Latest count for Los Angeles, California, the "Homeless Hell" of the United States of America as of 2022 had
46,260 homeless in the "City of Angels"
and 75,518 in the Greater Los Angeles Area
Oracles of Angels
An Elegy for Fallen Homeless Neighbors
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New laws in Los Angeles punish and criminalize the homeless. Where are the angels now? In addition to catastrophic disasters in various parts of the
world such as earthquakes, fires, floods, wars, pandemics, tsunamis, hurricanes
and cyclones, a lack of income and resources and personal tragedies cause
many persons and families to become impoverished and homeless. Homelessness
can be seen as an extension to extreme situational or chronic poverty for
individuals, families or larger groups. Many impoverished people live in
make-shift shelters in shanty towns which may not classify them as "homeless", but do not
provide safe and sane housing. Tent cities are found in Los Angeles and other parts of the United States,
and other nations, as well. The same mild climate that attracts resourceful people to L.A., also provides a fairly comfortable tent location when compared with
the alternatives for those who are struggling day by day. Think of the homeless as people who are
very poor for a variety of reasons, including government and societal failures,
who do not have enough resources to put a stable roof over their heads.
Obviously, people living on the streets need a permanent home, but more urgently at this immediate time,
they need safe and affordable shelter,
to protect them from the elements while more enduring housing solutions are explored.
If a person is drowning, do you
throw him a lifeline or do you give him a pamphlet about methods of drowning survival?
Since the supply of affordable housing is sorely lagging behind the need, we need first aid shelter lifelines for people on the streets, public parks and freeway embankments now,
as well as more sensible commitments for affordable housing in the future.
Regardless of the costs, some people have no resources whatsover, other than a few coins and dollars
tossed their way by concerned passersby. And beyond those we observe on freeway offramps, onramps and busy corners, there are
hundreds more hidden under canopies and obscure public spaces. How do we help to shelter the unsheltered?
One answer may be facilitated through the proposed International Interplanetary Commonwealth Conservation Trust of
Natural Resources (IICCTNR).
Public Health Report Shows Continued Rise in Homeless Deaths During the
First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic
County Homeless Mortality Prevention Initiative Renews Emphasis on Drug-Related Deaths;
Traffic Injury and Homicide Deaths to Receive Further Scrutiny
In April 2022, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) released the third annual
report on mortality among people experiencing homelessness (PEH) in LA County. This new report compares
deaths among PEH during the 12-month period preceding the first reported PEH COVID-19 death in the county
(April 1st, 2019-March 31st, 2020) and the 12-month pandemic period that followed (April 1st, 2020-March
31st, 2021). The overall number of deaths among PEH increased by 56%, from 1,271 to 1,988 deaths, between
the two 12-month periods. During the post-pandemic onset period there were 179 COVID-19 deaths among PEH,
accounting for 25% of the observed increase. Excluding these deaths, the number of deaths among PEH still
increased by 43%.
Drug overdose (OD) remained the leading cause of death among PEH during both years, and OD deaths increased
by 78% from the pre- to post-pandemic onset year. Coronary heart disease was the second leading cause of
death in both years and increased by 29% between the two years. COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death
among PEH in the post-pandemic onset year and these deaths were much more likely to occur among those under
age 65 than deaths for this age group in the general population. Traffic injury and homicide were the fourth
and fifth leading causes of death in the post-pandemic onset year; deaths from these causes increased by
one-third and one-half, respectively.
The County’s plan for preventing future homeless deaths includes:
Expanding and improving field-based, harm reduction-oriented substance use disorder treatment services, with an explicit focus on reach Latinx and Black PEH;
Increasing distribution of naloxone to PEH in street settings and shelter/interim housing settings, and PEH exiting jails and prisons;
Expanding and enhancing county-contracted Substance Use Disorder provider utilization of the Homeless Management Information System to improve coordination of care and housing-focused case management for PEH with SUDs;
Increasing investments in Recovery Bridge Housing to ensure PEH, including those exiting jails and prisons, receive outpatient SUD treatment services and permanent housing placements;
Implementing infectious disease protocols in shelters, encampments, and other congregate settings where PEH live;
Further investigation of PEH homicide and traffic injury deaths.
By the end of January 2023, our county completed the annual Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, which includes the Unsheltered Count,
Youth Count, and Housing Inventory Count of people living in supportive housing. When the count results are fully
tabulated,
expected in late spring or early summer 2023, we will know the full dimensions of the current challenge. But we won’t know how many of these people
by then didn’t survive our dangerous streets and hostile neighbors and other hazards and threats until sometime
next year. The annual reports are great for analysis and statistical trends, but they won’t tell you what happened to your
missing family member or the number of deaths on your street.
We know from recent trends (2022) that nearly 40 homeless folks die in our L A streets every week on average. But we don’t know
how many died yesterday, last week or last month. How many unlucky people were swept up by our rivers with the unprecedented
deluges, or died from exposure? We won’t know exactly where the bodies were found. Were they in your neighborhood? How did they
die? Why were they homeless? Were they alone or with a family?
Wouldn’t it be great to get a homeless mortality report for the month of January 2023 and every
subsequent month? Which streets have the highest mortality rates per homeless person in a given season? How
about a weekly list with actual names, location of death, cause of death and photos?
We have also found that much of the data we see in annual homeless mortality reports are derived from death certificates. Problem
is, death certificates do not include a category item that identifies housing status or homeless. The Medical Examiner Coroner
for Los Angeles also fails to report homeless status in Annual Reports and Stats.
To deal with data blind spots, in this investigation we’re going to dig a little deeper into our data sources and try to design
a more complete array of data elements to better understand postmortem revelations on factors that may have contributed to possibly
a preventable demise for each case, or a shorter lifespan than otherwise expected. Although we can’t undo the death, we can only
hope that more thorough and timely reporting may help to prevent more suffering and unhealthy conditions for indigent folks in our
town.
As a bonus, we also conjure up some creative ideas on how to use machine learning to identify new tent dwellings every week
and mitigate increasing chronic homelessness. How about an algorithm to find prime locations for your vending cart? We also touch
upon predictive analytics that focus on healthcare challenges, such as predicting suicide risk for patients, for example.
Just in California, recently reported by LA Times:
An estimated 417,000 students lack stable places to
sleep, according to surveys conducted across the three systems, representing about 5% of
undergraduates at the University of California, 10% at California State University and 20% at
California Community Colleges.
Help homeless students with the Affirmative Support Act! (PDF)
Let’s all hold hands and take a deep breath in reviewing this investigation of ways to improve
college graduation rates, programs to provide tutoring and guidance in high school and college,
special campus housing support, and ways to attract and select more low income students in a
fair and proper manner without violating any constitutional rulings or unfairly excluding those
who may not have been originally identified as one who needs these supportive services, as
long as we have the capacity to help. We also propose a new Affirmative Support Act to provide
matching federal funds for much of this important work and important campus housing
projects.
Power to the Homeless People!
may not only help the people sheltered by tents, but may also reduce the number of
accidental fires caused by cooking in the wild and other unprotected spaces. According
to Capt. Patrick Leonard
of the Los Angeles Fire Department, in Los Angeles there were 2,500 fires involving the
homeless community throughout Los Angeles in 2018, double the number the city saw in 2017,
and the trend is increasing as 2019 tallies show. The numbers include arson as well as
accidental fires caused by people cooking or warming themselves. Some of these fires are
arson attacks against homeless people with incendiaries or explosives. We also know that
campfires in general have caused 3.8% of California wildfires in recent years, as charted
here.
If there’s some way to carefully provide and distribute electric power available to certain
encampment areas, this power may provide a safer way for the homeless to cook or warm
themselves. In Berkeley, there are several camp locations who have used donated
solar panels
to provide power for charging batteries for cell phones, but the solar panels do not
provide enough amps for cooking or heating. Of course, homeless encampments also need
sanitation, potable water, etc. A few propane stoves to share, would be very helpful, as well.
The constitutional Right to Life today may be elaborated to include the right to cell phone
connectivity and power for batteries, or Connectivity Power. Many desperate disconnected souls
also resort to stealing power in the streets from outlets intended for patrons or other
purposes. Are these disconnected folks new plaintiffs for the Right to Life and Light?
See common hacker solutions in this video.
The existential light. Like the inventiion of controlled fire in the prehistoric communal cave
that sustained the lives of our ancestors for millions of years, as we evolved.
There was a time when all land, mountains, water, seas, rivers and the earth beneath belonged to all
people, and all animals, as well.
Don’t know if the
first Fire Shaman ever charged the tribe for his services. Mysterious fire magic. An evolving
science. But the skill was shared and passed on to all descendants. We evolved with fire. We
cannot survive without it or some type of power for heating and light. Our nutrition was enriched
by the facility to cook foods that were otherwise inedible or less digestible. Big brains require
digesting a lot of calories from enriched proteins available from animal prey.
Things got more complicated when powerful groups began to claim land and water rights. Paying for
water is like parceling the air you breathe. Next we may have to buy breatheable air by the tank,
thanks to all the contamination caused by industrial power suppliers.
For kings and corporations
to claim land is to steal land from the original commonwealth of people.
And let’s not ignore the
corrupt oligarchies complicit with capitalists’ interests. Money wins, people lose. The face of
money is well protected and hides in intricate webs, but always smells the same. The smell of
excrement in the streets. Doling out water from the pipe
owners on land stolen from the people.
