If you’re one of those West Hollywood residents who are concerned about the homeless people you see on the city’s streets, there is something you can do about it.
This weekend the City of West Hollywood will participate in United Way’s annual HomeWalk 5k Family Run/Walk. The event raises money for the fight to end homelessness and poverty in Los Angeles County. HomeWalk will take place at Grand Park, which is located near the Los Angeles City Hall, at 200 North Grand Ave., Los Angeles.
The City of West Hollywood has formed a team and is conducting fundraising efforts. Community members and their friends and family are invited to join the city’s team by registering online. People who would like to donate to the cause, but cannot participate, may contribute online using the team website link.
HomeWalk participants will begin to gather at 7 a.m. on Saturday at Grand Park. The walk will kick off at 8:45 a.m., and everyone must start the walk no later than 9:15 a.m. Late arrivals will not be permitted to participate in the walk after that time. This year, the United Way has teamed up with the Los Angeles Rams team (players, coaches, cheerleaders and fans) to join thousands of participants on the day of HomeWalk.
According to United Way, HomeWalk was launched 12 years ago and since has raised funds to influence legislation for homeless solutions and prevention. Efforts include a county-wide campaign called Everyone In, which mobilizes thousands of people from across all 88 cities in the region to advocate and support housing solutions. Since 2011, more than 40,000 people have been housed though United Way’s Home For Good initiative and they’ve developed a coordinated system to match homeless residents to housing. The system is now used by more than 130 homeless service providers countywide.
The city’s Homeless Initiative, which is led by the its Strategic Initiatives Division, addresses homelessness with a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency, collaborative response. If you are concerned about a community member who is homeless, call the West Hollywood Homeless Initiative Concern Line at (323) 848-6590. If your concern requires time-sensitive assistance during nights or weekends, call the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station at (310) 855-8850. For additional information, please visit www.weho.org/homeless.
I live in a neighborhood where homeless people are very evident. I have never been attacked. Actually, I’ve taken the time to speak with and try to help people who are homeless. They can’t all be painted with the same wide and distorted brush. They need our help, compassion and respect.
I’ve been attacked on the street twice. Once by a man and once by a woman. In front of Starbucks at Santa Monica and Westmount. The woman grabbed me by the neck and punched me in the head, after having been kicked out of Starbucks for threatening to kill a barista.
It’s not a matter of compassion. The combination of outright bums and criminals on the street with those who are truly in need is outrageous.
Over 20% of homeless have serious mental illness. Another 20%+ are addicts. If we address just those two categories, we could cut the number of homeless in half, but we’re too squeamish to take drastic action. It’s likely that many homeless addicts are actually self-medicating a serious mental illness. Too many people oppose involuntary psychiatric commitment because they find it cruel. You know what’s cruel? Watching that woman with the matted hair, and a dozen dirty bags wander Santa Monica Blvd., and doing nothing. You know who she is. We’ve all seen her. No one wants to return to warehousing… Read more »
Over 20% of homeless have serious mental illness. Another 20%+ are addicts. If we address just those two categories, we could cut the number of homeless in half, but we’re too squeamish to take drastic action. It’s likely that many homeless addicts are actually self-medicating a serious mental illness. Too many people oppose involuntary psychiatric commitment because they find it cruel. You know what’s cruel? Watching that woman with the matted hair, and a dozen dirty bags wander Santa Monica Blvd., and doing nothing. You know who she is. We’ve all seen her. No one wants to return to warehousing… Read more »
they are not “homeless” – who lost housing due to economic hardship. get real. they are mostly drug addicts and psychotics. they are the result of 20 years of pain-killers/pharama doping of americans. california welfare state and zero enforcement keeps them roaming streets like they zombies they are. they cannot be rehabbed. they are too far gone. and LA is too liberal to get them off the damn streets. LA wants to be a big cool Euro city by building “subways” (that nobody will use) but has no guts to get these people off the streets like a big city… Read more »
Invisible People You may see them but not really. By freeway ramps,strip malls,busy stores. in the quiet corners to gather,some others to sleep. Escaping the frigid night. been kept on the move. Yeah you see them, but not really Matted hair and beards,sporting jack -O-lanterns smiles Long after seasons tricks gone. Restrooms,fountains they bathe. Their lessons of humility. Find them in ,not only near, recycled bins, castaway lives. You see them , but not really. Holes in coats,shirts, jeans, shoes,hearts souls. Holidays lost to them, another day to survive,get by. To some just a scab,best left unpicked Crumbs left-over,hearts and… Read more »
it’s sad that we have so much money in our city and our homeless count is getting higher, we need to raise money??? where is our social services people, for years i was fighting for our homeless, I opened LOVE NO HATE /HOME for them with my own money, And our city did NOTHING!!! It’s NOT only the MONEY it’s about time to open our hearts and really walk the streets and support them. Most of the homeless are people in trouble, Men and women from our LGBT community that have no voice. BE A VOICE, help them to help… Read more »
Exactly!
The residents of this city could use steeplechasers that know how to navigate na treacherous fences and run the distance
Homelessness is not a subject for show ponies.
It’s beyond sad to follow the debate about what to do about homelessness. The debate focuses around selfish NIMBYism and ignores the plight of the victims of homelessness, many of whom are in such conditions through no fault or decision on their own. The root causes of homelessness are complex and include mental illness, economic despair, and youth who are abandoned (thrown away) for any number of causes, including being LGBT. I’m often embarrassed to be a human being in a world of such obscene disregard for human beings. So, while it might well be illegal to urinate or defecate… Read more »
This city lacks backbone for the altruistic measures that improve society. They were simply my family values. When a situation arouse where you could help or be involved in crafting a solution, one was expected to do so without regard for a medal, a crown on you head or your name on the wall. There is nothing greater than lifting the human spirit without requiring recognition. Putting together what would essentially be a triage effort to improve the plight of our homeless inhabitants requires simple backbone and resourcefulness. Trial and effort. We are way past the interval of consultants and… Read more »
I agree .
Well said. I agree a 1000%.
Thank you. Now what individuals in City Hall have the backbone?
I agree .
I have a question. How does our government and city label a homeless. Can anyone come to Los angeles claim a sidewalk and put up a tent. Do they have legitimate state id’s or DL’s..who and how does a person become homeless. If they have no ID. You cant be homeless. First and foremost they have to ID
We have to start somewhere legitimately in order to have accurate statistics
I’m over the Homeless crisis. Put money into prevention . If you can’t afford to live here, than find a cheaper city. Simple…. Not everyone can be helped. I’m a realist.
Agree a 100 percent. West Hollywood basically invites them to move into the parks and library, meanwhile Beverly Hills parks are spotless without a bunch or drug addicts hoarding garbage bags full of who knows what. I asked the cops why do they allow this when BH would never permit this and they said it’s because are sorry ass council has tied their hands. Any candidate working to clean this city up I have 7 family members and multiple employees willing to donate the maximum to your campaigns.
You’re also cruel.
Perhaps the able bodied homeless could be persuaded to join this walk so that they might be incentivized to join in the solution. If only a few are, that is better than none. Often these folks are alone, forgotten and depressed. Sometimes small efforts lift the human spirit if they are included.
I agree . I’m all for Supportive housing. This crisis started in the early 80’s. We need to start a event to end Homelessness.