How Do We Help the Homeless?

With the recent closure of a large commune-like homeless encampment in Sunland, city officials and the police have joined forces with social service agencies to try to reach out to the camp’s residents to offer health and housing services.

But many of the homeless, who were told they had to leave the rural canyons because of a potential fire hazard, have resisted offers for assistance.

DIANE WEDNER asked a Pacoima family housing program coordinator, a Shadow Hills homeowner and a Ventura County homelessness expert about how to best assist the displaced canyon residents.

JOHN HORN / Program Coordinator, Los Angeles Family Housing Corp. Access Center, Pacoima

The population in those canyons doesn’t consider themselves homeless; they consider themselves modern-day nomads. We’re not going to be effective if we go up there and tell them they should go into a shelter. Shelters won’t accept their pets, and when they are living what is to them a free lifestyle, it’s hard for them to conform to shelter conditions.

I suggest that we create a campsite-type area near their current site, with facilities designed for long-term stays. Set the area up with some security control, but not as much security as a shelter offers. Maintain access roads for the police and fire departments. I’m not suggesting that the homeless take over a preexisting campground; just mark out an area nearby. Our attitude should be: “We won’t bother you, if you don’t bother others.”

We could provide minimal social services to those who stay there for a short period of time. Maybe charge a small fee. The city could provide showers so they can clean up. They need a loose environment, but with some structure in place so they can save money and get a job down the road.

This population is on the fringe of society. We keep pushing them farther into the hills. My plan might be a compromise.

BILL EICK / Shadow Hills resident

We residents in the Sunland / Tujunga / Shadow Hills area are required to clear the brush within 200 feet of residential structures because there is an extreme fire danger around here. Setting up camp in those canyons is a completely inappropriate activity in a fire district.

The problem for homeowners is that some of the homeless people set up camps right next to the freeway on-ramp, where some of them were urinating in public. People around here were unhappy. The city got involved for health and safety reasons and began moving the homeless from that area. But the homeless do need alternative places to live.

I suggest that in addition to public health and safety officials, the city hire previously homeless people or currently homeless people to help communicate with the homeless in [the canyons]. They might trust people who have lived under similar conditions, and be open to suggestions about new living quarters and to receiving social services. If they insist on living outdoors, I haven’t any good answers to that problem.

KATHY JENKS / Director, Ventura County Department of Animal Regulation

In 1995, we here in Ventura County created the RAIN Project, a transitional living program. We moved the homeless, who camped in dry river beds, into Camarillo State Hospital, which was then closed. I knew then that if you’re going to get the homeless to do anything, you have to let them know their pets will come along. So we set up 24 dog pens at Camarillo. The animals joined 96 homeless people at the site. Then we were able to get them clean and sober, and they were open to receiving medical care.

It’s grossly unfair to make the homeless move out if there isn’t a plan in place that they can turn to. I would invite the homeless people in Tujunga and Sunland to assist with the plan for their moving.

In Ventura, we built up a relationship with the homeless, first by dealing with their pets. Then you bring in social service agencies. Find the leaders of the encampment, and don’t get the city officials in their faces. The worst thing you can do is bring in the police. If the homeless feel threatened, they won’t come forward. A county organization must be put in place to help them build up trust. There are a number of veterans within the homeless population. I would invite them to serve as outreach workers; they know how to talk to other vets and to the mentally ill.