A house without power is like a cave with no fire. Not sustainable, whether in the tundra or
tropics or any other occupied places, where fires are essential for cooking and baking
traditional foods and preparing staples like rice, wheat and corn or
cassava bread in Equador’s Amazon jungle.
When nature was the master merchant of life, all
struggles were meritorious, win, lose or share. The bank-owned marketplace today cleverly favors
the game of wealth accumulation for chosen patrons, playing with house money.
Now with climate change, we know that temperatures will extend to extremes in both directions.
Caused mostly by the same entities who stole our water rights and mineral rights. We dig the coal to
feed our families. We dig the coal to bury our bodies. Just calories in and calories out, human
blood and sweat in and a lump of coal out, regurgitated by the earth’s bowels. And, of course, a few
dollars per calorie to shareholders, plus a lot of bloody bucks to few fat cats who pull the strings.
The sacred cow of capitalism. More snow and ice in the winter. More heat and wildfires in the summer.
Life threatening extremes, just numbers to read about for those protected by ivory towers in Beverly
Hills, Monaco or Miami Beach.
Indigenous peoples in recent decades have been
struggling
to retrieve or maintain title or use of lands
and natural resources overtaken or threatened by sovereign colonial regimes, based on the
common law doctrine
that the land rights of indigenous peoples to customary tenure persist after the assumption of
sovereignty under settler colonialism. Unfortunately, the courts for settlement are housed in the
ministry of the same governments that have already overtaken and often exploited the land and natural
resources in an unsustainable manner. Even when agreements or new treaties are established,
enforcement is too often lacking,
frequently due to corruption.
The Global Tribe of Planet 3 has yet to find it’s voice to defend against insidious invaders from
within. This tribe includes displaced natives, like those pushed off agricultural fields and open
mines, and refugees from so many rulers of repute: The masses currently confined to the cultural
incubator of nameless urbanity and trying to build a new way of life, and claim, perhaps in secret,
a new, more positive identity.
¡Si Se Puede!
One planet, one sky, one earth, one ocean, one tribe. We are all and each responsible as tenants
and landlords of the spaces we inhabit and manage, including the disposition of our products and
waste.
Ultimately, it is self-evident and necessary that the world commonwealth of natural resources is endowed
with the inalienable right to claim a lien on any and all natural resources, including, but not limited to,
land, air, wind, sunlight, water, minerals, gases, plants and living organisms (except human beings) under
control by any person, tribe, organization, business, corporation or government, which lien may be exercised
as necessary for the sake of the sustainable reconciliation of existential resources.
Thus we so proclaim and witness hereby for all to acknowledge, recognize or refute.
An international and interplanetary conservation trust of natural resources should be established to adjudicate
claims and complaints regarding natural resource monopoly, restriction, impairment of access through any space,
misuse, destruction, pollution, contamination, ecological insult or abuse and to mandate corrections as needed.
As a supra-governmental institution this trust will not be dependent on the official endorsement, approval or
financial support of any government or other polity. The constituents are the public at large within the globe
and solar system or beyond. That is, if we, as a people, survive long enough to increase our horizons to the
galactic perspective, which is questionable at this time. Nor does this proposal demand such ambitions beyond
the protection of our dear Planet 3, the ground we walk on, the earth that feeds us and shelters us, the water
we drink, the air we breathe, or try to breathe.
This authority may also
be applied to judge whether any new specific planned or pending claims for natural resources on this and other
planets, moons or interstellar objects are prudent and sustainable, when it is alleged that such claims may
potentially yield unsustainable consequences in the local, international or interplanetary scheme. Mining
our moon and Mars for water is already in discussion by
NASA.
The International Interplanetary Commonwealth Conservation Trust of Natural Resources (IICCTNR)
authority, as proposed, will supersede and override existing or historical claims, mineral rights,
water rights, fishing rights, logging rights, titles or deeds, etc., held or granted by kings,
corporations, local residents and any
governments, although all such claims will be evaluated with due regard and due process accorded.
The most sustainable common good reconciliation as adjudicated will prevail and, if necessary, will
be enforced by economic sanctions and the redistribution of resources accordingly. A means for
mediation or arbitration may also be provided between claimants and defendants when acceptable to
all parties. When necessary, eminent domain will be exercised to take, or control the use of, vital
resources for the public benefit.
The IICCTNR will also provide incentives for responsible stewards
of natural resources by recommending investment funds or low rate loans through the International
Monetary Fund, World Bank, private investors and philanthropists. Existing treaties for the
conservation of protected wildlife species, such as CITES,
will serve as a model for international cooperation and will be relied upon for the solution of
ecological issues within their purview. The World Trade Organization
(WTO) will also help to bring
many conflicting parties together for cooperative negotiations and arbitration.
The United Nations Convention on Climate Change
is another example of organized international cooperation. Unfortunately, this convention is a clear demonstration of the
failure of leadership and goodwill versus corruption and the conflicting common interest of profit and unsustainable exploitation of
natural resources by and within member states (as recently demonstrated by the whimsical withdrawal of the United States of
America from the
Paris Agreement).
To benefit by such well-intended conventions and treaties, as well as the pertinent research, findings and
conclusions therefrom, the Conservation Trust may serve as an enforcement
arm of such conventions as necessary in response to existential threats.
When it comes to climate change and
corporate greed, as well as thousands of unsheltered people trying to survive in our urban streets, enough is
enough! Let this Conservation Trust provide a more civil alternative to bloody revolts in the streets already
evident in many parts of the world by people demanding environmental justice and access to vital natural
resources.
Ironically, the United States of America, a group of colonies at the time who declared their independence as a
protest to the colonial intrusions of Great Britain, did much the same intrusions, land grabbing and oppression
to Native Americans. Talking about apartheid? What can you expect from a culture who imported slaves from Africa
and included slave workers in the construction of the White House? People were a commodity, except in the wording of
the constitution. The wording that is still struggling to become a reality to this day.
Treaties only work when they can be enforced, and it’s obvious
that many of the treaties may have been negotiated under prejudicial circumstances with little or no recourse.
Sadly, many treaties with native tribes were dishonored over the years, largely due to increasing numbers of
invasive settlers (Manifest destiny?).
In addition to the abuse of the human commodity, the Manifest destiny
also targeted the commodities of natural resources once valued and protected in futility by Native Americans.
The enforcement of judgements under the proposed commonwealth conservatory will in some
cases rely upon existing treaties, but would ultimately be better served by establishing the primal authority
of common law for the best interests of the greatest numbers of interested parties and stakeholder populations,
treaties or no.
Although international law, conventions and treaties may be involved, this commonwealth authority will be devoted
to representing the interests and claims by an open scope of plaintiffs including any person, entity or group of
people, whether they be organized or
defined as a tribe, state, party, corporation, clan, religious group, atheists, political group, refugees in flight,
convicts, queers, age cohorts and so on, so long as their claims and complaints are based on the deprivation or
unequal distribution or the pollution and misuses of existential natural or environmental resources. Likewise,
the defendants may be defined as any other group or entity within the same governmental state or beyond: corporation
vs. corporation, tribe vs. tribe, tribe vs. corporation, corporation vs. government, seniors vs. health insurance
company, low-income folks vs. utility company, unhoused people vs. city, county or state, wildfire victims vs. land
developer, children vs. oil company, etc. Any person, group or entity vs. any other person, group or entity
anywhere, regardless of citizenship or voting rights.
Environmental and natural resource justice for all!
Since all state governments have borders and natural resources within such borders, history has
shown that each will be inclined to protect such borders and promote the exploitation of its internal natural
resources and related industries for profit even in some cases at the expense and injury to people and ecologies
in other countries or those within its own borders.
Court fees may be applicable especially since this is not a state-supported governmental service, nor will any
criminal nor penitential judgements be adjudicated. A civil court for civil remedies. No rioting, civil war nor
violence needed. No military enforcement branch or police needed for this civil court other than internal
court security. This authority is intentionally and necessarily completely independent of any government body or
polity for support, sanction, military protection or policy approval. Supporting conventions are welcomed but
not required, due to anticipated conflicts of interest with state members from time to time. As a politically
independent court, less international tensions will hopefully result as cases get resolved. Since so many wars,
conflicts and international tensions have over the years resulted from disputes and skirmishing over valuable
natural resources, this avenue for resolution may hopefully create a new aura in anticipation of peace in our
small world.
Although state governments are absolutely beneficial and necessary, they should not have the final say on the use
or abuse of natural resources that are existential to the world commonwealth. Nor should any global corporation or
industrial group be allowed to threaten any of our our planet’s populations’ food security or equitable distribution
of vital resources, or to contribute to the pollution, waste or misuse of any such resources such as the water we
drink or the air we breathe without accountability to the commonwealth of all people.
It is, after all, a small world, Planet 3. Borders well defined. Water plentiful but finite, much like the oxygen
in our atmosphere, or the carbon that we eat and then expel as waste. All measurable. The odometer on your vehicle may be falsified,
but the polluting emissions will never completely disappear without effect and are incrementally added to your
personal carbon footprint. Science now has the tools to precisely measure all we emit in the air and flush into our
seas. Let’s use these data to fortify not only that within our political borders but also our worldwide agronomy and
respiratory health. Accountability that is accurate and comprehensive with regards to the use of natural resources
would better underwrite the policies beyond borders and potentially may benefit all people and stakeholders.
