Praise for New Approach to Homeless : Glendale’s stance has softened in past decade, and counseling and assistance are paying off
About 10 years ago, Glendale was grappling with homelessness, and its officials were in no soft mood. The police chief’s solution was to outlaw it with a $100 fine for sleeping in a vehicle or temporary shelter.
That idea broke up on legal rocks, but advocates for the homeless still got little official encouragement. In 1987, Glendale was one of five L.A.-area cities that did not even apply for federal aid for the homeless.
Things today could hardly be more different. Although the end, naturally, is still a homeless-free city, the preferred means are now counseling and assistance. “There has been a radical change of attitude in the city,” says the Rev. Greg Roth, a pastor at Glendale Presbyterian Church.
The shift was symbolized last week with a celebration of the opening of the Glendale Service Center. There, homeless people walk in two afternoons a week, confer with representatives of various agencies and start remaking their lives.
The attitude change came with new faces on the City Council and unceasing private efforts on the streets. In 1990, the Salvation Army opened a small temporary home with city assistance. In 1993 the city surprised its critics by forming the Task Force on Homelessness, including Roth.
Roth says Glendale residents gradually realized that helping the homeless would not attract more of them to Glendale, as many feared. The task force says 80% of Glendale’s 360-odd homeless people have roots there.
Another explanation: Roth himself, who helped found a church-nonprofit coalition for the homeless a decade ago and has worked tirelessly since.
Of course, the problem is not nearly solved. Giving letter grades for things such as job opportunities, medical and mental health care for the homeless, the task force was liberal with Ds and Fs. The good news is that, instead of playing tough guy, Glendale is finally trying to lend a hand to some of its least fortunate residents.
