Poverty in San Gabriel Valley
The word poverty encapsulates an array of individuals who are not necessarily living on the streets yet do not have enough income, or basic necessities to survive such as food, shelter, water, or health care. It seems increasingly more individuals living in this country, in this state, are being struck by poverty today.
This blog will focus specifically on issues effecting individuals that are by definition considered homeless, however it will also include issues effecting individuals who are not homeless yet have found it extremely difficult to sustain a decent living. These people include low income families, immigrant families, and individuals living below the poverty line.
The area of focus will include cities and members of San Gabriel Valley.
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| Cities included in the San Gabriel Valley region include Montebello, Pasadena, Rosemead, El Monte, Baldwin Park, West Covina, San Dimas, and Pomona to state a few. |
Homelessness
According Fitzpatrick-Lewis et al. (2011) homelessness can be experienced by different people across different age groups, gender, race, martial status, immigrant and non-immigrant families. Fitzpatrick-Lewis et al. (2011) state that homelessness can be hidden; among the homeless population, many do not experience absolute homelessness. There are people who are marginally housed in unsafe housing, are at risk of being evicted, have temporarily living situation moving from place to place, or spend more than 60% of their monthly income on housing (Fitzpatrick-Lewis et al., 2011).
According to Fitzpatrick-Lewis et al. (2011)
"being homeless negatively impacts health
as people who are homeless or marginally
housed have less access to healthcare and
poorer health outcomes than those living in
stable housing" (p.14). In addition, Kei-Ho
Pih et al. (2012) suggest that immigrants and
individuals with low income are also less likely
to have any form of health insurance due to
socioeconomic disadvantages and immigrant
status making it difficult to gain access to healthcare
and avoid poor health outcomes.
Why is Poverty and Homelessness Important?
According to County Supervisor Hilda Solis, as cited in Yee (2019) article for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, "Many people are one financial crisis away from sleeping in their cars, in a homeless shelter, or on the streets". Solis continues to add, "Unfortunately, no matter how many people are coming forward and accepting services, shelter and housing, more people are falling into homelessness" (Yee,2019).
As cited in The Economists (2006), Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) found that California is the third poorest state in the nation. PPIC explains that this is due to high cost of housing (The Economists, 2006).
Why it's relevant?
According to Yee (2018) "Between people living on the streets, in vehicles and in shelters, last year's count found 3,519 people experiencing homelessness in San Gabriel Valley. This year's count found 3,615". According to Yee's (2019) most recent article on homelessness, it has been up 24% in San Gabriel Valley. Yee (2019) states it is twice the rate across Los Angeles County.
The homeless demographic according the San Gabriel Valley Tribune (Yee,2019), for 2019 count included 4,479 people in the area of San Gabriel Valley. Of them:
- 3,292 were living on the streets or were otherwise unsheltered
- 1,187 were staying in shelters
- 1,055 reported suffering from serious mental illness
- 1,571 reported being victims of domestic violence
- 848 people reported having a physical disability
- 590 people reported having a substance abuse disorder
- 358 were under the age of 18
Meeting the Community...
Valley Community Church- El Monte Food Bank
The intersection is Santa Anita and Lexington in El Monte. I pass by it every morning on my way to take my daughter to school. Giant lines form outside the gates of people with their reusuable grocery bags, metal carts, and even handmade carts made of plastic crates. People are lining in front of Valley Community Church's parking lot where a dozen volunteers set up stations of food. For the basis of this blog, I decided to stop by and ask a few questions, the how and why.
Speaking to volunteers at the food bank I learned that it was open to all members of the community in need. The church asks for a two dollar donation that goes to help purchase items for the food bank. Individuals walk over to a man with a prostetic leg sitting on a wheel chair and grab a yellow ticket with a number on it. Individuals wait around to have their number called and began to form a line to recieve food. What makes this food bank different than the others in the community is all the food is bought not donated. Families and individuals get a variety of fruits, vegetables, bread, drinks, and snacks.
