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# Pick yourself up and take responsibility
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/pick-yourself-up-and-take-responsibility-editor/
- Published: 2005-08-12T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T07:34:46.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless, Homelessness

*By Cheryl Erb Santa Monica*

Thank God someone hit the nail on the head regarding the homeless issue in Santa Monica (“My Write,” SMDP, Aug. 8, page 4). Beach cities such as Santa Monica attract homeless people because it’s easier for them to survive a weather-friendly place. This column brings up a lot of correct insights, that people seem to miss because they’re so involved in making their Band-Aid efforts such as feeding the homeless.

I feel that by now after spending millions of dollars on the homeless problem, which has increased, that the city of Santa Monica ought to realize the futility of their efforts. Why can’t/don’t/won’t homeless people contribute/give back/respond to the free services they receive? I don’t think this is too much to ask, and it would show their appreciation.

I came to Santa Monica in 1970 with only a high school diploma, no job waiting for me, and not knowing a single person here. Within a week I had a job in an office, then I enrolled in a school for job training. When I finished school I got a job in what I’d trained for. I never applied for welfare or unemployment. These were not a goal in my opinion because I wasn’t going to degrade myself. I had pride and motivation to do something with my life and to get an education. I continued this throughout my life and continued to work at jobs, including cleaning bathrooms and washing floors, to support myself. I didn’t feel degraded because washing floors and cleaning bathrooms supported me.

When I walk around Santa Monica running errands, going to appointments and/or work, I can’t help but notice the same people on the streets as when I came here in 1970\. These same people have made this their career and lifestyle choice. They have no reason to get off welfare and/or unemployment. Not many people are handed a silver platter in life. Most people have to work to support themselves and their families. Feeding the homeless on any given day should be temporary, but it seems that “any given day” continues from Sunday through Saturday and then starts all over again, week after week, year after year.

I hate the sociological problem of homelessness anywhere in the world. I feel sad, as well as at a loss of what happened to these people that they ended up homeless — no matter where they struggle to exist.

I disagree that the homeless czar should be a person of national reputation because I don’t know what being well-known has to do with anything except it would be that person’s personal public relations. I agree that other communities should share the burden of homelessness. I think it’s an offensive contradiction that this czar be paid $200,000 a year, considering that they’d be working to hopefully resolve the social problems of the homeless population.

The bottom line is that I resent paying taxes for a problem that will probably never be resolved enough to make a difference or be totally resolved. Everywhere I go in Santa Monica the homeless population seems to increase. So how is the city of Santa Monica solving this problem?

A lot of homeless people hide from the world, their responsibilities and themselves. The women live in the parks with men, both homeless. One good thing is that I don’t see them producing baby after baby.

I just don’t understand how a Band-Aid effect is helping these people other than they don’t go hungry today at noon or tomorrow at noon, etc. In the long run, a lot of these people will never help themselves because the people who feed them make it easier for anyone who’s homeless to survive. Why would anyone who feeds them want to make it easier for the homeless to continue in their lifestyle?

The sleeping modules is not a new idea: It’s been kicked around for at least 10 years. I know because I was invited to help design them.

If someone really wanted to help the homeless, they should help them change their lifestyle of being homeless with the ultimate goal being to reduce the homeless population and get professional help for those who really want to change their homeless lifestyle. People are homeless for a lot of different reasons, as well as for the same reasons. I don’t deny that they need help, but it’s a waste of time and money if homeless people aren’t willing to help themselves.

I agree that Santa Monica cannot continue to save everyone who comes here for services they can’t get, or stayed in so long they were no longer eligible, elsewhere. We’re becoming a welfare state

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 12, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/081205.pdf?ref=smdp.com)