Those who live in homeless tents near the building that's blasting the music say the song is not cute. Jonathan Gonzalez reports for the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. ...
I’m in a homeless shelter in Los Angeles. I am not required to leave during the day. We are provided with 3 meals a day (I always miss breakfast, sometimes miss others). The showers suck, and often run out of hot water. Each bed has an outlet, and an attached locker with various shelves.
The program that made this place happen didn’t exist 5 years ago. And sure as shit didn’t exist when I was previously homeless 13 years ago.
It’s not perfect, but it’s movement in the right direction.
Can I ask what you need today to make your situation better? I know there’s obviously big stuff like a home, but on your path to get yourself in a better position what is it you need today that you don’t have?
Thanks for the offer, but unless you have quite a bit of disposable income, my situation cannot be improved by one person due to the nature of how this country works. As kind as your offer is.
Homelessness is a systemic issue. Getting housing often requires a job. Getting a job often requires housing. And it’s easy to lose that job if you’re unhoused, even if you’re in a shelter.
Then there are infrastructure issues, like LA being terribly car-centtic while also having massive traffic issues, and pathetic alternative transit options. Lack of biking, walking, shade, third places, etc. There’re 2 buses that stop nearby, but they are slow, and connections infrequent. Even the fastest public transit is slower than typical LA traffic. The region has a short term car rental option that’s handy, but the kiosks aren’t within reasonable distance.
I live within a 15-minute walk from 3 different grocery stores, but they’re the “not good” kind. Many other homeless shelters are within food deserts. Since I can’t have a fridge and can’t really cook (1 tiny microwave for ~100 clients), I require shelf stable foods, which usually contain excess salt, fat, and sugar. Also more expensive per ounce / unit. And they’re about to crack down on our “pantries” because the COO did a walk thru recently and didn’t like what she saw (instead of trying to understand and rectify the causes).
There are no nearby gyms for things like cardio and resistant training, or alternative showering (the main driver of homeless in gyms). Yes I could go for a walk – or try some running, but I’m overweight with several injuries – but the aforementioned showers are terrible, so I try to shower every 2 days.
Most in this building aren’t permitted to do laundry on the weekends, as that’s reserved for people who work (with no apparent regard to when they actually work). And laundry hours are limited between 8am and 3pm. With ~100 clients it’s easy to potentially miss days of laundry. The laundromat nearby is a massive ripoff.
Public healthcare is often laborious with long wait times (like all other public assistance).
Wages have stagnated across the country. My last job was my best ever paying job at $22/hr. And while it’s possible to subsist on that in Los Angeles, it’s not a wage anyone can thrive on. Especially if they decide to use a car. I was taking Uber rides after work since there were no buses at that time.
I have a savings. I’m getting unemployment (after months of hassle). I’m even planning a trip abroad in the next year since the math works (because I’m not gonna sacrifice what little joy I might get in this shit life just because I’m homeless).
I lost my prior job working at a detox after 3 months due to “performance” (it wasn’t a good fit, I preferred more outpatient environs). Despite living in a tumultuous homeless shelter while working 2nd shift (and the shelter turns the lights on at 7am, off at 11pm), I managed to do the majority of my work effectively. They didn’t care. Bye-bye. Despite that, I’m possibly the person with the best stability in this specific shelter.
Again, thanks. But I doubt any single individual can provide what I and most other homeless need in this capitalist hellscape run by fascists.
In the USA, it’s easier for the housed to become homeless, than it is for the homeless to become housed.
Thank you for your detailed response. Its very informative to get this level of information from someone who lives it. You’re right that I can’t fix any of that big stuff by myself.
There are no nearby gyms for things like cardio and resistant training,
Would a set of resistance bands help? Or is that more of a bother because its more items you have to manage?
Wages have stagnated across the country. My last job was my best ever paying job at $22/hr
Is there a tool or certification in needed in your field that would let you get a higher paying job?
At a minimum, are you comfortable saying what network of shelter you’re in? My googling shows a couple in the LA area such as the LA Mission or Shelter partnership. If nothing else it sounds like they’re providing some things helping you which I support.
Resistance bands would probably get confiscated at the shelter.
Understood.
First to Serve is what I’m under.
Thank you for sharing that. I clicked through to the website but the “Donate” page/link appears to be broken. I called and talked to Maria who will put me in contact with someone else who can take the donation. They were also very interested to hear their donate page is broken.