One of the volunteers said that living in this area was getting harder to do. He continued by saying rent is high and more people are finding it harder to buy necessities like food. Another volunteer guided me in the direction to speak to the assistant pastor of the church. Talking to him I learned the history and background of the church's food bank. This is what he said:
"We started this food drive over 20 years ago because we saw a need for it in this community. El Monte has a lot of people living below poverty lines. Our church is big on community outreach and with rent going up and people loosing their jobs people couldn't afford it. We have a lot of immigrant families who come, ,asians and hispanic people who can not apply for food stamps. This city has always been a low income area. There are apartment complexes in almost every street."- Assistant Pastor
El Monte City School District- Cherrylee Elementary School
Ashley Arellano is the Community Liaison for Cherrylee Elementary School in El Monte.
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During an interview with community liaison for Cherrylee Elementary School Ashley Arellano, I learned a lot on how poverty and the cost of living negatively effects the parents, children, and families she works with. The interview lasted about 20 minutes and a few questions were asked in regards to poverty, homelessness, and access to housing and healthcare. These are the questions and responds...
What is your name and please describe to me what it is you
do?
My name is Ashley Arellano. I am community liaison for the El Monte City School District. I work with parents and families at Cherrylee school and the surrounding communities. I offer a variety of resources to the families for example food assistance, clothing, literacy and student support workshops. These workshops are offered to the parents both English and Spanish and Vietnamese if needed. We also offer support to families that need housing, medical assistance such as filling out applications. We also offer emotional support. You hear a lot of stories of domestic violence, community violence, and financial struggles. I show them how to reach out to get services. Out of 400 families about 150 are immigrant families includes Chinese, Mexican, Vietnamese.
Out of the stories you hear, do any speak of poverty, low income or homelessness?
I have worked with homeless families in the past. There are different types of homeless families. If families double up or multiple families to one home, they are considered homeless. Families today can’t afford to live on their own, so they share housing with other families. I see it a lot when we give food baskets during thanksgiving. When I have to fill out the application. It is very common to see four adults and six plus children in a two-bedroom house. Cost of living is too high, families can’t afford to pay rent, pay for a car payment, pay for groceries, clothes, essentials, and on top of that utility bills. That is why they have to live with multiple families.
In what ways does poverty effect families especially those of low-income and immigrant families?
Shared housing is a big one. I see that families can’t afford to purchase uniforms, school supplies, and a lot of students are enrolled in the free lunch program. This year our school district qualified for a grant where all students in the school qualified for free lunch, so it helped out families a lot. So, some of the workshops, one of the workshops I offer is emotional support, in that workshop they share a lot, like the stresses they face as parents. They work a lot and can’t be there for their children and help out with homework. Some of the parents have their older kids walk home with their younger siblings’ because they can’t be there.
What kind of concerns have they expressed to you?
In the El Monte community, townhomes and apartments are being built but our parents and families do not have access to those because as they are being built, they have already been sold. The process …. families do not even have even chance to apply for these housing unit structures. New housing is not accessible for families already living here. Since its not accessible they have no other choice then to move out of the city. This has a domino effect on the schools because we are losing enrollment and schools in the city are being shut down. A few years ago, they shut down Norwood, a K-6th school because of low enrollment. People lose their jobs that work for the district or get placed at other sites if there is room. Teachers, lunch staff, janitors, teachers’ aides, noon supervisors are all effected. These are our members of our community. Also, families don’t have access to healthcare because they don’t have an ITIN number. If they don’t have a social because they are not a citizen sometimes, they apply them an ITIN number to qualify for programs aide. With an ITIN number they can file for taxes, get a job, get healthcare. And for families that don’t have that don’t have any access to healthcare except for over the counter medication. Its effects kids attending school. We see it all the time.
One last thing, we get flyers for SHOWER OF HOPE and give them out at school. You should check them out they provide showers for homeless people of our community, I think it is in.
