Dee Andrews is a Long Beach City Councilman who cares about finding solutions for homelessness. I did not remember to keep the article about the Thanksgiving meal and food give-aways hosted by Andrews. Over 1,000 served, if I remember correctly.
Andrews wanted a "car park" for homeless people who sleep in vehicles to stay. He revised his initial proposal to suggest that nonprofit or private property owners "...can legally provide safe parking destinations."
I knew that sleeping in vehicles in Long Beach was against the law long before I became homeless. Despite knowing I was breaking the law, I did sleep in my vehicle several times. Later I sold it and began sleeping on the streets. A whole lot better to sleep sheltered in one's vehicle than out in the open ~ also illegally ~ on sidewalks. Just to stay in out of the rain is helpful. A back seat is more comfortable than concrete. Wind is blocked, making it a bit warmer. It is definitely safer, especially for an older female.
I wonder about inebriated individuals sleeping it off in the car. Safer than driving drunk. What purpose does the law serve? Is City government afraid people will opt to live in vehicles rather than rent? Other cities in California do designate safe areas for homeless to park and sleep. Andrews' idea is a great one met with, of course, resistance. Thank you Mr. Andrews for caring.
3 comments:
Yes I do have a comment. I was also homeless at one time don't want to go back. But the problem to me seem to be even if you set up a place for those that are and have car that's all good tell they start drifting into the community and squatting in unoccupied buildings. That is the problem that we have right now where I live. As soon as they start giving food away the homeless pick spots to squat and also smoke there drugs. Again I was once homeless and never did I try and set up behind someones residents nor in and unoccupied building. And say I live there when its empty costing property owners a mint. Right now they are sleeping in the alley about four of them been there for more then a week or two in fact just the other day one came and park right at my neighbors window and was looking inside here apt on the first floor. So no I don't have a problem with them parking out of residential areas but this is a big problem in Long Beach and a noticeable one. I live here and see it with food give away you have homeless and with homeless come drugs, and with drug come crime, and with crime comes squatting. How do I know this when the residents behind me became empty I watch as the squatters move in to this house which was for rent they live in the back yard the whole deal. Tell the police where called. When the church gives food away you can always tell because they hang out in front all day all night pretty much it takes time for them to leave. Not all are like this but from what I see a lot are. Then comes the squatting in the alley and squatting in the community. I watch as the man running the school came on T.V. one day and said I don't know why the police mess with the homeless they are not doing anything the police have better thing to do. This was until they started pitching tents right up behind his school with the kids there so he put up a fence behind the fence just sure changes when its in your back yard huh.
That my comment D
Yes I do have a comment. I was also homeless at one time don't want to go back. But the problem to me seem to be even if you set up a place for those that are and have car that's all good tell they start drifting into the community and squatting in unoccupied buildings. That is the problem that we have right now where I live. As soon as they start giving food away the homeless pick spots to squat and also smoke there drugs. Again I was once homeless and never did I try and set up behind someones residents nor in and unoccupied building. And say I live there when its empty costing property owners a mint. Right now they are sleeping in the alley about four of them been there for more then a week or two in fact just the other day one came and park right at my neighbors window and was looking inside here apt on the first floor. So no I don't have a problem with them parking out of residential areas but this is a big problem in Long Beach and a noticeable one. I live here and see it with food give away you have homeless and with homeless come drugs, and with drug come crime, and with crime comes squatting. How do I know this when the residents behind me became empty I watch as the squatters move in to this house which was for rent they live in the back yard the whole deal. Tell the police where called. When the church gives food away you can always tell because they hang out in front all day all night pretty much it takes time for them to leave. Not all are like this but from what I see a lot are. Then comes the squatting in the alley and squatting in the community. I watch as the man running the school came on T.V. one day and said I don't know why the police mess with the homeless they are not doing anything the police have better thing to do. This was until they started pitching tents right up behind his school with the kids there so he put up a fence behind the fence just sure changes when its in your back yard huh.
That my comment D
Which came first: drug use or homelessness? I knew homeless people who never used drugs prior to homelessness and others where drugs and alcohol ultimately lead to street living.
Yes, I guess it is bothersome to see people lined up outside a church to get a meal. Not all of those that do so are homeless.
Prior to homelessness I was never bothered by the sight of those lines of people. It would disturb me when too many of them asked for spare change or smokes. Yikes I was not exactly rolling in money!
The majority of the homeless I met did not commit crimes, even to support drug habits.
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