What makes home special is the sense of security and stability it provides. Recently, while reading about the life of Vincent Van Gogh from a spiritual perspective, I came across this statement:

“In Vincent’s mind, the Yellow House as refuge for struggling artists could be conceived as a monastery, where artists would live and work as simply as monks, with Gauguin as their abbot.

Vincent described for Bernard his plan to decorate the house ‘with a half a dozen pictures of Sunflowers, …effects like those of stained-glass windows in a Catholic church.’ (letter B15).

Early in September Theo sent three hundred francs and Vincent bought two beds, twelve chairs, a table, and a mirror. His joy is obvious.

On September 8, he wrote in high spirits: ‘…a home of my own, which frees the mind from the dismal feeling of being a homeless wanderer. That is nothing when you are an adventurer of twenty, but it is bad when you have turned thirty-five.’ (Letter 533)” (Edwards 72-73).

Wow! I love Van Gogh as an artist. I’d heard the usual explanations of his life from high school humanities class, but I never thought I’d quote him on homelessness.

But what better description is there for the value of home? Ending homelessness should be everyone’s goal. Whether through programs of housing readiness, recovery, or rapid re-housing, let’s end that “dismal feeling of being a homeless wanderer” by putting our support behind all the organizations and individuals who work tirelessly to help those in need to find hope, help and opportunity with housing.

Let’s continue to call on our elected leaders to address the need for affordable housing, education and work skills training to help stem the tide of homelessness. Let’s push to create jobs that give not just income, but a sense of self worth. Let’s value work as good and honorable again. I have been told repeatedly by those who lived on the streets they did so because they were allowed to and they saw no better option. We need to help them find a better way.

The Los Angeles Mission strongly believes in God as foundational to our service to others. But we advocate for equality in education, employment opportunities and affordable housing. We provide emergency (and other) services that we hope inspire a desire for change. There is no single way or best practice to end homelessness. Just as every one of us are different, everyone experiencing homelessness has different issues. The goal is to identify the challenges and provide loving support to overcome the “dismal wandering.”

Van Gogh’s work was despised for years as unsuitable. So too are our homeless friends and neighbors. But, in the end we see in Van Gogh’s work the sense of wonder, hope and beauty which so inspire us today. My prayer this Good Friday is that we will one day do the same for those who so greatly need to see the beauty and worth in themselves. Welcome Home.

Reference:

Edwards, Cliff. The Shoes of Van Gogh. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Co., 2004.

I must say I had not focused on the Venice issue because we in Skid Row are dealing with a similar issue. It is a frustrating issue to everyone for any number of understandable reasons.

However, I have observed that there are persons of good will attempting to address the issue – with a small minority who seem more focused on preserving chaos than public safety for everybody.

Rights are a very funny thing in our culture. We seemingly have the right to self destruct through addictions and personal free choices. But when a drunk driver kills a young mother that focus changes from rights to personal responsibility. It seems to me that there is a similar pattern here with the poor, mentally ill or homeless. We allow them to roam the streets without sufficient emergency or permanent help, then, when their actions adversely affect themselves or others, we want to forget the cause and address the symptoms by sweeping away their “belongings.”

Let’s be clear here. “Belongings” for the most part are junk or totally unusable items. One particular donation comes to mind from the Los Angeles Mission – table top fountains! Yes! Electric plug-ins that someone thought the homeless might like for their tents…

These so-called possessions can also include old microwaves, filthy mattresses and the list goes on right to a paper bag of human waste! Really?

When this behavior occurs inside a home we call it hoarding – and make TV shows about it. But it is no laughing matter. It can be downright dangerous, and on the streets it is. Mounds of trash disguise persons in drug stupors or diabetic comas that can end up dead. Waste brings on disease and public health concerns in areas that already have enough public illnesses to contend with such as TB, HIVAIDs and many more.

But, as with most issues, there is some truth on both sides. A laptop, a wallet or other valuable items can get picked up in the “sweep” process, and that is unfortunate. Ideas have been tried to protect against that – such as marked baggies for personal valuables that would not be destroyed by the police or sanitation workers.

However, I think we need to back up and address the issue from its beginning. The problem is that there are not enough beds, housing or safe sleep areas for the homeless. And for those with mental illness the challenge is magnified because they are often hard to deal with, smell bad, act out and upset other service agency clients or their neighbors. Their addictions or mental distresses are left unchecked because they have the right to self destruct without medications or treatment unless they voluntarily comply.

Here is my suggestion based on observation of practices from around the country and the globe.

First – Intervention – Put a qualified social worker on the ground when the problem is discovered, to address the behavior and work towards voluntary compliance. Offer proper medical assistance and emergency shelter, even if refused.

