According to National Public Radio (NPR), “An estimated 90,000 people in Los Angeles County are homeless, and about 11,000 of those live downtown in an area of less than one square-mile known as Skid Row.”
Aside from the obvious monetary downfalls homeless individuals who reside there experience, they also suffer from crime, drug abuse, and lack of food and proper medication. This could all potentially change, however, if the government were to step in and take control of the situation the neighborhood is currently in. By gentrifying the city (constructing housing, stepping up police force, and giving government grants to the homeless) would make for a more safe and productive area.
Citizens would be able to get back on their feet and hold job positions. With the help of the government and the surrounding area, skid row could be turned into a much better living environment.
I've only recently moved to Los Angeles, and I haven't visited too much of it yet. But I really want to go to Skid Row soon at some point. We shouldn't be allowed to drink the wealth of this city and never experience the horrors of homelessness and poverty. It's absurd that this even exists in America. Are you telling me our country doesn't have the resources to help these people, aid them in turning their lives around? It's infuriating.
ReplyDeleteI traveled to Skid Row a couple of weeks ago to interview a couple of organizers at LA CAN. They stressed that it is a myth that the residents are all drug addicts and criminals. The LA CAN activists told me that they feel a true sense of community in Skid Row. They want the government to create affordable housing, but I feel as if gentrification will push many of the homeless residents out of the city. LA CAN truly has a daunting task before them.
ReplyDelete