The problem with the homeless is the problem with social welfare policies in general: we want to provide for the individual, legitimately needy, but we don't want to encourage dependence upon such help, to foster a "culture of dependence."
Santa Monica is a nice, upscale, generally liberal beach city just west of Los Angeles. It used to be "very liberal," as opposed to "generally liberal" until it was inundated with the homeless, who like all other organisms, are drawn to where the living is easiest: it's just gravity.
Not all homeless people have themselves to blame for their homelessness, especially in hard economic times, but many, if not most, do. Besides those legitimately down on their luck and temporarily unable to house themselves - for whom we must do all we can to keep them invested in society - the homeless also consist of alcoholics, drug addicts, the mentally ill (these three categories often blend together), general misfits (read the alternately heartbreaking and hopeful Homeless Guy blog), sluggards, and miscellany others. Please do not accuse me of lumping them all together because every homeless person has his/her own story to tell, but collectively, past a certain level of density and visibility, the homeless are a blight on a community for all of the obvious reasons: sanitation, petty crime, eyesore, annoyance, all of which lead to downward pressure on property values, and downward pressure on one's beachside property is the fastest way to turn a liberal into a conservative.
Over the last ten years or so, Santa Monica has been struggling with their homeless problem, trying to strike a balance between compassion and, frankly, property values. From the Santa Monica Staff Report on the Homeless:
- Additionally residents, members of the business community and visitors have expressed growing concerns and frustrations about the increased impact of homelessness on the community. These impacts result from various circumstances, including large groups gathering regularly in the parks for food distributions and thereby monopolizing park space, persons soiling and trashing doorways in the Downtown which they use as a campsite, aggressive panhandling and exhibiting anti-social or threatening behaviors. Residents complain that the parks are no longer a shared resource. Members of the business community complain of adverse economic impacts.
There are increasing adverse impacts on homeless people as well. The Police Department reports an increase in crimes committed by homeless people against other homeless people. For instance, during the last nine months,
there have been three assaults in this category which were extremely
violent.
The controversy about food distributions in the parks has been particularly
heated. Many complain that food distributions by private organizations are
attracting more and more homeless people to Santa Monica, that the City's
service system cannot bear this load, that the parks are being unfairly
monopolized, and that other park users are being driven from the parks. Others assert that the food distributions are charitable endeavors which should be supported, rather than restricted.
So in October Santa Monica cracked down:
- Santa Monica, a city known for its compassion toward homeless people but long troubled by the problems they bring, finally passed two controversial laws Tuesday night aimed at limiting their presence.
Article comments
1 - Mary Ramirez
This is not a person attact but I feel that is is unfair to but down all homeless in there actions I am Homeless an live in a RV. Many of the same things you say about Homeless were said about blacks but nobody dare say that about them today, Also Mexicans leave TP on bathroom floors and do not put it in to trash. No one stops them from useing bathrooms. They play soccer in parks in LA were it is against the law, I am learning disabled and so most people think I am retarded.
by Mary
2 - Mary Ramirez
I know a man that come from your nice city and goes to feeding in LA. I guess that homeless are now sent out to found feedings and I guess that is how skid row started with the sweeps. Now they want to send Homeless to the city were they came from seem only fair. I am a card carry ACLU Member
Mary
3 - anonymous35
I am homeless myself and I do agree with some of your various points. When you say public urination, however, you must think at certain times of the night: where is a person suppose to go? Public toilets are closed down, restuarants dont want homeless people using their restrooms and for the most part I agree with them too. Some homeless do not use the restroom properly, they are either mentally incapable of using the restroom and actually GO into the TOILET where its suppose to go or they are drunks. It's too bad we cannot indentify who is wrecking the restrooms, so the rest can enjoy the very essential need of using a restroom when we need it.
Ok next trash, that is a big problem, yes, leaving garbage behind and it's actually a good way for a homeless person to lose his or her spot. So really there is so much actual trash they can leave behind. I've been in a spot before where trash blew out of the dumpsters and into a cubbyhole where i tried to sleep. So not all trash is homeless trash.
I'd like to touch upon the "job placement, training, reintegration." You need employers to be more sensitive to those who are down on their luck and the drive for the individual to prosper doesn't hurt either. I am one of those people who cannot put on a "false" veneer and smile when I am not happy also if I did smile they would probably run since It's not the purdiest smile this side of the Mississippi. that reflects badly when you do try to look for work and see people. Many homeless need dental care and some need mental therapy. Training, if there is training available then that info needs to be widely circulated along with what sort of grants/government help is available. many live in a bubble, a short sighted bubble of: where do i eat?, go to the restroom?, spend the day?, and sleep?" beyond that seems like a pipe dream, they need someone to lead them to say, no my friend, there is more to this day to day short term handouts is nice but here is something that will empower you. so really you need services that handout and about the same number of services to offer empowerment. A place to write a resume for someone who has a crappy work history is not really empowering its more humiliting than anything else. anyhow my thoughts, worth a penny to some maybe more to others.
I do thank you for your outspoken thoughts and i do feel much better about your stance on reintegration into society as oppose to just trying to run us out of here tarred and feathered. good day,
anonymous35
4 - bob
1 out of 4 homeless is a veteran. Your article is full of classist, bigotted, and unamerican opinions. I hope you have the opportunity someday to sleep on the concrete so you can re-examine your ego centric position.