Second – Personal Responsibility – If a person is not willing to voluntarily comply then give them notice to comply with a deadline to do so – a reasonable timeframe. Then follow through with enforcement when needed to comply with overall public safety and health standards. Have a social worker or advocate present in a last ditch effort to achieve compliance and alleviate problems.

Third – Public Intervention – Remove items and store them in secure areas for a limited period of time. AND, provide access to the location by public transit. If not redeemed in a reasonable timeframe then dispose of it like all trash.

Fourth – Communication – Reel back the rhetoric and accurately address the issues. The depiction of these persons as walking off for a few minutes to use a bathroom or get a meal can be grossly distorted. In reality it can be hours or days before they return. We know this from our own experience with baggage storage and abandonment. Police on horseback chasing down the homeless or stampeding through the streets is great movie fodder but not constructive. Suggesting that homeless persons are fully functional and rational persons capable of always acting in their own best interests is equally naïve. They need special attention and special handling to achieve trust that is the basis for any true partnership.

Fifth – Equality – Enforce the laws evenly and consistently across the community. There is no implied right to sleep on the concrete in Skid Row or Venice and not in Beverly Hills or Brentwood. There is no right to a clean safe sidewalk along Rodeo Drive and not on San Julian Street.

I stood in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC recently and reread the lines there: “government of, by and for the people.” However, what really hit me was another line from the other great engraved speech: “…Each looked for an easier triumph and a result less fundamental and astounding – Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare ask a just God’s assistance in wringing bread from the sweat of other men’s faces but let us judge not that we be not judged – The prayers of both could not be answered – That of neither has been answered fully…” Abraham Lincoln.

In many instances the seeds of future homelessness are planted in childhood. Children who do not learn basic reading and writing skills are much more likely to fall into homelessness. The lack of these important skills follows them into adulthood. They have more trouble finding work in the first place, more difficultly holding a job when they find one, and limited opportunities to improve their income through advanced training. Peel back unemployment statistics and you will find an extreme variance between skilled and unskilled labor rates, not to mention ethnicity and age.

I frequently refer to a State of Florida statistic. It seems the state predicts its future prison bed needs based on its third grade literacy rates. That is both appalling and encouraging to me. Appalling that there can be any sort of predictive relationship between the two statistics. Encouraging in that increasing the placement of educational resources into these core competencies could change the future direction of our kids.

This is why the Mission was excited to partner with others to encourage students to stay in school. We have a Back to School Block Party every August to focus attention on the needs of kids returning to school, and we have a great time doing it!

Recently, due to one of our donor’s generosity, we were able to assist a project at Nightingale Middle School (http://enrichla.org/2012/03/enrich-la-common-studio-partner-create-gardens-at-nightingale-middle-school) focused on healthy eating with locally grown products. Kids will learn about proper nutrition and learn ways to grow food items themselves. For some kids this might be the activity that engages them in school and with the leadership of great educators – keeps them learning for a lifetime– and off the streets.

It is never too soon to address the challenges of homelessness. No third grader I know ever raised their hand and said “I want to be homeless living on concrete in skid row,” when asked what they want to be when they grow up. Let’s make that a reality for future generations as we work diligently to address the needs of today’s homeless citizens.

-Herb Smith, President

What it did reveal to us were some interesting facts about our population compared with other Missions across the country. One that is most troubling was the rate of violence experienced by our guests prior to coming here: 27% vs. 21% nationally. Another was the rate of referral to services by both self and family combined: 82% vs. 69% nationally. This self-referral seems to indicate an appreciation of our services.

Also, the need for education is greater in LA than on a national basis: 9% vs. 3% (no school completed). Fortunately our Salvatore Learning Center is available to all we serve. We do focus on GED completion for all those in our programs.

The number of Veterans we serve is surprisingly slightly less than Missions in other cities: 8% vs. 13%. This may have some relationship to the fact that our guests seem to have fewer benefits available than the national results: 62% vs. 56%. This may also dovetail with the higher percentage of those experiencing mental health issues: 36% vs. 30%. We continue to struggle with the mental health issues of our guests. The lack of services in relationship to the need continues to be a challenge for immediate and long term placement. There are some wonderful programs available, just not enough.

Included in the need is the ever present lack of affordable housing. This may be permanent supportive housing for those requiring such service or just permanent affordable housing for those wanting to get off the streets or out of hotels and cars.

One of the wonderful additions to skid row is the new Downtown Women’s Center housing facility. It is a lovely setting with good services for women in this area. If only we could replicate it a hundred fold across Los Angeles we could make a huge dent in our attempts to end chronic and family homelessness. You can see the complete survey of the needs in Skid Row on our website’s Homeless Articles page.

In the spirit of the holidays, please remember those among us who need rehabilitation or just a place to call home. For more information, please visit our website LosAngelesMission.org.

