Donna Gentry, who has in the past been involved with the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce and is a supporter of Santa Monica’s social service programs, said what’s missing from the 10-year plan and its panel is neighboring cities’ involvement.
She suggested that officials from Beverly Hills, Culver City, Inglewood and cities in the South Bay, need to participate in the plan and accept responsibility in the growing epidemic. It’s widely known that no other surrounding cities, with the exception of Venice and West LA, help alleviate the burden of homeless people living in their communities. In fact, most of them ignore it.
“I don’t see our neighbors involved,” Gentry said, adding there isn’t enough land in Santa Monica on which to build shelters and affordable housing. “We need our neighboring counties to help with that.”
That was Susan Fraser’s experience. She lived in Palos Verdes for nearly three decades before becoming homeless as a result of her alcohol and drug addictions, as well as being diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. She looked to other South Bay communities like Torrance and Manhattan Beach for help, but they offered nothing.
She came to Santa Monica and got involved with service programs such as Step Up On Second, Turning Point and Daybreak. She now lives on her own.
“I lived in Palos Verdes for 27 years, and I’m ticked off no one helped me. How can these people, my dentist, lawyers... not help?” she said. “I came here and was on my way. Santa Monica saved my life.”
Gentry and others said although Santa Monica is criticized for perhaps “doing too much,” resulting in an increase of homeless here, more cities ought to be doing more so Santa Monica doesn’t have to.
“Thank you Santa Monica because most affluent cities don’t do this,” said one former homeless person. “Other cities need to emulate what you are doing here.”
Some speakers said Santa Monica residents need to stop criminalizing the homeless — particularly for basic human behavior like having to eat and go to the bathroom. Two laws recently passed by the City Council — with reluctance — are designed to curb free food programs, as well as urinating and defecating in public.
“Santa Monica has vilified the homeless, accusing them of just about every crime you can think about,” said resident Ken McCrae. “By and large, the homeless population are not criminals.”
Social service providers said short-term solutions must be found before the long-term ones are addressed. They said there aren’t enough year-round emergency and short-term shelters on the westside — especially for women and families.
John Maceri, executive director of Ocean Park Community Center — the largest social service agency in Santa Monica — made a few suggestions for the plan, including making properties already owned and controlled by the city and county of Los Angeles available for shelters and affordable housing. He also added that elected officials must have the political will to resist giving into opposition from residents and businesses near proposed projects. Maceri was recently successful in getting approval from the Santa Monica City Council to build a $7 million, 55-bed shelter at Michigan Avenue and Cloverfield Boulevard.
Maceri also suggested that government should encourage private developers to pay “seed money” into affordable housing infill projects, as well as the government providing support such as mental health and rehabilitative services in apartment buildings for those who need assistance in becoming independent.
Deborah Mathis, associate director of OPCC, said a broad-based community effort must be made to mobilize politicians on a federal level to give money toward ending homelessness.
Some local officials and residents said they are skeptical that the plan can actually be effective in 10 years and the federal government will step up and fund it. LA County’s plan is similar to those of dozens of other cities that are taking on the daunting task, which was spurred by the Bush Administration’s goal to rid the nation of its homeless population.
Mayor Bloom said a recent trip to Portland reminded him that Santa Monica is not alone in dealing with a growing number of homeless people on its streets.
“We are not alone in responding to the call from the president on this,” he told the group Monday. “We tend to feel insular, and obviously it’s a great challenge for us.
“It’s a terrible problem we face day in and day out,” he added. “No one in this country should have to sleep on the streets. No one should live that way.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 28, 2004. Read the original PDF.