(Editors note:This post is about 3 stories all spun together as one. My apologies for the length)
Moving to LA was a big step for me about a year ago. In some ways it felt like I was getting a “Mulligan” on life and a new directive – To move to Los Angeles with a job (3 offers to be exact) and create entertainment – not a bad gig.
I was introduced to the issue of homelessness in LA pretty quickly because of it’s epidemic proportions here but when I started to work with Union Rescue Mission in July – All bets were off. In the last 10 months I’ve learned more about the complexities of the issue than I ever thought I would have. Plus I’ve been able to meet Mark Horvath, who I now call friend, his Invisible People series is so raw that people are responding. He’s got an incredible story himself and is a regular contributor at Change.org
Biggest takeaways:
There’s no such thing as cut and dry homlessness.
It goes so far beyond “Get a job and stop being lazy” that I find it offensive. No two stories are the same from anyone I’ve talked with at URM. They range from depression and chemical dependency to mental illness and bad economy.
The difference between most of America and the street is shrinking. As a result, I think the sobering reality is pressing on the hearts and minds of so many when the media reports that 2 parent families are on the street. (URM families are up 300% over last year and 47% of them have never been homeless before) I think it’s a crucial time to meet/greet those around you and do some “neighborly” checking in.
Hearts and Souls
A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to attend the Hearts and Souls benefit at Soul Studios where Steve Lopez from the LA Times was honored as a “Hero for Hope” by URM and had the good fortune of talking with him at some length about all that was happening with the upcoming movie adaptation of his book, “The Soloist”. At the time I hadn’t read his book and was only slightly familiar with his columns and how they had influenced popular opinion about the conditions on Skid Row. Since then I’m just about finished with the book and it’s gripping, real and a page turner.
Since I’m the new guy to the whole “Hollywood Party” scene, I think it’s funny to get your picture taken when you arrive… so what better way to spice it up? Get some friends and start making people feel uncomfortable by being loud and making kids laugh. My guess is that’s why I don’t get asked to attend more of these. Before these pictures were taken I met this family and their two little ones were trying to do their best to be good but that’s a lot to ask a 2 and 3 yr old. So I grabbed thema nd said, “Lets have some fun with pictures” everyone agreed, we grabbed a photographer and we took these.
My First Pre-Screening
This past week I was able to see an advance screening of The Soloist with a Q&A after the film from LA’s experts on homelessness like Andy Bales from URM and LA Mission’s Tina Babcock. I left thinking a few things – The acting in the film is stellar, but it’s missing a few things. In particular there were several scenes that showed Skid Row as so over the top compared to the one I was familiar with. Andy Bales quickly set me straight in the Q&A, “The ‘Mardi Gras on Crack’ was exactly how it was 3 years ago before the Safer City Initiative”. Also in the film they took HUGE liberties with the character of Steve Lopez – I think Downey nails his likability and his wit but the whole construct of his life has been broadly made into what Hollywood execs must have thought to be more compelling, and I’ll politely disagree. Do I think this movie is worth seeing? YES! Do I think there are some holes? yes. My favorite review so far is from Kenneth Turan found below.
The thing that The Soloist does and does well, is brings the complexity of homelessness and the scary world of Paranoid Schizophrenia front and center. I hope it also shows that Skid Row, while better than it was a few years back, still needs a fair amount of work and that comparatively NYC has more than 3 times the amount of funds dog eared for housing for the less fortunate than Los Angeles.
So here’s some resources
Join me and a bunch of others for a Tweetup at The LA Times Festival of Books – we’ll be talking about homelessness and how we can bring awareness/change/services to Los Angeles.
Get more info on homelessness in LA – www.urm.org/learn
A movie tie in to The Soloist – http://takepart.com/thesoloist/
The Film Site – www.The SoloistMovie.com
Before I get to into my recent idea, let me just preface by saying – This is not a completed idea, I need your help to put it all together.
What got me started – some back story
In a few weeks I’ll be attending the ASHA Forum at Fuller Seminary, this years theme is “Beyond Awareness: Empowering a Response”. Which is a great thing because so many are now aware of the issue through a slew of non-profits across the country, and world. If you’re going to be there let me know – it’s always great to meet new people. This forum features:
* Rob Morris, Co-founder and President of Love 146
* Dr. Sharon Cooper, Specialist in the hyper-sexualization of children
* Lisa Thompson, Liaison for the Abolition of Sexual Trafficking of the Salvation Army
* Beth Grant, Director of Project Rescue
But the big question is: How do we make it change in the next week, month or year? In my past working with a non-profit on the sex trafficking issue I had one consistent question:
What product/industry will you substitute for the people trade?
There’s too much money changing hands and whether is a woman running a brothel/bar in third world country or a guy shipping people in containers, or a corporation that holds women in a sub basement of their hotel for their high paying clients – it would seem there needs to be more of a reason than the law of the land.
The other thing I know is that the demand side of the issue is HUGE and a multi-fronted, coordinated attack from many agencies will make things much better – but I think that’s for the pros to figure out what that looks like.
Also with Freedom Day coming up this weekend it got me thinking about Charles Lee. A few months back he had this fantastic idea for having shelters specifically designed for trafficked victims that catered to their unique scenario. I love the idea and it seems to make so much sense.
Where the rubber hits the road
So what happens today if the LAPD breaks up a trafficking ring? What happens to the underage kids? Where do they go? Are they put into the system as if The Department of Children & Family Services removed them from a home for abuse? Like I said, I’m no expert on this but there’s no way that blending these kids with general population and putting them through the system in the same manner as everybody else is a good idea.
In the name of healthy conjecture – here’s a scenario:
Your local police department found 10 kids in the middle of a sex trafficking ring. These boys and girls range in age from 6-14. What needs to happen? What’s the process?
Leave me a comment, write on my facebook wall, or send me a DM on Twitter. I think we can figure this out, the agencies are there, the experts are willing… lets do this.
