I read where there are more than 41,000 homeless people in California's Los Angeles County. That figure is over eight times that of Erie County.
When my wife and I visited the area not too long ago, a friend drove us around the business areas of downtown Los Angeles. I saw the homeless areas up close. Small tents lined up on sidewalks or under bridges with others unable to get out of the hot sun. My heart went out to these unfortunate people.
I thought that, but for the grace of God, I could be one of them. I wondered when was the last time they had a bath or shower? Where and how did they store food, have a decent meal or even where did they get money to buy food? With such poor hygiene, their teeth and general health had to be bad.
However, in a September article, came a glimmer of hope. The article showed pictures and a video of tiny wood-framed homes with a front door, two small windows, a back door and a back window. They were lined up side by side and unattached. Each of the 48 homes were 64 square feet, and built in 2020 in the North Hollywood area.
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These homes were owned by a nonprofit that also built small villagelike complexes in other areas of South LA. These homes featured an air conditioner, shelving, a small refrigerator and a bed. So the homes were meant for one person. I wasn't sure if they had a toilet or a sink.
The video indicated that these dwellings gave homeless people a sense of dignity. The article showed a picture of a middle-aged woman who moved in to one home in February 2021 after living in her car for years. The article also mentioned that there were case managers available to offer residents assistance with drug and alcohol abuse and mental health issues as well as filling out job application and insurance forms.
I assumed the housing was free, but I would have liked to know more: Was there a time limit for people staying in the homes and how were people chosen to stay in them? Where did the nonprofit get funding? Were people living there given any money for food and toiletries?
No matter though, it was good to see such progress in this terrible environment. I would hope that the federal government would provide large municipalities the revenue for the homeless to get housing and pay for case managers to help these poor unfortunate people get back to being productive members of society.
With over 41,000 homeless just in LA County the effort by the nonprofit is only a start. To go the route that they are going, at least 40,000 new homes would need to be built, which may take awhile.
However, as the woman who moved there in February stated, the small home gave her a way to reconfigure herself and start a new life.
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