LA Downtown News: Not Quite a Safer City
Skid Row Providers Say High-Profile Program Is Only Tackling Part of the Homelessness Problem
by Kathleen Nye Flynn
April 17, 2007
Some believe the trend of fewer homeless in Downtown is already reversing. An LAPD count conducted April 3 found 200 more homeless people in Downtown than the month prior.
Ward of the Midnight Mission thinks the increase could continue as homeless people who left the area either to avoid police sweeps or because they were arrested will not find the services they need elsewhere and inevitably return to Downtown.
"At some point [the homeless] are going to come back and we are going to be back at square one, where we have not increased the number of beds, we have not increased the amount of services in any significant measure," Ward said. "So to keep streets safe now, does that mean we are going to have to keep the increased amount of police out here all the time, full time?"
Egurbide said the SCI will not end until the city is sure it has effected a lasting change.
"I am hopeful that all the agencies involved in this effort will continue to go forward and stay focused on what we are doing as long as we need to in order to reach that threshold point, that tipping point," he said.
Some service providers say they can no longer stand idly by. They are calling on each other to increase their outreach instead of waiting for the city.
"We need to get more creative in our approach," said Bales. "Along with waiting for more services and supportive housing, the service providers already here need to step up and be as proactive as the police."
Read the full article over here.
by Kathleen Nye Flynn
April 17, 2007
Some believe the trend of fewer homeless in Downtown is already reversing. An LAPD count conducted April 3 found 200 more homeless people in Downtown than the month prior.
Ward of the Midnight Mission thinks the increase could continue as homeless people who left the area either to avoid police sweeps or because they were arrested will not find the services they need elsewhere and inevitably return to Downtown.
"At some point [the homeless] are going to come back and we are going to be back at square one, where we have not increased the number of beds, we have not increased the amount of services in any significant measure," Ward said. "So to keep streets safe now, does that mean we are going to have to keep the increased amount of police out here all the time, full time?"
Egurbide said the SCI will not end until the city is sure it has effected a lasting change.
"I am hopeful that all the agencies involved in this effort will continue to go forward and stay focused on what we are doing as long as we need to in order to reach that threshold point, that tipping point," he said.
Some service providers say they can no longer stand idly by. They are calling on each other to increase their outreach instead of waiting for the city.
"We need to get more creative in our approach," said Bales. "Along with waiting for more services and supportive housing, the service providers already here need to step up and be as proactive as the police."
Read the full article over here.
posted by bowen at 9:37 PM
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