By Milton Billingsley Santa Monica
You have to understand the problems the homeless have with dealing with the different agencies located and ran by Santa Monica City. What is of most importance here is that we all take a breath and try to find out the truth. Why, after decades of failure, the problems still exist?
At first my intentions were to really tell how dishonorable the city fathers are at dealing with the number one problem in Santa Monica. But, I realized the actual problem of homelessness was many fold and the poor cities have no way of understanding or solving them. They just don’t think along spiritual lines.
What I have learned from Pastor Robert at Loveland Church is simple and directly from the Bible. If you want to change, or improve your station in life, your first step is in your mind, then heart, and soon it will begin to change. The city has never aided such Hobo churches, only hindered. Just think about it: If a gathering of homeless people were taught how to improve themselves spiritually, they would soon “Want to be off the streets.”
Remembering that these so-called counselors in most programs do not try to help their clients, they only work to get their paychecks. Nothing is wrong with this scenario because this is why most people in America work. But let’s take a look at the only Hobo church in Santa Monica. The “only” church that accepts men and women as they are. The only church that tries its best to explain the Bible to the Hobos and in turn helps them far greater than such programs as the “Great Money Hound” of Santa Monica, OPCC. I will explain.
On December 2006 the City of Santa Monica paid approximately $130,000 to fund a report by the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. that was in their files all along. What this report states is that the city receives approximately $24 million from several federal agencies for the homeless. What happens next is that the city uses this money for numerous buildings in the name of homeless becoming the largest building contractor in Santa Monica. Wouldn’t it be nice to see a Federal Agency investigate where this money goes to and whom owns the properties they build on.
Also, what should be investigated is why so many city buildings sat empty while they could be of great use by volunteer agencies that help the homeless out of compassion and love and not because they want a paycheck. Maybe some of these wealthy philanthropists around the city should realize that their money could be of greater use if given to people who care.
The truth is that OPCC has an “in” with city fathers and whatever they ask for, they receive. They pout and the city crumbles to their knees. To The City of Santa Monica, OPCC is like the politicians in the Bible, they have two daughters, give me and give me more.
As of recent, the homeless community and some of the indoor volunteer meal programs are quickly coming to an impasse with the city and some of the programs that receive millions of dollars from them. The problem being that the city seems to be changing some of their promises made in contracts with the meal programs and the big money programs are trying to control the volunteer programs that do the work out of love and not money.
What I personally want from the city and the homeless population is that we ALL pull together and try our best to improve the situation. If the city can not get with the program then they should back off, hire people that are qualified and not just related to bosses and allow volunteer programs such as Hand 2 Hand and Hope to do their duty and stop interfering.
Remember guys, all you need is LOVE.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 20, 2007. Read the original PDF.