The more time I spend with the people of the area the more questions I ask myself

I have spent the last two days and one night downtown other than coming back to NoHo for a few hours to do a little work in the shop over at 65 Amps.

Some prefer the street to other options. Photo by Myles S. Rose

I have spent time on the street and have spent time in two of the main missions; the Los Angeles Mission and the Union Rescue Mission.  These two places are a half a block from each other.   I have been spending most of my time with those that remain on the streets rather than use the facilities of the missions.  Many feel the rules in the missions are too restrictive.  Many feel the missions are violent and dangerous.  I have been asking a lot of questions to try to learn more in the terms of restrictions and violence.

I can understand one aspect of "the rules".  Many people in this area partake in alcohol.  Many also partake in the use of crack.  Yes, there are rules; no crack use or alcohol comsumption in the missions or shelter areas.  So at this time I have learned that there are rules that some people may not be able to go along with easily.  The violence?  I am still trying to figure that out.  There is a lot of violence on the streets.  Just stand by the garage exit on the San Julian Street side of the Central Police Station and count the cars that turn on their siren upon hitting the street before they even hit then end of the block.  The streets are a dangerous place and I feel that they are more dangerous than inside of the mission or shelter areas.  This is based on my own very limited experience.

Above is Andy Bales the head fellow at the Union Rescue Mission.  This video was done in 2009 and gives a good picture of the current situation.  This video was supplied to me by the URM.

Above - a police car just turned up 6th street but within moments made a U-turn and deployed its siren.  Photo by Myles S. Rose

Police driving by Union Rescue Mission.  A car drives by this mission every few minutes. 

Photo by Myles S. Rose

Photo by Myles S. Rose

One question that keeps drilling itself into my brain is; do I spend my efforts working with one of the large organizations such as one of the missions which do help many people or do I try to work more on my own and do what I am able directly for a few individuals?  I have not answered that question at this time.  I have made friends and there are now people that seem to be happy to see me.  I have fed people and bought folks coffee.  I have developed relationships with vendors at the Central Market for things like bananas, rasins, nuts and oatmeal.  I have learned of a Chinese restaurant that closes at 6pm that has fed a small group of my new friends with food that would have been tossed out in the evening. 

The views in the evening are spectacular.  In the late afternoon Skid Row lies in the shadows of some of the most wealthy corporations in the world.  The contrast is something that is hard to comprehend.  Los Angeles is no different than many other cities in this aspect but Los Angeles does have the highest population of homeless people in the United States.  Over 85,000 people which is more than the population of Santa Barbara.

Photo by Myles S. Rose

There are new buildings, old buildings, buildings with no hope with their life lost and buildings that have been given a new lease on life.  The contrasts numb one's mind.

Vietnam era vets continue to be the highest percentage of homeless.  The sick and mentally ill are a part of the population as well.  The current economic conditions have brought many new homeless residents into the area, people who only weeks before were living in a home which used to be their own.  Once a job is lost and unemployment cannot cover their house mortgage they may end up on the street if they have no other option such as family or friends to offer help.  The look of failure on a parents face is hard to forget.  The look is that of fear as well as failure.  Their children have had their stable world pulled out from under their feet.

Photos by Myles S. Rose

The video directly above is the Los Angeles Mission area

The video above is San Julian Street. The police in the area call this the most dangerous street in all of Los Angeles. On this street you see the Union Rescue Mission. These two missions are less than a few moments walk from each other. The Midnight Mission is another block away and there are smaller missions in the general area as well.

Video segment 1,2,3 by Myles S. Rose.  Video below on Hope Garden by Union Rescue Mission.

Hope Gardens from Union Rescue Mission on Vimeo.