This will enablewith less dependance on political consultants, trade representatives, foreign agents or professional
lobbyists that may contribute to unconscionable corruption. Even wealthy executives need clean air to breathe, and
most also have families to protect.
Much like national parks and conservation areas that were commissioned to protect specific natural resources within
geographic areas, the world commonwealth trust will go a step further to recognize that many vital resources
must be protected for the benefit of all, beyond any borders or claims of ownership, domains or mineral rights.
These include many natural resources such as the air we breathe, the water we drink, as well as the seas that nurture vital
nutrients, and incubate food and oxygen-producing organisms, and many more.
And if anyone ever mines water from the moon or Mars, who will sell it to whom? To whom does it
belong, in the first place? Should any one government, covenant or corporation independently make such choices? Do
not the taxpayers and native populations ultimately have an interest in all such goods, the stakeholders of all
planetary resources whether discovered and looted by some in the past or yet to be?
Who owns the sun and its plenitude of energy? I do. You do. We all do, whether you worship it or not.
Better yet, just use a solar panel to harness the energy, easier on the knees and much cleaner and healthier
than burning coal, oil or other carbon-based fuels. Don’t tax my sunlight! Don’t block my sunlight!
Who owns the Artic and Antarctic regions of our planet that help to balance the climates that we have always
depended on? The tropical forests also contain resources and produce elements and biota which are existential
to every living being on the planet, including people thriving in regions of the tundra. What is precious to
some, may be existential to others. All must have a voice to at least claim protection and relief from loss,
if not a fair redistribution or correction of damages to vital resources.
A small planet. The recent pandemic is a lesson on how small a planet this is, and how quickly the world
population may be threatened, requiring a world-wide coordinated effort to fight the novel virus. If we don’t
learn to cooperate and share the new vaccines with the entire world population, the novel virus will be
unstoppable. Some rare elements or biota in the tropics may also be existential to our survival in the future
with the ongoing threat of new pandemics, as predicted. We tend to think of evolution as a multi-generational
process. But now we are reminded that even one small random mutation can spread billions of novel viruses
globally in the blink of an eye. Sharing resources, sharing knowledge and trying not to share certain
viruses, our challenge for this millennium.
An orderly process for the divestment of carbon emitting resources in balance with claims and complaints is one that
will protect related markets from calamitous collapse and untimely impositions. Related industries, banks and
corporations should step up and take a supportive role in the establishment of the IICCTNR for their own best interests.
Only a completely apolitical institution devoted to the protection of vital natural resources and their use
in an appropriate and sustainable manner at the scope of our solar system can be capable of moving beyond
the global chaotic state we see today.
Due to the competitive nature of nation states on this planet, much like the tribal origins of all human society,
no government nor group of governments, can reliably assume such an objective and pure perspective. The same chronic
selfishness and competition, of course, also applies to corporations and businesses at all levels.
An element of bigotry or racism may also creep into politics from time to time, along with tribalism and xenophobia,
which tends to tilt the scale of environmental justice to favor the majority or those with strong capital interests.
This partiality occurs in both democratic and autocratic governments, even when constitutions so prohibit. How
do people vote for food or water or sustainable fuel to cook their food?
The ever-expanding populations of human and animal consumers in various parts of the world, and the total global
population cipher also apply additional pressure for better coordination and management of critical resources,
regardless of proprietary claims and insults of greed. Even if all is managed fairly and efficiently, there may
come a time when certain resources globally are insufficient to meet existential needs.
Climate change also poses additional challenges in various regions. To adapt, some crops may do better by
migrating to more favorable ecologies. Another challenge for claims of natural resources. State and national
borders as well as property lines will be irrelevant when treasured green valleys can no longer produce the
crops that sustained their farms in the past. Extreme pandemics like COVID-19 can also upset the cart for
various crops like processed meats, a major source for protein, perhaps now unsustainable, if only temporarily.
Food insecurity, for example, will occur in some areas before others. We have already seen migrations of people
severely deprived in various regions. National governments cannot necessarily feed their populations adequately,
nor can they prevent their populations from seeking greener pastures. The politics of most governments are
unfortunately very shortsighted.
To mitigate the subsequent damages to many sectors of society, there are fortunately a number of responsible businesses
and political groups here and there who have voluntarily adopted green policies and assumed advocacy for sustainable
practices. These include members of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development
(WBCSD) and IMAGINE,
for example. Although this is very helpful, when looking at the catastrophic damages from hurricanes and wildfires,
the short sighted practices of industrial greed, especially in the energy sector, seem to overlap
green with chaotic results, leaving green in the dust and ashes. From fossil fuels to charcoaled forests and murky,
toxic skies. It only takes a small rupture in the hull to
sink an entire ship. Thus, we need the jurisprudence of an objective third party, the IICCTNR, to keep the boat afloat.
Planet 3 is listing. When it comes to climate change, timing is everything! Let’s fix it now!
There are also a few groups of advocates, scientists and experts in critical fields that are organized as non-profit
groups and devoted to posing solutions for ecological crises, resource inequities and climate change, such as the
Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS)
and the U.S. Climate Action Network (USCAN)
-- the largest network of nonprofit organizations in the United States working to address climate change. These groups
and other similar interests together with corporate industrial and development groups will hopefully lock arms and
organize the framework to embody the proposed IICCTNR. Consumers and providers must work together for the common
interest of the equitable distribution of existential resources.
When people die, they consume only a small space
of dusty earth, if even that. Nor do they pay rent, buy food or consume internet bandwidth from their final resting
place (RIP). Death is costly, even to big killers like weapon-producing countries. Without healthy taxpayers, the
military budget and the entire economy will wilt. Obviously, healthy people are also more productive and essential
to the workforce of both small and large business entities. Even robots need to be maintained and supported, much
like human workers. Simple logistics. Corporate board members be alerted.
What we see now is just the beginning.
How many lives are lost when people without power try to innovate to keep warm?
The unpowered housed. Let there be light, but only for the privileged? What does
it really take to protect your right to life for those in the streets and the
unpowered housed?
Some are fortunate enough to be able to maintain a vehicle for minimal shelter while trying to work
and take care of a family.
Without a significant income that is beyond reach for thousands of
Americans, you join the lot of economic outcasts.
In the streets and riverbeds you meld with the
ranks of the untouchables, such as the mentally ill, ex-offenders, illegal aliens, youngsters
seeking asylum from their own families, gangsters, drug addicts and so many chronically unemployed.
A few steps from a warm hearth to the cold street. A formidable mountain climb to reclaim your
former doorstep. A place among the socially embraced.
Right to Life and Light - The Big Tent - Existential Essentials Today --
10 L’s of Love and Uplifting for Outcast Survival in the Urban Jungle ...
Light for Connectivity Power and utilities including sanitation, water for
cooking, heating, cooling and basic safety
Land access to pitch a tent, build a house or grow essential nutrients, and at least a
small place to sell whatever goods or services we can
produce or acquire through barter
Layers of garments to protect your body from the wind, rain, sun and cold
Literature and libraries to learn and study in a safe place
Legal aid to demand justice and accountability from other people and institutions who have
mistreated you or violated your rights actively or by neglect
Legislators and judges who care more about people and their rights ahead of profits for
land developers
Laws to require minimal shelter and emergency care in a timely manner for all
who fall on hard times – the big tent, or tents for special populations, if no other shelter
is immediately available
Long term policies, such as zoning to provide more affordable and very affordable housing
Low cost or no cost medical care for all, including mental health care and substance abuse
treatment, as well as long term elder care.
Love, smiles, compassion, respect, family, food -- Give first, then vote, then pray –
Shall the blessed embrace the least among us ... including the charitable support advocated by
nearly all religious and humanist faithful believers.
In December, 2019, the
U.S. Supreme Court
refused to consider whether state and local governments can make
it a crime for homeless people to sleep outside. Thus, the 9th Circuit Court decision will stand for
now which allows folks to occupy public land when shelter beds or housing are not available. To further
protect the rights of homeless people, several states have passed legislation to define a
Homeless Bill of Rights.
While the wording and objectives of proposed bills vary from state to state, most
proposed legislation seeks to protect these central rights for all unhoused individuals:
Homeless Bill of Rights
The right to use public spaces without fear of discrimination of harassment by law enforcement
The right to vote
The right to non-obstructively seek shelter, social services, legal aid, and education
Permanently end the unhoused crisis by 2025 by drastically increasing the affordable housing stock, providing
universal housing vouchers, and bolstering funding to federal housing programs, shelters, transitional and
permanent housing programs, social services, and housing advocates;
Calls on the Department of Health and Human Services to declare the unhoused crisis a public health emergency;
Protect unhoused individuals from the violation of their fundamental civil and human rights to housing, health
care, livable wages, education, employment opportunities, access to public facilities, and freedom from harassment
by law enforcement, private businesses, property owners, and housed residents;
Supports historic federal fundinglevels for state and local governments to provide 24-hour support for unhoused
people, including: shelters, transitional housing programs, supportive services, public restrooms, hand-washing
stations, showers, laundry facilities, and water fountains in coordination with grassroots and community-led
organizations;
Develop holistic, health-based, and non-carceral solutions to the unhoused crisis in coordination with the
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), community-led organizations, and unhoused advocates from a health-based
approach that addresses both the unhoused and public health crises.
