Today we visited Skid Row and various organizations working to provide support (medical, mental-health, housing, reintegration) services for the homeless community living here. As a group, we walked through Skid Row multiple times throughout the day as we traveled from one organization to another. Through this, I was able to see the abject poverty these people are living in. My senses were constantly bombarded by strong aromas of urine, bad odor, and weed; people laying down and resting in filth; seeing dozens upon dozens of tents; and feeling the intense solar heat beat down on everyone (we spent the majority of our time in air-conditioned buildings. I saw people in arguing with others or yelling outbursts to themselves or no one in particular. Additionally, people had their entire life’s belongings in their small person sized tents. Although I couldn’t see what was in the tents, I couldn’t imagine it being much in such a small space. I grew up camping as a child and I would never be able to sleep in late while in a tent because it became a solar cooker, attracting a lot of heat and becoming an oven. I kept this in mind on this 90+ degree day while I saw many people sleeping in their tents noon and afternoon. Lastly, I saw and learned about the great mental health need of this Skid Row community. I don’t have a strong education or understanding of those suffering with mental illness so when I saw it today, I felt awkward and not really at ease since their needs are such a mystery to me. I didn’t know how to act or what to say when passing by them on the street so I chose to say hello if they were making eye contact with me, or I would ignore that person.
Seeing all this poverty, I couldn’t help but feel sad about the great hardships and difficulties these people endure. I wasn’t sad because my life was so great and I was intruding upon their space, but rather that their lives are so difficult and are full of so many obstacles and barriers, and seeing this first hand and very up close, I felt for them and found myself empathizing with them.
As we entered each organization, I observed the nice living spaces provided to those homeless who meet the requirements as well as the helpful services and programs that are provided to the clients. Observing these places, instilled in me a sense of hope for Skid Row residents. The places we visited may be the nicest services that are provided to the homeless, but the reality that these nice places are available to someone who has nothing, was very encouraging and even inspiring to me. I understand that the process and journey for a Skid Row homeless person to obtain housing with one of these apartments, is very difficult and slow, but the mere opportunity for them to have their own room, bed, kitchen, bathroom, and other components of living an independent life illustrates that something policy-wise is being done correctly and that this is something policymakers should emulate and reinforce.
The situation in Skid Row is bad and much work is required to effectively help the vast majority of the homeless here. However, I feel and have hope for this community that it will continue with its trend to safer streets, healthier citizens, and self-sufficient/independent individuals.