My name is Ashley Arellano. I am community liaison for the El Monte City School District. I work with parents and families at Cherrylee school and the surrounding communities. I offer a variety of resources to the families for example food assistance, clothing, literacy and student support workshops. These workshops are offered to the parents both English and Spanish and Vietnamese if needed. We also offer support to families that need housing, medical assistance such as filling out applications. We also offer emotional support. You hear a lot of stories of domestic violence, community violence, and financial struggles. I show them how to reach out to get services. Out of 400 families about 150 are immigrant families includes Chinese, Mexican, Vietnamese.
Out of the stories you hear, do any speak of poverty, low income or homelessness?
I have worked with homeless families in the past. There are different types of homeless families. If families double up or multiple families to one home, they are considered homeless. Families today can’t afford to live on their own, so they share housing with other families. I see it a lot when we give food baskets during thanksgiving. When I have to fill out the application. It is very common to see four adults and six plus children in a two-bedroom house. Cost of living is too high, families can’t afford to pay rent, pay for a car payment, pay for groceries, clothes, essentials, and on top of that utility bills. That is why they have to live with multiple families.
In what ways does poverty effect families especially those of low-income and immigrant families?
Shared housing is a big one. I see that families can’t afford to purchase uniforms, school supplies, and a lot of students are enrolled in the free lunch program. This year our school district qualified for a grant where all students in the school qualified for free lunch, so it helped out families a lot. So, some of the workshops, one of the workshops I offer is emotional support, in that workshop they share a lot, like the stresses they face as parents. They work a lot and can’t be there for their children and help out with homework. Some of the parents have their older kids walk home with their younger siblings’ because they can’t be there.
What kind of concerns have they expressed to you?
In the El Monte community, townhomes and apartments are being built but our parents and families do not have access to those because as they are being built, they have already been sold. The process …. families do not even have even chance to apply for these housing unit structures. New housing is not accessible for families already living here. Since its not accessible they have no other choice then to move out of the city. This has a domino effect on the schools because we are losing enrollment and schools in the city are being shut down. A few years ago, they shut down Norwood, a K-6th school because of low enrollment. People lose their jobs that work for the district or get placed at other sites if there is room. Teachers, lunch staff, janitors, teachers’ aides, noon supervisors are all effected. These are our members of our community. Also, families don’t have access to healthcare because they don’t have an ITIN number. If they don’t have a social because they are not a citizen sometimes, they apply them an ITIN number to qualify for programs aide. With an ITIN number they can file for taxes, get a job, get healthcare. And for families that don’t have that don’t have any access to healthcare except for over the counter medication. Its effects kids attending school. We see it all the time.
One last thing, we get flyers for SHOWER OF HOPE and give them out at school. You should check them out they provide showers for homeless people of our community, I think it is in.
Shower of Hope-Lario Park
Pulling up to a long dirt road entering Lario Park located in Irwindale, CA I began to see groups and groups of individuals sitting and standing around park benches near a large white trailer. Sitting next to the trailer was a bright blue tent. As I approached the tent a welcoming voice said, "Hi there can I help you?". Lisa helps facilitate Shower of Hope an organization that helps provide individuals in need of a shower every Tuesday morning here at this location. Several volunteers were assisting the morning that I arrived. Lisa gave me a tour around explaining to me how the program was run.
Every individual signs up on a list and is called by a first-come-first-serve basis. Names are called out loud, four people at a time. Every person has the right to a 12 minute shower with toiletries such as Q-tips, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrush toothpaste, and clean towels provided. After every use, a volunteer goes in and sanitizes each of the four shower stalls provided.
Volunteer Anne sees people of all ages, gender, and ethnic backgrounds. Lisa states that they get an average of 40-50 people a day and some days more. I spoke to a few individuals there recieving services but none agreed to have their picture taken or even be interviewed. One man said that a fresh shower makes him feel like a brand new person. Something as a shower can change a person's attitude and make such a difference.