A pending California Senate Bill 608 introduced by Liu –
Right to Rest Act
- would provide specific rights as follows:
The right to use and to move freely in public spaces, without discrimination and without time limitations that discriminate based upon housing status.
The right to rest in public spaces and to protect oneself from the elements, in a nonobstructive manner.
The right to eat, share, accept, or give food in any public space in which having food is not otherwise generally prohibited.
The right to pray, meditate, worship, or practice religion in public spaces, without discrimination based upon housing status.
The right to occupy a motor vehicle or a recreational vehicle, provided that the vehicle is legally parked on public property or parked on private property with permission of the property owner.
Protected against segregation, laws targeting homeless people for their lack of housing and not their behavior, and restrictions on the use of public space.
Granted privacy and property protections.
Allowed the opportunity to vote and feel safe in their community without fear or harassment.
Provided broad access to shelter, social services, legal counsel and quality education for the children of homeless families.
For the housed and the homeless, we need skilled medical providers and the technology now advancing
beyond the science fiction of yore. Whether or not we need the insurance companies to compete with
shamans for existential care is more of a political boxing match than a test of our constitutional
and human right to life. Nothing is more fair than a free service to all consumers at the time of need.
And for the homeless what we also need are a few big tents in safe areas here and there with adequate security,
sanitation and utilities.
Emergency provisions for our own domestic economic refugees. Think Red Cross. Special care may be needed for those
with special medical needs, drug addiction and vulnerable populations. Make sure there’s access for food trucks,
as well.
It's more of a question of logistics and management, than a question of what is needed. Since our
military are experts in providing support, mobility and emergency services for thousands of troops in all
terrains throughout the world, this challenge should be well within our means.
A state of emergency should be declared, and FEMA should be directed to garner the needed resources and provide
immediate care in centralized areas.
Imagine a scene of 50,000 unhoused people marching down to Pershing
Square in Los Angeles in protest to the lack of affordable housing and shelter!
Along some rivers where it’s safe, we can fix some benches with canopies that can also serve as an
overnight stop much like a nice
shaded park bench
. Within the canopy and bench structure, we can integrate a perforated metal screen to help interrupt the flow of
embers during a fire storm. If we outfit the canopy with solar panels we should have ample power for a little LED light and a
couple of cell phone chargers. This should be mainly for recreational hikers or bikers and others who would rather
not stay in available shelters. Sanitation should be available along the way, as well.
The Arc of Safety - Shelter ER is a shelter emergency resource or triage where conditions of exposure or nutritional
deprivation are diagnosed. First aid for any medical problems are addressed by EMTs and possibly referred to a hospital
ER, if needed. Some people may simply be overexposed and in need of a blanket, a bowl of soup, and a safe place to sleep
and recover for the night. People who need to flee from life-threatening situations need emergency shelter. Only
non-congregate private rooms, cabins or camp sites will be offered in the AoS system of facilities. The AoS will
physically and safely connect vital members of the Continuum of Care (CoC) with unhoused clients as a hub on the
frontlines of poverty and homelessness in a comfortable setting.
No person should be deprived of a safe non-congregate shelter for more than 24 hours, regardless of their
situation or status in society. Overnight crowded shelters not acceptable!
Make that a golden rule. We love; therefore we safely shelter all in need. Civilization basics. Who we are.
If you need a law, call it the Law of Love and Human Dignity. If you need an ideology, call it the Reconstruction Reformation where all
people matter. All matter and all institutions belong to the people. Why? Because WE the people so declare!
What is a shelter emergency? Some examples:
It's a shelter emergency when your significant other is likely to kill you or harm your children.
It's a shelter emergency when your parents abuse you and threaten your safety, or kick you
out of your home.
It’s a shelter emergency when you are a foster child reaching the age of 18 with no job and no
alternative home.
It’s a shelter emergency when you have been forced into prostitution and you have been
threatened if you try to escape your bondage.
It’s a shelter emergency when you test positive to COVID-19 and wish to protect your family at
home by finding separate temporary shelter.
It’s a shelter emergency when people in your crowded family home are sick with COVID-19 and
you are at great risk of being infected with no safe place to protect yourself.
It’s a shelter emergency when you feel very ill, have difficulty breathing, and are struggling in
unsanctioned encampments.
It’s a shelter emergency when the sheriff knocks on your door to evict you.
It’s a shelter emergency when the city posts a sign to clear your tent from public streets.
It’s a shelter emergency when the only shelter available is an overnight dorm full of smelly
people and infested with unsanitary conditions.
It’s a shelter emergency when your tent is cold, uncomfortable and located near unhealthy
and dangerous people.
It’s a shelter emergency when you have skin cancer tumors on your face and you are
struggling with the streets and tents.
It’s a shelter emergency when gang members in your community or your school are
threatening you and you have no safe place to move away.
It’s a shelter emergency when you are a gang member who wishes to turn a new leaf away
from gangs and unlawful behavior.
It’s a shelter emergency when your own home is too cold or too hot due to the weather and
you do not have sufficient resources for safe heating or cooling.
It’s a shelter emergency when a fire or flood destroys your house or makes it unsafe and you
need a safe place to stay during the recovery period.
It’s a shelter emergency when your vital house utilities are disabled and you need a safer place
to live.
It’s a shelter emergency when you’re injecting yourself with dirty needles and dangerous
opioids and your family is unable or unwilling to help.
It’s a shelter emergency when you are old, unemployed and nobody loves you.
It’s a shelter emergency when you have forgotten where you live or lost your keys.
It’s a shelter emergency when you are depressed and just need to get away from everything
and everyone. Reset.
America has invested in public parks in the federal, state, county and local city domains. Some parks and natural conservation
areas are devoted to preserving and protecting native flora and fauna, and our favorite migrating birds. We also love our parks
for recreation and sports. None seem to place a priority on preserving misplaced humans of the homo sapiens type. Perhaps we
are not considered a native species, even though there are also many Native Americans in homeless shelters, as well. In their
day, Natives didn’t need to own land, or water or trees. They just pitched a teepee tent wherever appropriate. And they
protected all natural resources for the benefit of the commonwealth. Sustainable for all. Sharing vs. greed.
We don’t expect bald eagles to pay for rent, nor the wild mustangs to pay for their foraging lands. When we rescue seals and
whales, we are proud to contribute to their care, no ID required. But maybe we figure that since our species is abundant in
overpopulated areas, no need to pitch a little tent and shelter with amenities and sanitation for unhoused folks.
We all know of unauthorized public park homeless settlements that have been dispersed every year or so in all parts of the
country. Kicking them out of one park, only pushes most of them to another park or neighborhood, or beach or watershed, and
some to the morgue. People can’t fly like the migrating birds.
A better solution would be to provide a percentage of all public park acreage to supporting unhoused
shelter spaces with sanitation, amenities and security.
Each jurisdiction can find practical solutions for space in designated areas and security to protect humans and the ecology
equally. Good management can also help to prevent wildfires that are often caused by careless people trying to cook their
meals or keep themselves warm. Providing a common cooking area with safely fueled stoves may be an essential resource. A
campground devoted particularly to helping unhoused people just survive until the current storm passes.
They’re going to be there anyway, so why not make it safer and healthier for them and everyone else?
Especially during a pandemic, this one or the next one. A safe buffer zone to intercept radical
migrations from any and all directions.
NIMB (Not In My Backyard) is only natural, but the same people who complain are mostly supportive of some type
of practical solution in care of the homeless. While more available housing is awaiting, what’s practical
may be more care and services to manage those areas designated for homeless campgrounds. Keep people safe,
keep the ecology safe, and diligently manage the designated areas for capacity, sanitation and compliance with
necessary standards. Not every park will be blessed with a designated homeless campground. Perhaps some new
parks will be devoted to exclusive encampments with all the services and safeguards required. It will be
rational to include designated homeless campgrounds near urban centers where important resources are located.
With accessible transportation, some remote areas may be capable of providing more available acreage.
The goal of establishing a certain percentage of park acreage to homeless encampments in each jurisdiction is
to formally and heartfully acknowledge that the homeless own a part of our parks, just like everyone else.
Let’s hope we also seriously examine what the standards for homeless encampments should include regarding
safety, sanitation, capacity per acre, social services, amenities and so forth. Yes, it will be costly.
But so is the cleanup and neighborhood degradation when necessary services or standards are neither defined
nor managed.
To determine what logic to set as a percentage of park acreage for this purpose, let’s start
with the obvious metrics of homeless encampments or isolated shelters currently scattered in our parks or
on public pavements. Let’s be real.
Due to housing evictions, loss of income from illness or family disruption, abuse by caregivers or parents, lots
of people just need emergent housing or a place to camp out. Some women may need a fire escape to flee a violent
partner. Some of us may just need a safe place to unwind from the torments of life in our current environment.
Recently it was reported that as many as 20% of community college students and 5% of University of California
students are experiencing homelessness in California according to the
Daily Bruin.
A few orange trees, apple trees or
avocado trees would be useful for foraging, as well, for all species in the area, based on the local climate and ecology.
In addition to a few edibles on trees, or possibly some fishing opportunities for proteins, just walking around the park to
enjoy the trees, birds and natural environment will help to nurture the soul of misplaced people, if not threatened by
eviction or unkind policing.
