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# Be part of the solution
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/be-part-of-the-solution-editor/
- Published: 2006-07-12T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T18:52:41.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless, Homelessness

*By Mark Strano Santa Monica*

Every day I try to walk through the city of Santa Monica and I am harassed by homeless people. Santa Monica has become a place where homeless men and women build permanent shanties in our parks, sleep in the driveways of our houses, and beg for money on our streets in an increasingly forceful and intimidating manner.

At the June 20 budget meeting, Santa Monicans for Sensible Priorities (SM4SP) gave sufficient suggestions on how to resolve the homelessness issue in the city. Members of SM4SP discussed: 1\. The need for enforcement of already existing vagrancy laws. 2\. Moving the feeding programs away from the city center or indoors. 3\. Allocating funds to allow homeless individuals to contact and arrange housing and reunification with family members throughout nation. 4\. Supporting and encouraging the Veterans Hospital to take more of a role in bringing in homeless veterans because unfortunately, one-third of all Santa Monica homeless are veterans. 5\. Finding alternatives to monetary handouts for the homeless. One example would be to hand out food cards to residents and tourists with information regarding where feeding programs are located. Another alternative to monetary handouts would be to pass out cards providing information as to where the homeless can become enrolled in rehabilitation programs.

Our distribution of money to the homeless and our homeless programs need to be conducted using different and more effective means to an end.

I think it is amazing that we are trying to help the homeless problem, but Santa Monica cannot help every chronic homeless person. The people we do help need to be dealt with through active programs.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 12, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/071206.pdf?ref=smdp.com)