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Anne is a Volunteer from La Ramada Veterans who has attended
Lario Park every Tuesday for the past 6 months volunteering for Shower of Hope.
"I started doing this to help out, but I have gained so much from this experience. There was a young man who's name I remembered, and he was so excited to hear me call his name the next time I saw him here. Those are the little things that make someone's day."
-Anne
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Lisa helps facilitate the Shower of Hope location at Lario Park.
She was very welcoming and willing to answer any questions I had.
"We sanitize each stall after every use to ensure everyone has a clean shower experience". "It takes a while to gain their trust but we have grown to become a family here. We definitely have our regulars we see." -Lisa
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Donated clothes such as t-shirts, bras, and underwear are available for people to take.
There are also sandals to use as well.
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Hygiene toiletries like Q-tips, toothbrushes and toothpaste are available.
Shampoo, body wash, and conditioner are placed in repurposed medicine containers.
New and fresh towels are available to use and are collected after each use in a recycle bin labeled "towels".
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Underneath the service tent for Shower of Hope you can find signs with information for
veterans and individuals in need. Another sign lists nearby free health clinics.
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Implications
According to Fitzpatrick-Lewis et al. (2011) implications for studying homeless population and those at risk of homelessness, can contribute to an overall knowledge on how to best increase their access to healthcare, housing, and other resources.
By meeting with individuals effected by poverty, it aides in the qualitative research that helps us understand the needs and issues effecting these individuals first hand. People who are struggling with this issue and members of the community who work for these individuals such as the volunteers at a food bank, volunteers at an organization providing free showers, or as a community liaison working with families of the community, they have a greater understanding what resources are needed.
"We can not forget that these are members of our community too. They live in our community! We see them everyday, they can not be forgotten." -Anne
References
Fitzpatrick-Lewis, Ganann, Krishnaratne, Ciliska,
Kouyoumdjian, Hwang, & Fitzpatrick-Lewis, Donna. (2011). Effectiveness of
interventions to improve the health and housing status of homeless people: A
rapid systematic review. BMC Public Health, 11(1), 638.
Pih, K., Hirose, A., & Mao, K. (2012). The Invisible Unattended: Low‐wage Chinese Immigrant Workers, Health Care, and Social Capital in Southern California’s San Gabriel Valley*. Sociological Inquiry, 82(2), 236-256.
The not-so-Golden State; Poverty ratings.(Poverty in California). (2006). The Economist (US), 379(8479), 31US.
Yee, Christopher. (2019, June 4th) Homelessness up to 24% in San Gabriel Valley, twice the rate across LA County. San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved from https://www.sgvtribune.com/2019/06/04/homelessness-up-24-in-san-gabriel-valley-twice-the-rate-across-la-county/
Yee, Christopher. (2018, March 31st) While homelessness is down in LA County, it’s up in the San Gabriel Valley. San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved from
https://www.sgvtribune.com/2018/05/31/while-homelessness-is-down-in-la-county-its-up-in-the-san-gabriel-valley/
Pih, K., Hirose, A., & Mao, K. (2012). The Invisible Unattended: Low‐wage Chinese Immigrant Workers, Health Care, and Social Capital in Southern California’s San Gabriel Valley*. Sociological Inquiry, 82(2), 236-256.
The not-so-Golden State; Poverty ratings.(Poverty in California). (2006). The Economist (US), 379(8479), 31US.
Yee, Christopher. (2019, June 4th) Homelessness up to 24% in San Gabriel Valley, twice the rate across LA County. San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved from https://www.sgvtribune.com/2019/06/04/homelessness-up-24-in-san-gabriel-valley-twice-the-rate-across-la-county/
Yee, Christopher. (2018, March 31st) While homelessness is down in LA County, it’s up in the San Gabriel Valley. San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved from
https://www.sgvtribune.com/2018/05/31/while-homelessness-is-down-in-la-county-its-up-in-the-san-gabriel-valley/
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