By Ann S. Petersen Homeless in Santa Monica
I feel compelled to respond to the letter written by Jose Marcos (SMDP, Sept. 10, page 4). Congratulations on the successful and productive life that you have had so far, Jose. I understand that you must have worked hard for your accomplishments. You have also been blessed with mental health, if not much compassion.
I would like to offer you some food for thought. You suggest that the “happy” campers (the homeless) should pay for their camping out on the streets, in parks and in their cars. What makes you assume that they are happy? Maybe some of them choose a form of happiness rather than despair over what they perceive to be an inability to change their lives. Maybe some of them choose to self medicate and look happy for the moment. Many are mentally ill from any number of causes. Over 40 percent of the homeless population is comprised of veterans who have been forever changed by their horrific experiences. You might try asking some of them what they went through for their country. Do you think the daily scorn from people like yourself feels good?
Where do you sleep if you are homeless and destitute? If you are lucky you live in a shelter or you have a car to sleep in but if not, common places appear to be public garages, underneath freeway passes, on the sidewalks of industrial areas or maybe by an airport or a bus lot. The air in these places is filled with particles and carbon monoxide and fuel fumes from combustion engines. Not much like lakeside camping. You might choose to sleep on the beach or in a pretty park. But there is pressure to move along. Nobody wants their beautiful public places marred by the by-products of an imperfect society. No reminders of human need and suffering, thank you. So you congregate where you can leave the world’s judgment behind and find companionship and safety together.
Is there someone that you know that you love, that is perhaps a little eccentric, someone with a creative, gentle soul that has a hard time with the practical functions in life? Someone who would rather spend time drinking in the infinite beauty of a flower or strokes the cat rather than tackle that tedious, frustrating homework? Maybe that person has a learning disability or ADD. Imagine someone like that in a family of similarly undiagnosed, frustrated and angry people who act out abusively. Maybe that person gets thrown out or fearing for their life, runs as far away as they can. How can they make their life work? What to do, where to go? Many jobs later … many places later … many relationships later, they might just find themselves in a beautiful, soothing place like Santa Monica.
It is a big challenge to find a way to really help the homeless. Help them to help themselves. Help them find hope that their future can be different. Help them with resources and encouragement. Help them heal from mental illness and joyfully rediscover their God-given gifts. Just maybe the same person you sneered at recently will someday be giving you their autograph or will own that bigger apartment building next to yours.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 16, 2003. Read the original PDF.