recently read

 I recently read a novel, copied a quote, and once again did not note the name of the book. Probably James Patterson & Candace Fox's "2 Sisters Detective Agency," because it is set in Los Angeles and I remember a homeless character at Santa Monica Pier. So that must have been the recently read book from which I grabbed this quote:

"...although homeless people usually lacked structured and scheduled days, unhoused locals often had reliable patterns that could be divined, spots they frequented at similar times during the day."

I loved that the authors used the word "unhoused." 

During my time on the streets, I followed Jane Fonda's advice: always be a moving target. Most of my peers stayed in the same location. The Lincoln Park crew, the Promenade gang, Alamitos Beach bums (no offense intended, I was often part of that group,) Belmont Shore area, various parks. Others roamed; spent time in Long Beach, spent time in Santa Ana, or Anaheim, or Huntington Beach, then north west, perhaps, Santa Monica. Torrance? 

The various clusters had somewhat structured and scheduled days. Breakfast, lunch, dinner served at various places ~usually Monday thru Friday at same time every day. Sunday meals could be gotten elsewhere. They went to places to shower. Some would line up at 8AM ish hoping to be among those who got to use showers fastest. As evening drew to a close, they made their way to their sleep spots. 

The homeless woman the detective was looking for was found at a Social Services building. Yes, many of Long Beach unhoused would make the trek to Compton (I think it was in Compton) to get help. (I must get around to reading my Homeless In Long Beach blog posts ~ ha, maybe I should repost them here!)

I would think that Social Services office would be less reliable to find a particular homeless person at a similar time each day. I think most of us would try to get there early in the morning. Might sit for hours, and towards the end of the day, not get seen at all.

Yet the book showed an awareness of homelessness.