Why is it we invite hikers to camp along remote trails, but not in urban parks? Parks equity is one thing.
Holistic access is another existential dimension. Have you ever tried to sleep on the pavement?
Maybe these campers can also help to feed our favored migrating birds that are suffering from climate change along with the
people? Campers may be expected to help with park maintenance and other chores around the campgrounds. The work may be
organized into small crews to help build a sense of community. Recreational activities and tours may also be encouraged.
Possibly, some experience and training in the park may lead to gainful work opportunities down the line.
First shelter, then work out better housing solutions and employment, if needed. Some of the campers may already be in
school or training for employment. Many of us find it difficult to even believe that such huge numbers of
unsheltered people exist. Believe also that they are part of your family, our family. If we can protect bears, mountain
lions, wolves and coyotes who live in or near our dwellings and farms, we should be able to protect a few misplaced humans,
as well.
Let’s make our public parks sustainable for all creatures, plants and humans and make them accessible, as well. For remote
areas, some type of public transportation should also be provided for needed trips to the store or to access medical care
and social services when needed. In addition to park rangers with frequent patrols, each camp area should also have a
panic button station with a phone to connect with 911 emergency phone services. The surrounding neighborhoods would feel safer
if fire extinguishers were also distributed around each camp. A public charging station for phones would also be a necessity,
possibly powered by solar energy. Can we plug in adequate Wi-Fi connections, as well, to help keep us all connected?
Obviously, we don’t need our rangers to enforce drug abuse problems. A special patrol of social workers and health
service providers would be more appropriately assigned to provide
care to these special camp dwellers. We need a special troop of social service rangers, not police. Help without
correction is more sustainable in the long run.
When a person feels safe and connected, he or she is less likely to be a threat to
anyone else. More likely to join a caring community. Treating people like enemies may
actually create new enemies and more hostility. Hospitality vs. hostility.
Hospitality and care may be safer for all.
Casting people out to the unprotected streets is inhumane. We know
that. Let’s embrace all people who find themselves stumbling on our pavements, alleys, parks and watersheds. That’s not
a good way to die. Our parks are uniquely endowed with the potential capacity to provide a doorstep to managed emergency
housing services. Not the only doorstep, but one with several strategic resources and the capacity for thoughtful
management.
Is land development and profiteering more important than human development and sustainability? Can we find a better
balance? The only walls that may block holistic accessibility to natural spaces are not in the wild but may reside in a
few closed hearts.
Looking for a golden gate with no tolls or trolls. And a few smiles. Strangers welcomed.
You may want to join one of the groups of ‘homeless shelter activists’ in your area by searching these keywords. In Los
Angeles there is at least one City Councilmemeber, Mike Bonin, who supports
designated homeless campgrounds but only in
certain parks and other public lands as a temporary emergency solution. You may wish to
Send Feedback contact Mike Bonin
if you’re interested in his ideas or wish to support or oppose some of the projects he advocates. Your choices:
Allow people to continue to camp in parks, sidewalks, beaches, watersheds and anywhere they can pitch a tent due to inadequate housing
and emergency spaces, often in inhumane conditions, or
Designate appropriate and adequate spaces for temporary camping shelter in parks or other public grounds with adequate safety,
sanitation and management to sustain the integrity of the neighborhood
and surrounding ecology, until we can provide sufficient emergency or extended housing in a sustainable manner.
Every tent takes space. Every safe tent, even more space and infrastructure. The people out there are not trying to make a political
statement. They are just looking for a place to sleep, to weather the storm. Yes, they also need to breathe and eat, etc. Let’s not
politicize hunger and chilled bones.
A pilot program in East Hollywood may cost as much as $2,663 per person per month, according to a report by the City Administrative Officer
and noted in an informative story on KCRW.com.
This includes an outdoor food pantry and a shower stall. The parking lot-turned-campground can accommodate as many as 120 people at a time
in 12-foot by 12-foot squares, marked by white lines painted on the asphalt. Is this the cost of safe tent space? Safe for campers, safe
for the community, safe for the environment and ecology?
Costs like these are also underwritten by the City of San Francisco for a similar homeless encampment in the civic center, both
administered with the help of Urban Alchemy which San Francisco installation they call the
Safe Sleeping Village. Yes, California has more homeless people
than
any other state
, but it also has more people overall and more resources to apply to solving this unhealthy problem, including the wit
and determination of their unhoused folks. Human resources that should be protected and put to work ASAP!
Let me confess, I used to complain about homeless tents and people close to my favorite public tennis courts in Northeast Los Angeles.
There was also adjacent acreage set aside for a doggie park, which we also enjoyed with family pets, and also a very large Audubon park
just across the way.
Enjoyed hiking there several times. A number of homeless tents were also scattered beneath trees or next to the freeway.
Then I realized if we could set aside designated spaces for dogs and birds and other precious critters donated by nature, why not also
just a little space for people who lost their way? We have also found spaces for large public baseball, football and soccer fields, as
well as swimming pools and track facilities.
Although I haven’t played golf recently, an average 18 - hole golf course with fairways and roughs covers about 150 acres in the U.S.A..
On a national scale, there were a projected 1,408,412 total acres of maintained turf for golf in the U.S. in 2015, including both public
and private facilities,
based on a study by Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
We also earmark playgrounds for kids and hiking trails for adults, as well as equestrian trails and remote campgrounds in our mountains
and seashores. Each space with appropriate safety standards and protective infrastructure and amenities. All paid for and owned by
the people. We also pay the salaries for those who make and enforce the rules to close the doors for the homeless.
Where do people go when the game is over or the library closes? Let’s be real. People need space, too, just to live.
Few years ago, I remember encountering a young man sleeping on a bench near tennis courts where I practiced in the San Fernando Valley.
His tennis bag was next to him. A real ‘tennis bum’, so to speak, who I noted was on the same bench in the early mornings on several
occasions. No tent. Never had a chance to talk with him, but I thought that may someday be my fate, as well. So far, I’m good. But
here in the City of Angels, no backup guarantee even for safe tent space.
Perhaps in hindsight the industrial revolution led to urbanization. Urbanization ultimately to more condensed populations and a
percentage of people with nowhere to go. Can’t keep them on the farms. Can’t go back to the farms. Only a limited number of hearty
soles can work the farms which jobs diminish, year by year. Climate change, no help. Robotics? Social media platforms? People
need jobs. People need space for survival. They come to California and New York for a reason. This pressure for
safe survival space
will only increase in the foreseeable future. Let the historians explain how it happened. But today, if we don’t like seeing
helter-skelter tents where we live and recreate, let’s make some realistic plans, now.
Safe survival space > healing > jobs >
income > shelter > housing. In that order. These needs are not new. Only the numbers increase, year by year, partly due to
increased mobility which also factors in the deadly pandemic. Planning for the next pandemic may also need to include safe survival
space, safe bubbles for unexpected migrants, whether authorized or emergent. Anticipate the threats of global mobility
exacerbated by climate change and disparate resource distribution. Let’s plan to use our resources prudently. This planning is
critical for places like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and similar magnets of wealth and people throughout the globe.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out where these blimps of untethered people are headed. But it may take more than your
average politician to understand the most prudent and humanitarian way to support their needs and employ their talents. Asking,
giving and holistic plus sum sustainable for all. Garden of Eden Equity.
With a little space on a sidewalk or parking space, street vendors provide productive work and
essential snacks and products for many people. Most street vendors provide the main source of
income for their households, bringing food to their families and paying school fees for their
children, as documented by the Informal Economy Monitoring Study
(IEMS).
Good news in January, 2020, is that cities like Los Angeles are now providing official
permits for street vendors
in the city, according to specific safety and health regulations.
Bad news with the advent of the COVID-19 health crisis in Los Angeles and other areas, street
vendors are not allowed, permits or no, at least for now. Unfortunately, the street vendor
community is one with very little backup support. Helpful allies may include
Inclusive Action
in Los Angeles and
the Street Vendor Project in New York.
When the dust settles with the pandemic, we would like to see our community colleges providing training and access
to materials and local goods and food that can be bartered on the street in a safe and economic manner for vendors
and consumers. Consider this training resource an economic boost and safety protocol for most large cities in
America, especially to benefit from the crafty skills and small business successful accomplishments carried by so
many new immigrants. Most newcomers only eager to learn the language and get to work on transplanting their
successful experiences from home.
QR Codes offer a connection for day laborers, musicians, performing artists and mobile people with
fellow workers and performers and with an audience and customers or employers.
At big box hardware stores, people are often seen promoting their skills, trucks and availability to work
for you. The Mariachi Plaza in Los Angeles Boyle Heights is a place to show off your musical talents and
connect with gigs.
On Hollywood and Highland in Hollywood, an informal gathering of performing artists show
off their costumes and artistry to tourists in the crowded sidewalks.
In various parks, beaches and streets you will see a number of artists and musicians performing for tips
or selling paintings and drawings. What’s missing from this scene?
QR Codes to quickly connect potential employers and customers to your talents,
skills and products. For customers, it may be inconvenient to talk with all the people lining up in the
parking lot at the time, but just flash your QR Code and smile for the camera and at least have the chance
for talking with customers at their convenience. Learn how to get your QR Codes for free.
Here is an example of a
Free QR Code
available from our partners. Get more details from our partner mgoldmine.com.
Now you can generate your own free QR Code for Job Searching. If you're
ready to settle down for a more promising career job, look into employment services for a head start.
