CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECT- ART 3170
SOCIAL ISSUE PROJECT:
HOMELESSNESS IN AMERICA
MIRNA RODRIGUEZ MOYA
PROFESSOR AZIZ
“In The Image” by Ed
Massey
on the corner of
Wilshire Boulevard and 26th Street in Santa Monica.
Photo: Sam Catanzaro.
INTRODUCTION
Homelessness
is nothing new to any Angelino that drives through our cities. Encountering a homeless
individual is inevitable when traveling throughout the greater Los Angeles area
from Venus Beach to Skid Row and San Fernando to Anaheim. The question we should
ask ourselves is when did it become so “In our face?” What are the factors that
are considered to categorize someone as homeless? What caused the population to
become homeless? What are the solutions we have to elevate homelessness? What
does the public feel about the homelessness? How is it affecting you as an individual?
I have
lived in California my entire life and I pride myself knowing that I live in
the most sought out city because of the weather and the idea of becoming
something great. Living in Los Angeles you are twenty minutes from whatever
your heart desires beaches, entertainment or adventures however, there is
something that will stand out and that is our homelessness population. When
doing drop off for school I drive down Alvarado Street passing MacArthur Park I
encounter the homeless encampments, throughout Alvarado Street, underneath the
overpasses of the 101 Freeway I can see homeless population tents, and the homeless
population through out Echo Park. Not one part of my daily commute is clear of the
homeless population. This is a crisis we have had in the past but within the
last few years the homeless population has increased due to many factors such as
pandemic loss of homes, housing shortage due to rising real estate and rental
prices and the decriminalization of drug offenses.
RESEARCH-FACTS:
“Someone is counted homeless
if he or she “lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence,”
according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).”
(Johnson, 2019)
There are currently at least
63,706 people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County, according to a count by LAHSA in
2020 — a 13% increase from 2019. (The 2021 count was
cancelled due to COVID-19, but is scheduled to resume in 2022.) (LAist, 2021).
“Nearly half of all Americans
sleeping on the streets live in California. “Almost half (47 percent) of all
unsheltered homeless people in the United States are found in California, about
four times as high as their share of the overall United States population.
Among the five cities with the highest rates of unsheltered homelessness, four
are in California (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Rosa, and San Jose), and
the other is Seattle” (Johnson, 2019).
The information that is
available at a glance on the internet in regards to our homelessness crisis is
overwhelming to say the least, but it is real and raw. We see the issue; how
will the homelessness crisis be resolved? Are there plans to elevate the homeless
population? Will there be obstacles to get to a good solution.
CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS
We are
quick to judge and assume that all homeless population are drug users or they
are financially unstable. Although those two reasons for the homeless
population there are many factors to why people have ended in a homeless
situations according to LAist "they include, in part, poverty,
lack of affordable housing, employment discrimination, substance abuse or
mental health challenges, LGBTQ kids who are rejected by family, domestic
violence, lack of familial ties, and kids who age out of foster care”
(LAist, 2021).
This was
surprising to me although I knew parts of these reasons but the most surprising
reason for homelessness was the youth aging out of the foster system. In the
line of work I do I have clients that are part of Department and Family
Services I never realized that they are part of the homeless population in Los
Angles.
Tiny homes are a great start to solving the homeless crisis in Los Angeles and across this country (https://youtu.be/E5bc3j6xpbs). “Villages like Chandler aim to chip away at that number by placing formerly homeless people in protected, fenced-off communities, "That way, people in the neighborhood see less homeless, less trash, less crime, fewer drug users roaming around," he added. "I think these villages should spread across the country like Starbucks -- be in every community." (CNN, 2021).
Tiny homes are a great start
to the homeless solution but within Los Angeles we have empty buildings such as
the old jail that could be easily converted into homeless housing. There is so
much opportunity within our city that not only can elevate the homeless crisis
but also give a sense of dignity to those experiencing this unfortunate
situation.
HOMELESSNESS ISSUE- RELEVANCE:
I have always prided myself because I have been able
to live my grandparents American dream, although I have always been aware of
the homeless crisis within this great city it never affected me more then it
has now that I have children. My little ones ask questions about what they see
and having to explain and have them understand how extremely blessed they are
is difficult at times. As a family we do what we can through out the year to
help those in need whether it be purchasing a meal, monetary donation or just
even saying hello at times allows us all to appreciate our everyday blessings.
We have experienced the happiest of times when we see the smiles for a hot cup
of coffee or a hot meal. The appreciation for us just acknowledging that although
they may be homeless, they are still people and they deserve dignity and
respect. It wasn’t too long ago that we had a van parked outside our home where
a couple was living out of and my children asked why they didn’t have a home and
where they use the restroom. Questions so difficult to make little ones
understand but my husband and I gave them age-appropriate answers and turned a
difficult situation into a blessed one. As a family we put together a small
care package and left it near their van and although they may not know who gave
it to them, we pray they realize there are people out there willing to help and
understand their situation.
If
you feel you can make a difference in any civic issue take a small step into
making that change, however small you can make a different.The opening picture
is an art piece that started this journey for me and it opened my eyes to the
change we can make if we only try.
REFERENCES:
10
facts about homelessness in America – Acton Institute PowerBlog
Homeless
Statue in Santa Monica Intended to Confront Public - SM Mirror
Understanding
LA's Homelessness Issues | LAist
L.A.
County homeless count: Here's what you need to know - Los Angeles Times
(latimes.com)
The
2020-21 Budget: The Governor’s Homelessness Plan (ca.gov)
Homelessness
in South Los Angeles - Marqueece Harris-Dawson (2) (spa6homeless.org)
These
tiny homes in Los Angeles offer the city's homeless a new lease on life - CNN
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