Homeless in LA

RT (2024)

Film Review

https://en.rtdoc.tv/films/1188-homeless-in-la

According to this film, roughly 10 million Californians lack stable housing, some despite working two to three jobs. This represents an increase of 12% since 2023. In Los Angeles, known as America’s homeless capitol, there are 80,000 “unhoused” living in LA. Some live in their cars, some couch surf and some live on the streets. Third world visitors are shocked to see homeless tents lining the streets on so many Los Angeles streets, especially in Hollywood.

Nearly all analysts link California homelessness to the skyrocketing cost of housing. Renting a single room in Los Angeles runs around $1400 a month and a studio apartment $3,500-4000. Sadly a November 2024 citizens referendum to enact rent control was defeated, thanks to a massive media campaign by the California Apartment Association (representing wealthy landlords)

Most agree that the Covid lockdowns caused the biggest increase in homelessness. Prior to Covid, the homeless were required to take their tents down during the day.

The film features interviews with a representative of a non-profit group providing free portable showers for LA’s homeless, the manager of a free food pantry serving large numbers of the city’s homeless and a dozen LA residents living on the streets. About one-third are mentally ill and another third have jobs. There are also large numbers of disabled veterans and seniors living in cars because social security benefits are too low to cover rent.

The mentally ill end up on the streets because affordable outpatient mental health services. It’s typically for hospitals to treat them for three days and then discharge them to the streets. Recently a Nevada state hospital dumped 500 of their mentally ill patients in Tucson, 500 in Sacramento and 500 on skid row in LA.

The food pantry manager blames California’s broken foster care system, which suspends all aid to kids removed from troubled homes at age 21. Approximately 70% of foster children become homeless at some point. They are also at high risk for addiction, mental illness and imprisonment.

The filmmakers follow one homeless couple through their day. They offer tips on making signs for “spangling” (panhandling using a sign) and begging for food at outdoor restaurants. Some offer unusually sophisticated explanations for their predicament, eg the growing number of billionaires and their growing control over a government that no longer serves the interests of working people.

Most LA homeless look to private charities, rather than government, for help, as it can take more than a decade to qualify for government subsidized housing. The filmmakers visit Skid Row Rescue, run by a Christian charity receiving limited government subsidies. It currently houses 600, mainly families with children. They also visit a low rent building owned by a non-profit housing group