Homelessness in Los Angeles Increases

Recently the Los Angeles Times printed a story showing that in spite of the economy improving for some, perhaps the wealthy more so than the general population, the number of homeless on the streets of Los Angeles has increased.

I applaud the story from the Times.

This is the first story I have seen that agrees to what I personally see on the streets each week.  My counts of the homeless which have been documented and which I have posted in real time on social media are also in agreement with this Los Angeles Times story.

Click on "Read more" to continue

Stories are one thing.  Hard numbers are another.  Here are some facts from Union Rescue Mission, the largest mission in the country in the homeless capitol of our nation.  As a side note, the folks at URM could not do the work they do without help from folks like you.  Take a moment to visit their website at www.urm.org.  You can help in many ways which can be found on the website.  You can also donate via the web to a secure site which accepts all forms of payment including pay-pal.  You can even donate via text in the amount of $10 to feed 5 people in less than 30 seconds.  To donate $10 to Union Rescue Mission, text the letters URM to 85944. You will receive a confirmation text message. Reply with the word YES to complete the transaction. 

I mentioned I would provide some actual data. 

In the month of July URM provided .....

1,863 nights of shelter for families.  That means a bed, shower, food and not being on the street.  How would you feel about your kids sleeping on the street even for one night?  That is an experience that could last a lifetime.  This reminds me of one URM worker that spent the night on the street as some of the staff do at times to understand a bit more about life on the street.  Empathy.  She said that she spent a while watching some cats play with each other which was a nice diversion. .... until she realized that they were not cats but were rats.

Add another 22,069 nights of shelter for individuals in the month of July to the data.  

58,529 meals were served.  Remember what I said before... you can feed five folks a full hot meal for $10. Think about that tonight when you sit at your dinner table.  Look around your dining area.  Pictures on the walls?  These folks have no walls.  No roof.  No bathroom, sink, toilet, shower.  

4,166 hours of volunteer work were provided in July.  There are many ways folks help.  There are many ways you can help.  Just sending the link of this piece to your friends or posting on your social media page like Facebook, Twitter, Reddit will spread the word.

59 folks were given legal assistance at the URM legal clinic.

581 people received dental clinic visits at the clinic at URM staffed by USC Doctors.

Speaking of Doctors providing their services, the UCLA folks are there too.  322 Health Clinic visits.  Add to that another 130 mental health visits.

Take a moment to thank the folks at URM and their CEO Andy Bales.

Thank you and have a wonderful evening in your home with your family and count your blessings.  I have met many people on the streets who are there for no other reason than bad luck or a bad turn of the economy.

2013 correction - update to the cost of a meal for URM to provide.  I was just made aware of this for 2013 Thanksgiving:  A change for 2013; the economy has impacted URM this year in the form of a price increase for them on the price of a meal.  They used to do it all for $1.84 a meal.  In 2013 it is now $2.08.  Might not seem like much of an increase but when you serve over 50,000 meal in a month, you are looking at a $12,000 additional financial burden on the folks at URM.