Homelessness in Los Angeles

       Everyday, Los Angeles is regularly attempting to keep up its so-called luxurious and glamorous reputation. But what people do not see is the raw, harsh reality of thousands of citizens living in the streets of Los Angeles without a home. Unemployment is one of the main reasons for homelessness (Weinbreger).  As the number of people living in poverty increases and the number of affordable houses decreases, the result is eviction from homes (Koegel).  Thus, the daily lives of these victims are stripped away and new lives of homelessness are created.  However, homelessness did not begin to be a big issue until the 1980s, partly due to the recession from the 1970s that left ten percent of the workforce unemployed, and in essence, unable to sustain themselves (Weinbreger). Now, 254,000 people experience homelessness in Los Angeles every year and approximately 82,000 people expereince homelessness every night (Los Angeles Almanac).  Homelessness is not just found in Skid Row, but in many areas scattered across Los Angeles, the state of California and even across the nation.  Although, Los Angeles has such a great population of homeless people that Mayor Villaraigosa has even said that Los Angeles was the nations homeless capital (New York Times).  In this population of homeless people, only thirty-two percent have received their bachelor degree or even higher, making it even more difficult for the other sixty-eight percent to get a decent job without having the benefit of a college degree (Los Angeles Almanac).
         Homeless people are not treated like everyday citizens--they face discrimination and inhumane treatmeant everyday (Bobby).  They do not receive the treatment of individual human beings, but the treatment of things or trash on the streets (Bobby). Everyday citizens fortunate enough to live a stable life with home must take the opportunity to take a glimpse of reality, away from the luxury and glamour of Los Angeles and walk on the streets of Skid Row.  In order to stop this kind of cruel treatment and ignorance toward the homeless, people must genuinely understand their situation and must understand that they are not inferior to normal citizens, and normal citizens are not superior to them.  They are all equal.  People must take the time to talk to a homeless person or connect to them.  Then maybe that way, our society will begin to understand homelessness and how eveyone is supposed to welcome the stranger openly.