Looking for a Better Job?
Finding or providing adequate affordable housing is one thing, providing emergency shelter is
another. Los Angeles and San Francisco areas have accumulated tens of thousands of unsheltered
men, women and children. You see them in many public spaces with small tents in streets and
parks. In contrast, New York unhoused are mostly sheltered. Although they have large homeless
numbers like the west coast, they systematically provide emergency shelter in a timely manner.
Let’s start the solution discussion with a needed statewide policy requiring emergency shelter
in every county for all unhoused people in a timely (one day) manner. The Red Cross provides
this type of emergency shelter service on a regular basis, so we know it can be done. The
logistics for masses of unsheltered people would most likely include a number of large tents
with amenities, utilities, sanitation and essential care. Not every unhoused person may like
a large tent solution, but this new policy will not allow them to otherwise hide in the bushes.
People residing near emergency big tents may also feel uncomfortable about the situation. But,
most people do not either like to see unhoused folks in the street and the messy debris and
unhealthy waste left in public spaces.
With the foreboding prospect of a novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic, sanitation in our streets and public spaces becomes an urgent concern for all policy makers.
The costs for emergency shelter will be borne by taxpayers. Most voters will probably be willing
to support this measure not only to help those in desperate need for shelter, but also to eliminate
the unhealthy conditions for those living in the streets and the surrounding communities.
You can give money, materials from your
business or collections, or items that you purchase.
Below the list of Needed Gifts, the Giving Resources will help you distribute
your gifts to the intended recipients. Your local phone book lists many
charities and you can also use the new
Google
"Local"
search tool
for charities in a particular city or ZIP code. Check with
the Giving Resource or charity to make sure that they can accept and distribute
material or in-kind gifts. Even if the item is listed on a wish list, it's
best to communicate with the organization in advance of shipping any donated
materials. Some people need help with
signs to
ask for help
!
Many homeless people need medical supplies to help them survive day by
day. Some have serious illnesses and substance abuse problems and are
in critical need of medical care, medication and treatment for drug
dependencies.
Because they often live in unsanitary conditions,
face masks and
hand sanitizers
will help them avoid spreading contageous respiratory diseases including the ominous
novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Please see video.
If you or your business can contribute medication, this
will be much appreciated. The Sunrise House is one resource dedicated to helping homeless people and others suffering from addiction.
Many homeless persons in various parts of the world are disabled and need
nutritional treats for themselves and their children. Unfortunately,
many homeless people live in places where opportunities for earning living
wages are hard to find. This problem occurs in the United States and
many parts of the world, especially in the developing nations. Hunger
and homelessness are the immediate effects of poverty and unemployment.
People who are too poor to afford housing need
seasonal clothing for themselves
and their children. In general, homeless families and their children need clothing such as
athletic play clothes,
sleepwear,
socks - stockings,
shoes - boots,
underwear and
sweaters - hoodies
to keep them comfortable during cold weather. Your local charity specializing in helping
homeless people will advise you on specific items in need.
Some homeless people are in need of
prepaid cell phones,
laptop computers and
various tools for mechanics and other trades to
help them make a living.
In addition, many of the helping organizations list office supplies, such as
office computers,
printers and other electronic devices, on their donation wish
lists. Several wish lists are provided in the Giving Resources websites listed
below.
Temporary shelter including
tents,
camping equipment and
tent cots
are very helpful while people struggle for more permanent housing. Many homeless people need camping supplies to help
keep warm and prepare their food, for example.
Pros and cons on different modular and prefab housing structures are widely debated.
Today the market for prefabs has spread as wide as
customizable prefabs on Amazon as well as
tiny guest houses and
green solar powered homes.
Do you have space for a prefab ADU on your property? Can you help housing insecure college students in the family?
To build a house, you need a variety of
hand tools
like
digging tools
and other tools and materials to help with temporary shelters. Others need tools for
various trades to help them get a job. If you're living in a car, a
few tools and maybe a
car security device
and some gasoline may help to get you through some cold weather.
For families living in cars or temporary shelters, a few
toys may help
to brighten the day for the kids and the parents who desperately want to
make their children happy. Children need toys to help them get through
the day, to exercise and to learn. Whether they play with
sports and outdoors equipment or
fun electronics,
children are less likely to get in trouble or pick on
their siblings when they're having fun. The need to play and keep busy
is important for children, not just during the holiday season, but every
week of the year. For practical considerations, toys should be low
maintenance, safe and small.
Educational toys are a plus, especially
if they're low-maintenance and selected for the right age group.
Children's books may also be welcomed in temporary shelters for families.
Note: Due to the COVID-19 crisis, many of the resources listed below may now be in need of
face masks,
gloves,
hand sanitizers,
non-touch thermometers
and other supplies in addition to any needed items that may be listed in their previous announcement
as quoted below.
This list represents only a very small sample of
the many resources available in any area. Use the
search tool
for charities in a particular city or ZIP code. Just edit the text on the top left
corner of the search page for your area of interest.
Please contact the organizations to determine their priority needs
at this time. They may prefer donations in checks or online payments for better safety or
efficiency. In-kind donations may also be purchased online and shipped directly to the
charity at a specified address to expedite the donation and minimize the risk of contamination.
Sealed, unopened packages may be required. Some charities may also welcome in-kind contributions
from corporate sponsors.
Gimaajii-Mino-Bimaadizimin -
We are, all of us together, beginning a good life. AICHO's headquarters at 202 W. 2nd
Street in Duluth. Gimaajii features 29-units of permanent, supportive housing utilizing
the “housing first” model. On-site services include assessment, advocacy, limited case
management, and limited programming. Case management and mental health services are
provided through a partnership with White Earth Mental Health. Gimaajii also provides a
place for people who have a common history and culture to come together, to learn from
others, and to share that culture with others. In the traditional manner of respecting
elders, life-long learning is encouraged throughout the Gimaajii. Donate to the
American Indian Community Housing Organization.
Dabinoo'Igan Emergency Domestic Violence Shelter -
A place where you are safe, comforted and sheltered. Dabinoo’Igan is a 10-bed emergency
shelter for victims of physical and sexual violence, trafficking, and stalking who need
immediate shelter. Women and children can stay up to 30 days and receive a variety of
services including advocacy, information and referral, housing search assistance,
financial assistance, limited follow-up, limited on-site legal services and culturally
specific programming.
If you are currently fleeing domestic violence and in need of support, call our Hotline
at 218-722-2247.
Day One Emergency Shelter and Crisis Hotline can be reached at 1-866-223-1111.
Giiwe Mobile Team - He or she goes home. 35 units of scattered site housing.
The Giiwe Mobile Team provides opportunities for homeless families and individuals to build
a strong sense of community while obtaining safe, decent, and affordable housing.
Climate & Cultural Resilience Initiative - In 2017, AICHO received a grant from Enterprise
Community Partners to explore ways to overlap sustainability efforts with cultural practices.
From this grant, we were able to develop our two urban gardens, implement the Water Protector
mural designed by NSRGNTS,
implement a worm compost system, explore rainwater collection options, and build 16.5
kilowatt solar array on the roof of the Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center. AICHO is
committed to making sure we leave a better world for future generations, and as such we
will continue our efforts to promote awareness and cultural solutions in the face of
environmental crisis.
If you are at risk of homelessness or are homeless TEXT "homeless" to 85511. This will
result in a text based pre-screening and can get you scheduled for an appointment to
discuss housing options.
The Coalition has limited capacity for accepting in-kind donations. If you would
like to make donation of new clothing, please contact us at 212-776-2112 or
development@cfthomeless.org.
Please note: We cannot accept walk-in donations, furniture, mattresses,
kitchen appliances, or other large items.
The Coalition accepts non-perishable food items on an ongoing basis. Please click
here for a
list of suggested pantry items.
Please note, we cannot accept canned foods unless they have a pull tab. Generally,
packaged foods are much easier to open and store. The Coalition accepts new and
unused hygiene items on an ongoing basis. “Care Kits” can vary, but they are generally
small, zipped bags or totes filled with travel-sized hygiene items that are easily
distributed to people on the streets and in shelter through our Crisis Intervention
and Grand Central Food Programs. Please click here for a
list of suggested hygiene items.
We accept hats, gloves, and scarfs in the fall and winter only. We accept t-shirts
and sweatpants (larger sizes preferred) year-round, space permitting. We also accept
NEW, packaged only socks and undergarments year-round, space permitting.
Each holiday season, the Coalition organizes a citywide toy drive to collect gifts
for girls and boys living in shelters, helping to brighten their holidays.
At the end of each summer, the Coalition reaches out to caring New Yorkers and
businesses to collect thousands of backpacks, notebooks, pencils, crayons and
other school supplies for homeless kids in shelters across the city – giving
them the basic tools that they need to succeed in school.
Coalition for the Homeless in New York, New York is the nation's oldest advocacy
and direct service organization helping homeless men, women, and children. We are dedicated to the principle
that decent shelter, sufficient food, affordable housing, and the chance to
work for a living wage are fundamental rights in a civilized society. Since
our inception in 1981, the Coalition has worked through litigation, public
education, and direct services to ensure that these goals are realized.
