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# Those who belittle the homeless do nothing to help the dilemma
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/those-who-belittle-the-homeless-do-nothing-to-help-the-dilemma/
- Published: 2003-07-21T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T00:23:11.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless, Homelessness

*By Charles Springer*

I often wonder why the homeless are so persecuted by certain individuals in this community.

The people who have the most trouble with homelessness are the ones who have a degree of power and prestige in this community. I wonder if these individuals would ever consider focusing their efforts on helping to eradicate homelessness all together instead of trying to start a witch hunt every time some issue comes up dealing with the homeless.

These people seem to have no idea what would happen if their ideas stick and people start to attack the homeless population. I guess their morals and compassion are somewhat lacking, because if one of us who are homeless gets hurt or killed by someone who reads and believes all the negative crap these individuals spew out they would be morally, if not criminally, responsible. How would they feel if it were them being verbally harassed or physically attacked because of what someone has written about them?

It would seem they are not as powerful or influential as they would like to believe they are. If they were, they would be taking on the ones who are responsible for the homeless situation.

They would be writing things about how the mega corporations are laying off people just to keep the CEO’s multi-million dollar pay check.

They would be calling for the removal of all politicians who are sleeping with these corporations and giving them all the tax breaks, allowing them to move jobs and corporate offices out of the country so they will not have to pay the taxes and can exploit the poor of underdeveloped countries so they can keep profit margins above the norm for any American-based corporations.

They would be calling for watchdog groups to keep the homeless agencies in line and ensure the homeless citizens of this nation are helped in getting jobs and housing. They would — if they are apartment property owners — give up some of their rental property, some of which has stood vacant for years, to be rolled back to rent control prices.

But, alas, that is not the situation. These individuals seem to have no conscience at all when it comes to the homeless. They think that because they work hard to achieve what they have that no one else is worthy of the American Dream. They do not realize that homeless people like myself and those who do work out here are not less than they.

On Wednesday, a homeless man was killed at the Farmer’s Market. I knew him and he was a hard working individual, he was sober and living at Turning Point.

We, who are homeless, are human beings not animals. We are American citizens, not some terrorist group. We have feelings and spirits and are all created by God, the same as those who constantly have something negative to say about us.

I, once again, issue this challenge to those who are so anti-homeless. Come out to the streets for one month, with nothing but what you can carry on your back. If you cannot meet this challenge then you are, in my opinion as a hard working, educated, creatively blessed homeless man, nothing but a coward and a bully who attacks those who cannot defend themselves but cannot stand up to those who are stronger than you to help solve this dilemma of homelessness.

You need to either help with solving the problem or stop trying to stop and belittle those of us who want to solve the problem. Because in the vernacular of the street, “Karma’s a bitch” and you who are so anti homeless have really chalked up much bad karma, constantly blasting those who are weaker than you.

To those who are trying and wanting to help with solving the homeless situation in a positive way, I commend you for your efforts and keep up the good work. (Charles Springer is a freelance writer and artist living on the streets of Santa Monica. He)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 21, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/072103.pdf?ref=smdp.com)