Informed Opinions on Today’s Topics : How to Give Helping Hand to the Homeless

Last month, Van Nuys homeowners--motivated by the fear that more homeless people would come to their neighborhood--defeated an attempt to build a shelter in the area. The incident illustrates the classic dilemma facing city officials and residents alike. Most people want to do something about the escalating homeless problem, but don’t want shelters in their neighborhoods.

An estimated 6,000 to 10,000 homeless people roam the San Fernando Valley’s streets, and studies show those numbers are increasing.

What can the San Fernando Valley do to house its homeless?

Barry Smedberg, executive director, San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council:

“The first thing you do is create more shelters. Now, that’s an expensive proposition. Two--it’s just a thought--but it would be nice if each congregation--and there are 270 churches in the Valley--adopted one homeless family. . . . What they need is not just homes and jobs but they also need security, a sense that someone is there to talk to them.

“They don’t have support mechanisms, and homeless organizations or religious congregations could see them through their crises. . . . For the homeless who have substance abuse problems, this is not going to work. And those people who are mentally ill can’t survive on their own and need to be in some kind of institution. . . . You almost have to look at (the homeless) as someone in the family that’s ready to go out in the real world but needs some help.”

Ken Bernstein, planning deputy for Councilwoman Laura Chick:

“I would say the most important thing that the Valley needs to do is to coordinate the many well-meaning but underfunded efforts to house the homeless into a larger and more purposeful effort. By that I mean the San Fernando Valley needs some sort of 24-hour or year-round shelter that can also be the main site for other services like job training, education and mental health care.

“Until the Valley unifies its efforts, the response will continue to be piecemeal. That would be a shame because the San Fernando Valley homeless population continues to grow and spread into areas where they had not been seen in the past.”

Tony Lucente, president, Studio City Residents Assn.:

“We need a more coordinated effort to increase funding for the shelters and expand that infrastructure and then I think that both the businesses and community can somehow link up with the nonprofit agencies to direct people to where they need to go. I think we need more shelters but the idea of temporary villages is not really viable. The existing shelters have proven to be very effective in assisting the transitional homeless, but state and federal resources are needed to address those that are in a more permanent situation.”

Nat Hutton, executive director, Trudy and Norman Louis Valley Shelter:

“Those agencies that are willing to do something about the problem need to be working with the City Council people and the politicians to come up with a solution. . . . We need support from everyone in taking away the negative connotations of being homeless. . . . I think that we need something done to shelter the homeless in addition to what we already have.

“We have between 6,000 and 10,000 people on the street in the Valley and a third of them are mentally disturbed. It’s hard to get them off the street. With a little help from the educated in (the mental illness) field in doing the right things, we will get them off the streets and clean up our San Fernando Valley. We here (at the Valley Shelter) would love to see that.”