Founded sometime around March of 1988, COTS was a response to Mary
Isaak’s and Laure Reichek’s concern for the adults and their children who
were sleeping outdoors in culverts, dumpsters or in other unsafe and
unsuitable conditions. Both women realized that FISH (Friends In Service
Helping) and other charitable organizations were not able to respond to the
increasingly numerous requests for shelter. COTS, the Committee On The
Shelterless, offers hope and help to homeless persons in Sonoma County,
California, by providing emergency food, shelter, housing, education on
skills in parenting, money management, mandatory savings programs, job
internships, critical support and other life skills, helping them toward
their goal of getting a home of their own.
Items needed include Towels, Toiletries (no soap bars please, only liquid body wash),
Gift Cards (for Gas, groceries, Target, Payless Shoes, haircuts, etc.),
Trac Phones and minutes, Menstrual products (pads, tampons, etc.), NEW
socks and underwear, Pot Holders (thick), Dish Scrubbers, Tissues, Tote bags,
and Backpacks. If you have an item not on this list to donate, or you have questions,
please contact Community Engagement Specialist Diana Morales at (707) 765-6530 x136
or dmorales@cots.org. See more Ways to Give.
near San Francisco.
Compass Family Services provides shelter and critical services to San
Francisco's homeless and very low-income families. The agency's
nine interconnected programs
support more than 3,000 parents and children each year in their
efforts to achieve stability and self-sufficiency.
Services include crisis
intervention, emergency shelter, food and clothing, transitional housing,
case management and therapy, job training, enriched infant care and
childcare, and permanent housing placement. Visit our
Get Help page for
direct contacts or email info@compass-sf.org.
You can provide a Compass family with a Family Care Kit for $500. $450 will go directly to a
vulnerable family via digital gift cards for emergency supplies such as food, pharmacy needs,
and cleaning products. $50 of each contribution will go to maintaining emergency remote and
in-person services for homeless and at-risk families. Alternatively, instead of funding a
full Family Care Kit, you can make a contribution of any amount which will be combined with
other thoughtful gifts to build Family Care Kits for Compass Families totaling $500. We also
welcome Corporate Sponsors.
Please explore more donation options.
Founded in Houston, Covenant House Texas opened its doors in 1983 and for over 30 years,
has continued to help kids in crisis with residential programs, community services, and outreach efforts
designed to keep young people off the streets. Our 80-bed emergency shelter is available on a 24-hour
basis to youth in need. We work with dozens more who come in for walk-in services and serve hundreds of
homeless kids and at-risk youth through our outreach and prevention efforts. Covenant House Texas is
honored to serve over 99,000 free meals every year though our Community Services Center.
The original Covenant House was founded in 1972 in response to the growing problem of kids living
unprotected on the harsh streets of New York City. Since then, the organization has become the
largest private shelter organization for homeless kids, with 31 locations spanning North and Central
America. Located in the Montrose neighborhood, CHT primarily serves Houston and Harris County, the
third most populous county in the United States.
In 1988, a health committee was formed, beginning HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention programs. We offer
anonymous HIV testing, confidential HIV testing, STD testing, prevention counseling, individual ongoing
counseling and health education/risk reduction, and HIV prevention education.
Many of our more than 30 shelters accept in-kind donations. To find out the specific items that are
being accepted at any of our locations, contact them specifically. You can find their contact information
on Our Locations page.
We are aggressively stretching to reach more youth each year in our residential programs as well as through
outreach, prevention, and education. From 2017 to 2020, we are opening new houses for youth in Anchorage
(AK), Asbury Park (NJ), Berkeley (CA), Chicago (IL), Elizabeth (NJ), Grand Rapids (MI), Mexico City (MX),
Toronto (ON), Vancouver (BC), Washington D.C., and York (PA). Our plan outlines a series of innovative
strategies to make us a data-driven, learning organization that employs high-quality, evidence-based
practices to effectively achieve — and constantly strengthen — results for and with the youth we serve.
See more Ways to Give. Become
a Corporate Sponsor.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a Virtual Sleep Out
page has been added to the website and will continue to be updated with resources you can use on Friday night,
including information about how COVID-19 affects youth facing homelessness, how Covenant House Texas is
responding, and how you can help. We’re a part of this movement together, even from our own homes, and you will
hear from youth, staff, and your fellow participants throughout the night via email, video, and social media.
Crisis very much appreciates
gift in kind support from our corporate
partners
. We are in constant need of it throughout the year to help run our
services for homeless people and keep the costs down. Crisis opens six
shelters in London, England between 23 - 30 December offering homeless or
vulnerably housed people companionship, access to essential services,
learning opportunities and a programme of entertainment. Based at
Crisis HO, Skylight offers a variety of activities for homeless people and
the general public. The Crisis Changing Lives programme provides
financial awards of up to £2000 to solitary people who have been homeless to
help them move towards a work based, vocational goal.
People who are homeless are hit especially hard by the coronavirus outbreak. But together we can get vital
care to vulnerable people.
It’s hard to protect yourself from the coronavirus outbreak when you’re homeless. People who are sleeping rough
are more likely to suffer from respiratory conditions. They can’t wash their hands. And if someone is sleeping
rough or in a crowded night shelter, it’s impossible to self-isolate. The generosity and resolve of the public
at this time is inspiring. And by pulling together we can make a difference.
Make a
donation today and
you’ll help homeless services stay open and protect people who need us most.
At Crisis, we’re delivering ‘essentials’ packages to homeless people. We’re providing people with mobiles,
so they can keep in contact and follow health advice. And we’re keeping our services running, to ensure no-one
is left isolated and in danger. A co-ordinated response will help more people, so we’re funding local charities
and shelters, helping homeless organisations work together and reach more people who need us most. There’s only
one thing that’s certain in these uncertain times. It’s a time to pull together and help each other. Any gift,
big or small, will make a difference at this time of crisis. See more
Ways to Donate.
The Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) relies heavily on
in-kind
support for a variety of goods and services
which are critical in assisting
vulnerable individuals reach their highest potential. DESC is one of
the largest multi-service agencies serving homeless adults in the Pacific
Northwest, headquartered in Seattle, Washington. DESC currently provides its
Housing Programs based on an annual
budget of $9.6 million, with a staff of approximately 200. DESC receives
funding from the City, County, State and Federal governments, along with
United Way and private philanthropy.
COVID-19 Updates
Our expenses have increased more than $300,000 per month in response to the COVID-19 emergency. Everything
from additional cleaning supplies, to new technology for remote work, to paying staff for COVID-related
absences, to transitioning to multiple new locations to reduce the risk of exposure. All of it comes at
significant financial cost. Very generous support from wonderful partners and community members is keeping
us afloat for now and we know we will only get through this crisis together.
Many people have asked if there’s anything you can do. Right now, we have the volunteers that we need to
make masks, deliver food and supplies, and otherwise support our response efforts. Additionally, we’re trying
to reduce the number of people who go in and out of our client spaces so we can limit potential virus
transmission chains. Fortunately, we put in place many preventative measures and a robust response protocol
in anticipation of this inevitable circumstance. DESC’s new COVID Response Team of existing medical and
program staff provided rapid support to staff and clients, and coordinated closely with King County Public
Health to do a thorough assessment and make sure all clients and staff are cared for.
You can help with Corporate Support and
in-kind donations of socks, underwear, men’s pants, adult underpants, soap and shampoo are all appreciated!
Contact Don Rupp, Volunteer and In-Kind Gifts Manager, at drupp@desc.org or at (206) 723-1883 x1071 to learn
more and get the latest update on needed items.
Habitat ReStores are home improvement stores that accept
small and large donations of new or gently used furniture,
appliances, housewares, building materials and more
. There may be a ReStore in your neighborhood which you can locate by entering your zip code in the page linked above.
Proceeds from the sales of these items help Habitat's work in your community and around the world. More ways to support this great housing effort
including cash and volunteering, are listed here.
Habitat ReStore accepts new and gently used appliances, furniture, building materials, household goods and more from individuals and companies.
Each ReStore is unique, and many locations also accept items outside these categories. The money raised by Habitat ReStores helps families build a
decent and affordable place to call home. When the items you donate to ReStore are sold, the money helps families achieve the strength, stability and
independence they need to build a better future.
Whatever your project, hopefully not as tragic as cleaning up from recent hurricanes in Texas and Florida as shown in the above video, don’t let the
items you no longer need end up in your local landfill. Habitat ReStores divert hundreds of tons from landfills each year, accepting
hard-to-dispose-of items including new and used furniture, appliances and surplus building materials. In many cases, pickup service is provided for
large items. Best of all, proceeds from the sale of these donated goods help families build a foundation for the future.
In-Kind Gifts
Habitat accepts large quantities of in-kind gifts like building materials, furniture, appliances and more. Our corporate
partnerships help make our work at Habitat possible. One of our most valued gifts-in-kind are the materials used to build
homes. Habitat for Humanity regularly ranks as one of the top 20 homebuilders in the United States and is the largest
privately held homebuilder. For example, in each one of the homes we build in the U.S., we require approximately 150 pounds
of nails and 400 two-by-fours. With the average Habitat house consisting of 1,200 square feet and three bedrooms, these
numbers add up fast—so donations of building materials from corporate manufacturers are welcome! Additionally, in some cases,
retailers with overstock items donate those goods. Donations like these are usually sold in our Habitat ReStore home
improvement stores, with the proceeds benefiting Habitat for Humanity. We have handled nationwide restaurant chain remodels,
going out of business events and everything in between. Please contact our Corporate Donor Coordinator at
CorporatePartnerships@habitat.org.