I’m in a homeless shelter in Los Angeles. I am not required to leave during the day. We are provided with 3 meals a day (I always miss breakfast, sometimes miss others). The showers suck, and often run out of hot water. Each bed has an outlet, and an attached locker with various shelves.
The program that made this place happen didn’t exist 5 years ago. And sure as shit didn’t exist when I was previously homeless 13 years ago.
It’s not perfect, but it’s movement in the right direction.
Can I ask what you need today to make your situation better? I know there’s obviously big stuff like a home, but on your path to get yourself in a better position what is it you need today that you don’t have?
Thanks for the offer, but unless you have quite a bit of disposable income, my situation cannot be improved by one person due to the nature of how this country works. As kind as your offer is.
Homelessness is a systemic issue. Getting housing often requires a job. Getting a job often requires housing. And it’s easy to lose that job if you’re unhoused, even if you’re in a shelter.
Then there are infrastructure issues, like LA being terribly car-centtic while also having massive traffic issues, and pathetic alternative transit options. Lack of biking, walking, shade, third places, etc. There’re 2 buses that stop nearby, but they are slow, and connections infrequent. Even the fastest public transit is slower than typical LA traffic. The region has a short term car rental option that’s handy, but the kiosks aren’t within reasonable distance.
I live within a 15-minute walk from 3 different grocery stores, but they’re the “not good” kind. Many other homeless shelters are within food deserts. Since I can’t have a fridge and can’t really cook (1 tiny microwave for ~100 clients), I require shelf stable foods, which usually contain excess salt, fat, and sugar. Also more expensive per ounce / unit. And they’re about to crack down on our “pantries” because the COO did a walk thru recently and didn’t like what she saw (instead of trying to understand and rectify the causes).
There are no nearby gyms for things like cardio and resistant training, or alternative showering (the main driver of homeless in gyms). Yes I could go for a walk – or try some running, but I’m overweight with several injuries – but the aforementioned showers are terrible, so I try to shower every 2 days.
Most in this building aren’t permitted to do laundry on the weekends, as that’s reserved for people who work (with no apparent regard to when they actually work). And laundry hours are limited between 8am and 3pm. With ~100 clients it’s easy to potentially miss days of laundry. The laundromat nearby is a massive ripoff.
Public healthcare is often laborious with long wait times (like all other public assistance).
Wages have stagnated across the country. My last job was my best ever paying job at $22/hr. And while it’s possible to subsist on that in Los Angeles, it’s not a wage anyone can thrive on. Especially if they decide to use a car. I was taking Uber rides after work since there were no buses at that time.
I have a savings. I’m getting unemployment (after months of hassle). I’m even planning a trip abroad in the next year since the math works (because I’m not gonna sacrifice what little joy I might get in this shit life just because I’m homeless).
I lost my prior job working at a detox after 3 months due to “performance” (it wasn’t a good fit, I preferred more outpatient environs). Despite living in a tumultuous homeless shelter while working 2nd shift (and the shelter turns the lights on at 7am, off at 11pm), I managed to do the majority of my work effectively. They didn’t care. Bye-bye. Despite that, I’m possibly the person with the best stability in this specific shelter.
Again, thanks. But I doubt any single individual can provide what I and most other homeless need in this capitalist hellscape run by fascists.
In the USA, it’s easier for the housed to become homeless, than it is for the homeless to become housed.
No rail? 😲
We have rail. But often the rail is at-grade with the street, and cars get priority.
Thank you for your detailed response. Its very informative to get this level of information from someone who lives it. You’re right that I can’t fix any of that big stuff by myself.
Would a set of resistance bands help? Or is that more of a bother because its more items you have to manage?
Is there a tool or certification in needed in your field that would let you get a higher paying job?
At a minimum, are you comfortable saying what network of shelter you’re in? My googling shows a couple in the LA area such as the LA Mission or Shelter partnership. If nothing else it sounds like they’re providing some things helping you which I support.
Resistance bands would probably get confiscated at the shelter. First to Serve is what I’m under.
Understood.
Thank you for sharing that. I clicked through to the website but the “Donate” page/link appears to be broken. I called and talked to Maria who will put me in contact with someone else who can take the donation. They were also very interested to hear their donate page is broken.
Congrats, you’re getting assistance in one of the wealthiest and most progressive counties in the entire U.S.
Your experience is sure as fuck not the norm
It’s unfortunate it’s not everywhere. It’s fortunate that it exists somewhere. And it’s a proving ground that others can emulate.