Poorhouses

Whatever happened to the old system of county poorhouses and asylums? Admittedly, such housing was not ideal, but surely it was better than living in the streets.

At a minimum, such a facility would protect the homeless individual from predatory human beings and would provide the basic necessities: a cot or a mattress in a sheltered place out of harm’s way; toilets, showers, and soap; and plain but nourishing food.

Every individual assigned to the house would have some housekeeping chores. Those who were incapable of sweeping a floor, washing dishes, emptying waste baskets, or scrubbing bathrooms might be referred for help to a physician or a psychiatrist to pinpoint the reason for their disability.

Asylums could harbor the indigent who lacked the intelligence or the emotional stability to work and live with other people. Although this system would cost the taxpayers money, it might result in fewer victims of crime and would reduce the numbers of spongers, drifters, idlers, and petty criminals, who would no longer have a crowd of innocent people to hide in and to cover their activities.

We are our brothers’ keepers, but we should have a voice in the discussion of how he is to be kept. Traditionally, the elected agents of the people in county government have been responsible for the care of the indigent, but this Board of Supervisors seems unable to move off dead-center on many urgent issues.

M.W. ROMANI

Los Angeles