COVID-19 Pandemic
During this time of social distancing and COVID-19, Habitat for Humanity is still hard at work, pursuing many avenues to move
forward our vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. As we follow the guidance of public health officials
to safeguard our volunteers and the families we serve, we have paused our build activities around the world and our travel
schedules. We have immediately exchanged our hammers for headsets, and we carry on in many very crucial ways. Just a few examples:
We are still using our voices to passionately advocate for affordable housing and to help bring awareness to the role that
housing plays in health, education, financial stability and the viability of thriving communities.
We have shared with the U.S. Congress recommendations for immediate solutions to inform their conversations and stimulus work.
We have joined with more than 200 national charitable nonprofit organizations to urge U.S. Congressional leaders to include a
nonprofit track in any future legislation that builds on the
CARES Act.
A home and family for those without, Jovenes helps youth, ages 18-25, end their cycle of homelessness.
Located in Boyle Heights and serving communities throughout Southeast LA County, Jovenes goes deep with
our youth focusing on not only their needs for housing, but also healthcare, education, employment and
trauma recovery. We empower those we serve because we believe that homelessness does not define our
youth. Our mission is to help homeless youth become active and integrated members of our community.
Together we work to develop pathways for personal and professional growth so young people can move into
permanent housing and make meaningful contributions to the community we share.
We are only able to accept donations we have a need for. We are always in need of
backpacks, hygiene items, new socks, household goods, and gift cards
(see list). You can
organize a drive at your local school or workplace or drop off individual contributions at
our Boyle Heights office (1208 Pleasant Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90033).
Our “Friends and Neighbors” who come to us every day for a shower and clean clothing, do
not have access to hygiene products and toiletries unless we supply them. For this reason
a constant and abundant supply of these are required at the Mission. Without your help,
we must purchase these products. Consider sponsoring a hygiene drive among your friends
and associates to assist us in meeting this need. If you are interested in sponsoring a
hygiene drive, please contact Kimberly Battaglia at (213) 629-1227, ext 329 for questions
or more information. Donation Drop Off: 316 East Winston Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013.
Personal Care Items Needed
Nail Clippers
Lip Balm
Toothpaste and Toothbrushes
Mouthwash
Razors
Body Wash
Diapers Size 3, 4, 5, 6
Conditioner
Shampoo
Hair Gel/Grease
Hair Brushes
Formula for Infants
Sanitary Napkins for Women
Adult Diapers
Wet Wipes/Napkins
See more Food items and Clothing items on
this page, as well.
More ways to give including Corporate Sponsors.
COVID-19
We need your help during this crisis. Tens of thousands of people across Los Angeles are living on the streets
and are at a greater risk of contracting the coronavirus due to poor sanitation and crowded conditions.
Since we are one of the largest shelters in all of Los Angeles, we expect countless people to come through our
doors in need of safe shelter and emergency care. Since we already serve thousands of people every year, our
beds and mattresses are in bad shape. We need your support to raise the necessary $45,000 to replace these
mattresses and bed frames, and provide other vital care. Please
give now
to ensure that someone has a comfortable place to stay and a chance to stay safe from COVID-19.
In the 23 years since its founding, Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter (NCS)
in New York, New York has helped more than 20,000 homeless and formerly
homeless find food, shelter, counseling, employment, and in many cases, a
home to call their own. NCS provides a full continuum of services aimed at
helping people move from the streets to housing and independence.
A skilled and dedicated staff of social workers, psychiatrists, substance
abuse counselors, and vocational and educational specialists, offer the
services needed to help men and women overcome histories of mental illness,
addiction, incarceration, domestic violence, and economic displacement.
This Fund will be used for the increased costs that NCS is incurring due to the pandemic.
Food: Many of our residents rely on local free meal programs that have been suspended. NCS is purchasing food so that our residents do not go hungry.
Cleaning: NCS has hired outside cleaning services to keep our two housing residences scrubbed clean and safe for our tenants.
Technology: New technology is required for tele-med sessions with doctors and case management sessions with NCS staff. This will ensure that clients can have these meetings safely in the privacy of their own room and do not need to rely on the shared computer lab as we try to minimize the residents’ exposure to each other.
Our Mission is to minister the love of Jesus Christ to the Least, the
Last, and the Lost of our community through the provision of assistance in
the areas of guidance, counseling, education, job training, shelter, food,
clothing, health care and independent living communities. At the
Orange County (California) Rescue Mission, averaged over the last eight
years, a full 86 cents of every dollar given goes directly to help the
homeless. If gifts received are above a specific need, they will be used for
Mission programs where the need is greatest.
During the holidays and all year long, Raleigh Rescue Mission counts on
your donations of food, gently used and new clothing, furniture, household
items, and more to supply the needs of the homeless, hungry and poor.
Raleigh Rescue Mission was founded in 1961 to minister to the growing needs
of the homeless population of Raleigh, North Carolina. Since that time, the
Mission has provided physical and spiritual nourishment in the form of
relief and recovery programs and services for men, women and children who
are homeless and/or addicted. The Mission strives to prevent recurring
homelessness through the Life Plan Program, a long-term recovery program
providing Bible-based teaching, counseling, job skills and referrals to
other agencies to help stabilize homeless adults and allow them to become
productive members of the community.
Outreach & Engagement events:
The best way to get to know who lives in your Northeast Los Angeles neighborhood is through our Outreach &
Engagement events. Outreach & Engagements take place once monthly and are the best way to get to know who lives in
your neighborhood. Outreaches typically last three hours and involve going out in teams to distrubute lunches,
clothing, and hygiene products to your homeless neighbors. Volunteers engage in conversations check to see how people
are doing and provide referrals for services. Our outreach volunteers are vital in helping us gather data to advocate
for services and also help us better understand how people are feeling.
Emergent Shelter for Winter:
Donate through crowdfunding for shelter in Highland Park temporarily housed at All Saints Episcopal Church. Donate what you
can for the Winter Access Center.
Each night from now through March 1, the pews of All Saints on Monte Vista
Street will be converted into beds that are covered with pads, sleeping bags and pillows the visitors receive when they arrive.
The access center is open from 7 p.m. – 6 a.m. and can provide shelter for 50 persons.
Donation Pick Up, Sorting, & Soliciting Volunteer:
This is the perfect position if you want to be involved in improving lives however may not feel comfortable approaching
people you do not know or do not have the time to volunteer on the weekends. This position entails picking up items in
the community and dropping them off to our storage, sorting and organizing items during your spare time, and also
asking family friends and community members to donate items we need.
Used items needed include: Clothing: pants, shirts, jackets, tennis shoes, & socks. Blankets, sleeping bags, linens,
pillows, & towels.
New items needed: Socks & Underwear. Hygiene Products: toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, soap, razors, shampoo, &
feminine hygiene products. Gift cards and money also appreciated.
Shelter is the national campaigning charity helping homeless and badly
housed people. We know that bad housing wrecks lives, so we're working
hard to ensure that everyone has a home where they can feel safe.
Through our network of Housing Aid Centres we provide advice about housing
rights and options. We also provide support and training for Citizens Advice
Bureaux (CABx) through the Scottish Homelessness Advisory Service (SHAS),
ensuring that professional advice is always available where it's needed
most. Where legal expertise is required, we can refer clients to our own
legal team or an appropriate local law service or solicitor.
New Beginnings’ Safe Parking Program provides case management and outreach to the homeless
and safe overnight parking to individuals and families living in their vehicles in Santa Barbara, California.
New Beginnings has operated the Safe Parking Program since 2004 in cooperation with numerous local churches,
governmental and non-profit agencies and businesses. They provide confidential, daily-monitored parking places
for those who are living in their vehicles because they do not have sufficient income to provide for their
basic need of affordable housing.
Since 1969 Transition Projects has helped thousands of people transcend
the streets of Portland. On any given day—today, for example—we’re making
the difference in hundreds of lives, providing the tools people need as they
transition from homelessness to housing. We offer long-term shelter, for
starters, plus a unique mix of valuable services that helps people overcome
their own barriers to stable housing and employment. Services like job
training, continuing education, alcohol, drug and mental health counseling,
and more.
We have an increasing number of children at the Mission; currently there
are about 100 children receiving emergency services each day. Union
Rescue Mission (URM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to
serving the poor and homeless. Established in 1891, URM is one of the
largest rescue missions of its kind in the United States and the oldest in
Los Angeles. We provide a comprehensive array of emergency and long-term
services to our guests, including: food, shelter, clothing, medical and
dental care, recovery programs, transitional housing, legal assistance,
education, counseling, and job training to needy men, women, children, and
families.
For over 30 years, Union Station Foundation has helped thousands of
homeless men, women and families leave the streets and begin leading
productive and self-sufficient lives. Your contributions help to
ensure that Union Station Foundation remains a lifeline of hope to the
families and individuals that come to us in need. Union Station Foundation (USF),
located in Pasadena, California, is the San Gabriel Valley’s largest private
agency serving the poor and homeless. Union Station offers emergency and
transitional housing for individuals and families, hot meals, job
development, healthcare, case management services and substance abuse
recovery support. Every year, we serve over 145,000 meals and provide 30,000
nights of shelter to our clients. View the
Wish List of
needed in-kind items.
