Homelessness Takes a Toll on Everybody
Personal Anecdote
Growing up in greater Los Angeles for the better part of a decade, homelessness was an epidemic that I couldn’t ignore. My mom and I commuted about forty miles to Santa Monica, CA, every morning for school. Along the way, we would spot a minimum of ten to twenty homeless people everyday, many of whom we recognized after seeing them for several years. Every morning, as we’d exit onto Wilshire and San Vicente Boulevard, a man lived with a sign on the center divider. Every morning for over three years, the unfairness of life forced this man to beg for money to save his life on a center divider in front of the Wells Fargo Private Bank. I remember him so vividly because, for the first time in my life, I was exposed to the difficulties of life and the unfortunate events that could happen to anyone- even me, a fifth grader. I hate to admit it, but I never learned his name or why he was forced to live on the streets. However, my limited perspective of this guy’s life paved a path for me in the sense that, after that point, I knew I had to do something to help as many homeless people as possible.
Evidently, I wasn’t the only person affected by the sight of so many homeless people so frequently. At one point or another, the rising population of homeless people began to establish new culture in Los Angeles, especially in recent years more than others.
1998-2001 “In The Image” Ed Massey
“In The Image” by Ed Massey is a surprisingly captivating piece of art located on 26th and Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica. In 2019, his piece replaced the fountain in front of Chase Bank and caused a bit of a commotion in the community, good and bad. Based on conversations I heard between teachers, parents, and students in elementary school, some thought this statue was an eyesore and wrongfully replaced the fountain previously there. Others, however, thought that this statue was a fantastic way to exemplify the homeless crisis present in Santa Monica and greater Los Angeles. For me, this statue provided the wake-up call that many needed; homelessness is an epidemic, and that it needs to be fixed. My heart wrenched for the people I’d pass by in the mornings: some sleeping on park benches, and others living out of make-shift tents with tarps and shopping carts. So, this statue felt incredibly significant to me in making certain that homeless people weren’t ignored any longer.
Since growing up in Santa Monica, I have a unique perspective on the homeless crisis. There are a lot of single stories on homelessness, a lot of fabricated stories, and false truths about the general homeless population: that they ended up homeless because of addiction or they’re ex-convicts. But all homeless people are human, civilized people who became unlucky. Life is a treacherous feat, and this can happen to absolutely anyone.
Over the summer, I rode my bike frequently to our neighborhood Stater Bros for snacks or some much-needed exercise. I took notice of this homeless man who sat in the only shaded corner in the entire parking lot, and at every hour of every day, he was asking for any resources from anyone. And, every hour of every day, people would drive past him in their cars and not bat an eye. Of course, the occasional person donated a dollar or two, but no one ever gave him the time of day. An act on impulse made me talk to him for the first time. I’ll admit- being a female teenager alone, approaching a homeless man is incredibly sketchy, and I wasn’t sure at that moment as to why I felt so obligated to speak to him. But I did it, and I didn’t regret it. It turns out the homeless man who sat in a nook in the parking lot of my neighborhood Stater Bros was named Pete, and he was a veteran. Unfortunately, it was pretty evident he had battled with some substance abuse; he had an unnatural tremble and a bit of a stutter, but that doesn’t make anyone less of a human being.
The first words I said to Pete were “Hi” and “How are you?” Looking back at this moment, I’m glad I started that interaction with these specific words as I feel like homeless people aren’t approached like this; people tend to be more hostile and defensive because of stigmatized ideas around people experiencing homelessness. He was very kind, reciprocating the same dialogue. At this point, I was very nervous on the inside because I’m not the greatest at socializing with others, and I didn’t want to bother Pete. So, I asked him if I could get him anything to eat or drink, what would it be?
Maybe it was sweat from the blistering summer sun, or my eyes didn’t deceive me, but I swear I saw his mood change a little. He seemed excited to answer the question and told me his favorite snack was Lay’s Sour Cream and Onion Potato Chips, and his favorite drink was Gatorade. I went and got him the snack and drink, and that was the end of it. I, again, wasn’t overthinking at that moment, but on the bike ride back to my house, I wondered what his story was and how he ended up getting into that situation. I regret talking to him a little bit more because, unfortunately, Pete passed away in early January and lays to rest at the Shannon Family Mortuary in Orange, California. At the end of the day, every being on this planet deserves a chance at a prosperous life–and some people get luckier than others. With that being said, it’s important to recognize what you have in life and to be grateful for what you have. Furthermore, it’s crucial to do your part in your respective community. Homeless individuals are just as human as anyone else, so, find ways to help them, whether that’s in a small, simple gesture, or a grand one.
When I became a member of The Giver’s Guide, I thought back to these moments in my life, and how they shaped who I am today. Now, I want to give back to as many people as possible, and find ways to get people back on their feet.