed or your color, I urge you to volunteer in any capacity at a homeless shelter, since the well-being of our community can only be measured by how the least among us is faring. To find out where you can volunteer go to: http://www.volunteerlosangeles.com/”

However Mayor, helping out on holidays is not enough to solve this problem.

You need to create a county program that will aid the homeless everyday by not only providing them a meal, but the resources they need to get back on their feet so they can provide themselves with warm meals and have warm hearts every day.

An Inside Look at Homelessness in the OC

“you never know who can be homeless”

“homelessness is not a crime”

Last week, Chapman University hosted “A Focus on Homelessness” as part of the Community Partnership Series. I attended the Panel Discussion so that I could get a feel for how LA’s neighboring county is addressing the issue.

Representatives from various organizations were on the panel and shared how they were working to solve the problem of the over 35,000 people who are homeless in the OC.

Some of the services these organizations provide the homeless include prevention programs, emergency weather programs and family redirection  programs.

One of the organizations that stood out was SPIN – “Serving People In Need”

It has three types of programs that I believe should be adopted in the LA County:

-GAPP: Providing housing to low-income families with children, support services and case management

-SARP: Providing access to substance abuse recovery to those unable to afford the high cost of rehabilitation

Street Services: Providing a sack meal, warm clothing, hygiene items and emergency items to the working poor and homeless

amidst the shadows of the flashing lights & paparazzi

I was born in the City of Angels and have always lived no more than 35 miles away from it. When some people think about Los Angeles, they usually think about the glitz and glamour; however, there is more to it than the flashing lights, paparazzi, chic places and celebrities.

My first memories of LA are from shopping in the toy district, a few blocks away from skid row, for goody bag stuffers. As we walked through the shops, my parents always made sure that my brother and I stayed close to them because of all the strangers and homeless people around. It was a sad sight: people lying on cardboard boxes in old clothes and no blankets, begging for spare change. Sadly, as I grew-up, this became a normal thing to see every time I went into the city.

Last Christmas day, my family, friends and I drove through the streets around skid row to pass out blankets, water bottles and food to as many people as we could.  We did our best to stop on streets where people with disabilities were since they could not make it over to the shelters providing Christmas meals to the homeless. The whole experience was humbling, but there is one thing I will never forget:

I was giving away the last blanket to a man in his mid-30s or 40s, when an older man came to ask me for one; I sadly said there was none left. As I was closing the trunk door, I overheard the younger man ask the older, “How badly do you need this?” There was a silent pause as the two of them exchanged glances. “Here you go man. You need this more than I do,” said the younger.

I realized at that point as I was trying to hold back tears that something needed to be done immediately.

Mayor Villaraigosa, YOU NEED TO ACT NOW and HELP THESE POOR PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS!