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On the way to my Open House in Irvine today I saw something that really rocked me emotionally. I saw a despondent-looking man, whom I took to be a homeless veteran, sitting on the curb at the side of the road, just staring across the street at the former El Toro Marine Base. He was just sitting there. Basically in the middle of nowhere, with the mid-day sun beating down. Just staring. I have no idea what he was staring at. The base is long-closed. Little by little it is morphing into Orange County’s Great Park.
In South Orange County we don’t have a very visible problem with homelessness. I’m sure it’s out there, we just rarely see it. Every few years I’ll see one or two individuals hanging around the same area for a short period of time, but they seem to move on fairly quickly. Local city statutes aren’t very accommodating for the homeless.
Perhaps that’s why it hit me so hard this morning. I’m not used to seeing it. I’m not used to thinking about it. I don’t like the idea that there are people out there with nowhere to go.
Sure there are those who got there by making poor decisions. Maybe even the majority. But what about those who became homeless through no fault of their own? What about those who have lost heart and their way as a direct result of serving our country? What if the guy I saw sitting on the side of the road came back from a tour of duty mentally destroyed and unable to integrate successfully back into society?
Is there any way to determine who really needs help and who is just milking the system? I’d love to hear from anyone who has experience working with the homeless. What works and what doesn’t? How can ordinary citizens help those who are truly homeless without running the risk of throwing away hard-earned money to some scam artist? I’ve heard these guys make significantly more money than I do and manage to do it in much less time. Not really something I’m looking to sign up for.
For safety reasons I didn’t stop to talk to the man sitting on the curb. Homeless or not he is a stranger. There was no opportunity for a kind word or anything else. So I’m left with this feeling of sadness. Sadness for the man sitting on the curb; and sadness that we as a society aren’t free to help unless we are willing and prepared to assume potential risks. I can’t help but think, “Therefore, but by the Grace of God, go I.” All I can offer this man is something that he will never see. All I can offer him is prayer.
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14 responses so far ↓
1 Real Estate Blog - Project Blogger Round Up Week 10 June 11-17 // Jun 20, 2007 at 4:59 pm
2 Michelle DeRepentigny // Jun 20, 2007 at 5:02 pm
It is really sad and it is very noticeable in my area. Our city put up a parking meter downtown, where we have many homeless…instead of encouraging pan handling, they request we put change in the parking meter, which is then donated diretcly to ou homeless shelter and other groups that help provide for them.
3 Kelly Kilpatrick // Jun 21, 2007 at 9:46 am
Michelle: That is a wonderful idea. I’d be interested to hear how much revenue the meter generates and whether the city feels that it has been beneficial to the homeless population.
4 Mary Pope-Handy // Jul 7, 2007 at 8:45 am
That parking meter idea is excellent. Los Gatos is upscale too, so we do not see a lot of homeless people. But they are here too and there are some services available. Our faith communities have an ecumenical coalition to provide services. My parish (Catholic) has vouchers for a night at a hotel (to get shelter and get cleaned up) and there are toiletries that are given out. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at Old Town has showers and lockers for the homeless. And I know that other religious organizations do things too. Donating to these groups is a good way to help, I think, and it’s what we do.
Great post, Kelly
5 Lynda Eisenmann // Jul 21, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Hi Kelly,
You wrote a very thoughful post on this one. Sorry to say I don’t have any help to offer here myself. We also see very little (yet I know it exists) in my area of No. Orange Co. too.
The last time I saw someone who appeared to be homeless I bought him a meal, but that was all.
6 Sue // Apr 14, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Don’t think your not seeing homeless people in your areas. They don’t wear signs that say they are homeless. They try very hard to fit in and be clean and dress decently. They do not want to be humilated by people staring at them like they have a disease. When you see the dirty ones or clothes ripped you are dealing with addiction or mental illness. There are more than you would ever imagine hiding at night in parking lots and parking lots.
7 homeless shelter in Orange County - Dogpile Web Search // May 4, 2008 at 7:07 am
8 Judy Kanarek // May 10, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Hello Kelly,
I totally understand your predicament. I went to
find a friend that I heard was at the Fullerton
Armory, where homeless are allowed to sleep
for the night. What I saw still haunts me, at first
I was shocked that there alot of families, you would never know these were homeless people
I spole with a few and was surprised that a majority do work, they cannot afford OC’s high
cost of rent, don’t have an address to put on the rental agreement, don’t have good credit, and don’t have the first and deposit to get one, mostly bad credit. I thought thats terrible you work hard and you can’t afford shelter? The number of homeless is in the thousands. I was so sad to see these people suffer. That I am in the process of making a documentary about “The Real OC”, many people are unaware of the homeless problem. How can such an affluent county condone homelessness, because they don’t know. If anyone would like to assist in
the documentary or have any ideas please
email. Godspeed. Judy
9 Courtney Grove // May 24, 2008 at 11:36 am
There lots are ways to help the homeless without losing your hard earned money. The “Village of Hope” organization builds buildings for homeless to live in comfortably while being taught the useful skills needed to secure a good job. It’s offered to any homeless person ready for a change. After a suitable amount of time, if they do not change and appear to be mooching off the system, they have to leave. This is a great system, because it also offers therapy and help to the parents and children. If you don’t feel comfortable donating money to this cause you can donate food, clothes, furniture, and other useful products. This is a way to eliminate homelessness for those who want it.
10 Neill Nyssen // Jun 5, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Nice to see the interest in this subject. Good for you all! Avoiding this problem is not the answer. Only when we can discuss it and find sloutions will we/(do we) have a better world.
11 Neill Nyssen // Jun 5, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Kelly.
After reading your comments in greater detail I feel I must say the following.
First know that I was once homeless back in the mid 90’s, although I have fought my way back from the gates of hell, and now find myself a graduate (Last May 17th) from Pepperdine University with a masters in clinical psychology MFT.
Yes, I was a lonely drug/alcoholic homeless man living in my truck. I now work therapy with homeless men at the Village of Hope in Tustin.
I want to comment on two of your ideas and address your skepticism as to knowing when to help a legitimate homeless person from being taken by a con.
First off, I want to clarify that most, if not all homeless people suffer from some form of mental trauma and/or abuse. You have to asked yourself, what kind of “normal” person would choose to “milk the system” as you cynically implied? I think you would find it much to your benefit and relief to start looking at “all homeless people” in a sympathetic as well as an empathic way. try not to get caught up in “who’s real and who’s faking?” More times than not, they’re “real.”
Second: Know that there is no difference between the Vietnam Vet, with a “reason” to be homeless, and the average guy who “chooses to do drugs and mess his life up.” Both men are sick and need to be dealt with the same. All are the same; the Vet; the drug addict; and the “fake” con. You have to get to the root of why these people are making the choices they make. It’s not easy; doing this takes love, understanding, and commitment
Feel free to write me and we can discuss in greater detail.
Neill @netzero.net
12 maribel // Jul 14, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Hi Kelly-
I totally agree with Neil, I was homeless in 1976 at age 3, my mother and I went to a church for shelter and there we found a lot of giving people.
Today I live in Irvine where I don’t see many homeless people but going to an event last Saturday really opened my eyes to what is around us and worse what is ahead of us - look up www.ifhomeless.org (they have some very interesting articles on homeless families)
I think this is the perfect time for those who can help to give a helping hand.Also, the People magazine 7-14-08 issue has an interesting article. E-mail me if you are interested in doing something together to help homeless families in need.
13 Sue Sonnenberg // Aug 9, 2008 at 7:32 pm
I am founder of an organization called Clothing the Homeless. We have been going out for over 4 years distributing clothes, and related items to the homeless in Santa Ana. We go to Civic Center area, Salvation Army Hospitality House and MHA Drop in Center. We go to the Santa Ana Armory location in the winter. I would love to be involved in a documentary about homelessness in Orange County. I find it very difficult to get volunteers to give their time to this cause. I think education is so very important. Please contact me about getting involved.
Sue Sonnenberg
14 Faye Chapman // Aug 27, 2008 at 5:55 am
There are organizations that are there for the homeless. I serve on the board of Laguna Relief and Resource Center. We give the homeless a hand up. We would appreciate donations of money, food, clothing, blankets, backpacks, socks and winter is approaching we will need sleeping bags. Thank you and I hope to hear from you soon. When you purchase my book I donate back to the Center.
Thank you
Faye
www.FacesOfTheShadows.com
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