-Herb Smith, President

I am aware that dire financial situations can lead to a multitude of men and women on Skid Row, and we’re here to aid and serve the community. We offer hope and practical help daily, whether people need a few living essentials or are in desperate need of shelter. Of the currently homeless, 31 percent say they’ve been homeless fewer than three months, and 21 percent say they haven’t had a home for three to six months. Of the people the Los Angeles Mission serves, 23 percent reported being homeless for the first time, including 15 percent who had experienced homelessness for three months or fewer, and 21 percent who hadn’t had a home for the three to six months.

Rescue missions’ outreach includes some 17 percent of those who seek aid who classify themselves as not currently homeless. Here at the Los Angeles Mission, 12 percent of those served define themselves as not homeless. Whether homeless or not, more than 80 percent in North America and 85 percent locally say they prefer a mission with a spiritual emphasis. Eighty-six percent of total people surveyed of the homeless population are single individuals. At the Los Angeles Mission, 84 percent of people surveyed fall into that category. We see individuals ages 45-65 most often with 87 percent men and 13 percent women.

Another notable trend on the survey was increased reported violence against homeless individuals. In the past year among those who visited rescue missions across North America, these reports have increased 6 percent to 21 percent; among those served at the Los Angeles Mission, they have increased to 27 percent.

The Snapshot Survey provided an overview of the demographics of those in need as well.  Thirty percent of those served at rescue missions struggle with mental illness and 14 percent are veterans.  Sixty-four percent of rescue mission clients are 36-year-olds to 65-year-olds, with the young (under 18) and the old (over 65) being the least likely to receive help at these organizations. Men are more likely to be at a rescue mission with reports of 74 percent compared to women reporting 26 percent. Most people seeking help are white (50 percent) or black (34 percent); 9 percent are Hispanic.

We continue to see new faces of homelessness every day. Women with children and families looking for food and work. Our food basket requests are exceeding our ability to produce them each week. Many of these faces resemble Christina and her husband who spent a night in the park before coming to the Mission for help, dished out with arms full of love.

The Annual Snapshot Survey, completed in October 2011 by almost 19,000 individuals at 114 gospel rescue missions in North America, provides a valuable snapshot of those seeking assistance from rescue missions. Involvement in research such as this is beneficial to the functioning of the Los Angeles Mission so we may improve the delivery of hope, help, and opportunity to the men, women, and children in need.

As the needs of those we serve shift and grow, we will be fluid enough to shift and grow right along with them.

-Herb Smith, President

When we were planning the Gala we felt strange having such a high end celebration geared towards our major donors while those we serve every day had a normal (albeit fine) meal at the Mission. Then AARP came to us with their intent to provide meals on skid row today. Between our staff and AARP representatives we decided to do an extra special celebration meal for those we serve.

Coordinated by Executive Chef Scott Richard of Denny’s America and our own super staff led by Chef Chris Cormier, we will pull out all the stops and provide the best lunch served on Skid Row all year!

Today with steak and potato, veggies, salad and delicious dessert, those experiencing homelessness or who are in need of a meal will get to have lunch in our festively decorated dining room with special servers provided by AARP and an attitude of gratefulness will prevail here on Skid Row just as it will this evening in Beverly Hills.

Hope begins with a meal. A great meal will last for awhile – but life-long changes take More than a Meal – which is why the Los Angeles Mission is here every day offering education, job skills, counseling, faith and so much more.

Enjoying 75^th Luncheon at the Los Angeles Mission

–Herb Smith, President

The Los Angeles Mission’s statement of mission states we exist to help men, women and children in need. It doesn’t say anything about fighting a war, but we find ourselves thinking in those terms these days. In any war there are skirmishes – some good some bad. But ultimately there are battles. This on-going economy without jobs is a battle for us all! It is a battle that must be fought on all fronts with one goal in mind, ending unemployment and homelessness.

From a personal perspective I am not poor. I have been fortunate to have a good education, supportive parents and some financial success. But, even so I find myself less likely to give. My 26-year-old son still lives at home and my daughter thinks about moving back to save money. Every day they see friends from their school days losing jobs, homes and moving in with friends and family. They are educated, able and willing to work – but can’t. They will turn out to be the fortunate ones – poised to rebound when our economy does.

But, more to the point, so many of those we serve at the Mission do not have the support and skills needed to find work. They are competing for non-skilled labor jobs with college graduates or finding their own skills woefully inadequate to the skilled jobs needed in our new economy.

This is a war not of words – but of worth. Economic worth yes. But personal self-worth so much more so. It is fundamental to healthy living and employment.

The poverty rates were higher in the 80’s and maybe we discoed our way through then. I’m not sure what tunes will take us out of this period – it might just take a longer version. Economic studies show we are not far off from the typical poverty rates that follow a recession. But I resonate with Christopher Noack in the Times article: "It feels like life is on hold."

