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# The system works against the homeless
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/the-system-works-against-the-homeless-editor/
- Published: 2006-02-07T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T17:11:35.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless, Homelessness

*By Heidi J. Hameed*

I have been in the midst of the homeless issue for almost two years now, since I came here to Los Angeles County. I have stayed in shelters, been part of programs and only by the grace of God, can I say that I am almost at the end of this latest phase of my life. By his grace, my husband and I acquired jobs and have struggled to find permanent dwelling.

The fact is that the system is set against the homeless. They are persecuted, looked down upon, and treated and looked at as the scum of society. Some rise above the looks, the wrinkled noses and fight to keep their heads above water and, again by the grace of God, they make a go of life.

Others, who deal with demons of their own, are not able to do so and so they simply give up. This leads to addictions in addition to the mental illnesses that plague this city. Drugs, alcohol and sex can be just as easily the end result of the homeless as the catalyst to why they are now homeless. Jobs, or lack thereof, are also factors. The shelters work hard to see that the homeless get off the streets for a while and they have them save their money and that’s super. The problem is that money management takes time and patience and wisdom and sometimes it takes years to learn money management under ideal circumstances. Taking people off the streets who have no concept of money management whatsoever and trying to imprint it into them in six months or less most likely isn’t going to happen, and so they leave the program and spend all the money they’ve saved. They go to the next shelter and the situation only repeats itself. This can go on for years. Sure, sometimes things work out, but from what I’ve seen, it’s not often.

The homeless situation (I hate the word “problem”) needs to be dealt with in a more aggressive manner. Maybe Mr. Edelman (City Hall’s new homelessness czar) has such a program planned; I have no idea, but from what I’ve seen, that is the only way it’s going to happen. When I say aggressive, I’m not talking about cruelty, I’m talking about getting involved and getting one’s hands dirty. Getting to know the actual people involved is a good way to start — especially those who are lucid enough to understand exactly what’s going on and may even feel passionately about the people involved (all of them, homeless or not) who might want to get involved in being part of the solution, having been part of the problem long enough.

I find that the majority of the criticism geared toward the homeless is from people who “appear” to not know them at all. They see one or two who are dirty and smelly and decide that we are all like that. We aren’t. The showers that the homeless can use are open only at certain times, and in certain locations and if they can’t sleep within range of where those showers are, obviously they can’t get to them in time. Those who could use them and don’t are primarily mentally ill and spend the majority of their time just trying to survive and cleanliness isn’t high on the priority list. They feel hated (rightfully so) and they lose the will to live.

There is such a lack of empathy and sympathy in our world. We wonder why our children are killing each other and their parents. We wonder why there is such a lack of “natural” feelings towards other people. Why do we expect them to act like we perceive that they should when they carefully watch the reaction of people towards those who are less fortunate then themselves? I believe that if we truly stepped back, in our own minds, and tried for one or two seconds to put ourselves in the homeless people’s shoes, and truly understand how hard it is for the majority of them, having to live like rats and spend their lives collecting cans for the money to do whatever. Many do it for drinking and drugs, but many others do it for the sole purpose of eating and having a little dignity so they don’ t have to live in food lines.

Another valid point as far as drinking and drugs is this: They aren’t the only ones who drink and do drugs and it’s evidenced by the fact that not all in AA and NA are homeless people. Drugs and drinking involve all racial, social and economic boundaries. Those who are not homeless and poor ought not to be too hasty to judge those in society who are so broken down that for them, drinking and drugs are an escape from the realities of life.

I’ve striven to be as gentle as possible in this little expose. I want to see people of all races, economic situations and even religions come together. I believe in God and in his son as my savior, but ultimately we are all family and although we may not agree with each other, we ought to try to get along better. We are all children of Abraham.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 7, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/020706.pdf?ref=smdp.com)