Here at the Mission we continue to see new faces, and familiar ones looking for help while looking for work. We have students who have completed recovery programs, earned their GED and dealt with past issues and are ready to move forward – only to be trapped living at the Mission because they can’t get jobs and they have nowhere else to go.

Whatever you think about the politics of a War on Poverty, I believe we need to make that final push to battle the causes of poverty, to house those who need shelter and to give each other the opportunity and the expectation to work.

– Herb Smith, President

This survey is an extension of work done for Project 50 – which is an effort to put the 50 most vulnerable homeless in Los Angeles into housing.

What I find amazing this time is the increased collaboration by entities that frankly haven’t worked together much in the past. Many service providers have differing philosophies about how best to end homelessness. And how to address related issues of education, housing and employment – not to mention mental health and addictions that are highly prevalent in the skid row population. But we work together with one end-goal in mind, to house people.

Housing alone is not enough for the skid row population. The services needed to support the transition to a home vary as greatly as the faces we see every day. Some need extensive in-house rehabilitation or recovery. Others need extensive medical and mental health services to achieve stability. Most need employment and perhaps education to attain employable skills.

The Los Angeles Mission is committed to ending and preventing homelessness through strong programs that encourage personal responsibility and community reengagement. As part of the Mission’s 75^th Anniversary, the Board of Directors has agreed to seek housing and services for 75 persons on the ultimate list by providing what we can on our own – and partnering with others to achieve the ultimate goal of housing.

I am eager to learn the results of the survey we did. And I look forward to creating new strategies to engage our staff, students and volunteers in new and creative ways to help end the epidemic of homelessness here in Los Angeles.

Will you join us?

– Herb Smith, President

Notably, Home for Good, a collaborative of business persons and service providers, published its first year report. It is exciting to see positive change because every one of the numbers represents a human life that had been changed for the better. Click here to see the reports: U:\My Documents\Blogs\Leadership Summit Progress 7 11.pdf and U:\My Documents\Blogs\Summer Report 2011.pdf.

Pasadena has taken the first step to identify its most vulnerable experiencing homelessness on the streets with hopes to house or get them into treatment. Skid Row is planning the same activity for September 12 to 14, 2011. It is a monumental job with wonderful collaboration between the service providers in Skid Row and so many others. As President of the Los Angeles Central Providers Collaborative that helped birth the plan, I am excited to see how we can affect positive change for some of our most service resistant yet needy friends and neighbors. http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_18641120

Positive steps towards ending homelessness and addressing root causes of human need.

However, tension continues as well. Stories such as the Fullerton police action situation: http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_18641120, the debate between help and enablement: http://www.fastcompany.com/1765168/the-detroit-empowerment-project-homeless-sleeping-bag-coats-veronika-scott?partner=rss by providing a unique coat also designed to act as a sleeping bag, justifiable concerns over sexual predators and child safety: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/03/3812492/making-sex-offenders-homeless.html. Not in my backyard vs. place of origin services: http://www.glendalenewspress.com/news/tn-gnp-0803-shelter,0,2031485.story, and in this world of debt ceilings and budget concerns a question of where the money will come from even if we all agree on the needs: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-foscarinis/homelessness-policy_b_907397.html all show us that the problem of homelessness is not a simple one, nor a quick fix as our Gwen and Maxi video points out. http://www.youtube.com/embed/BTwiRfHqcQg.

Misunderstandings and inappropriate actions occur such as the White House fence jump: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2011/08/03/police_holding_homeless_man_who_jumped_wh_fence/. But, these should not deter us from doing the right thing by helping those who cannot care for themselves to be cared for and to hold those can accountable for their actions while treating addictions with understanding and redirection.

Those are a few of my musings so far this summer. The Los Angeles Mission, celebrating its 75^th Anniversary, continues to seek ways to best serve the community while remaining committed to providing quality meals, shelter and rehabilitation programs to the homeless and others in need.

– Herb Smith, President

Fresco’s business model is to provide healthy food shopping options to underserved communities while also giving back to the community with employment and support. Fresco has employed over 15 of our graduates since they opened the first store. At our June Job Fair the Mission honored Jon and Helena Murga by presenting a certificate of commendation from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for their outstanding partnership with the Los Angeles Mission.

Saturday June 25^th Fresco will have a “Taste of Fresco” from 10am to 5pm at 5914 Monterey Road Los Angeles, CA 90042. If you are looking for some free samples and want to thank a new member of the business community and friend of the homeless check it out at www.frescomarkets.com. While you’re at it, meet some of our Los Angeles Mission graduates who are “setting the standard for employees” per Jon and Helena.

Jon and Helena receiving award from President Herb Smith and Mr. Allen Ceravolo director of Los Angeles Mission Career Center.

– Herb Smith, President