Third World America … Can You Look Away?

When I was growing up in Northern California in the early 60s to late 70s, we didn’t know about “homeless” people.

In Chico & Redding, where I grew up, we certainly didn’t see a lot of them. Not lining the doorways, wandering the streets with shopping carts full of their meager belongings, nor sleeping in the streets.

What I now know were homeless, were then called “hobos” or “drunks” by my parents and their friends — making it sound as if these men — for we never saw women and children in this predicament — chose this “lifestyle” and, in some cases, romanticized it — like “riding the rails.”

According to Jim Peth and other homeless advocates, it’s just not that way.

On Saturday, April 17, I was fortunate enough to see the first installment of Costa Mantis‘ mini-series, Searching for Safe Ground, called “Third World America,” profiling life on the streets of Sacramento.

As the people in the film were interviewed said, none of them were “prepared” to become homeless. In fact, many of them, on their way to work each morning, would see the homeless and think to themselves, “what losers,” and “why don’t they just get a job?”

But, today, with the nation’s unemployment hovering at 10 percent, and Sacramento’s at more than 12 percent, losing one’s job is an ever-present reality. And losing one’s job more than often means losing one’s shelter.

“I never thought I’d be out here,” said one man, who is a warehouseman by trade. He had a good job for 20 years — then, boom — no job, and no house. Then he lost his son. The experience threw him for a loop; and threw him out onto the streets.

“But why do we have to SEE it, this homelessness?” you ask. “Isn’t that what the shelters are for?”

Well, as I’ve mentioned in this space before, there are several problems with that. First, and foremost — there just aren’t enough shelter beds. Period.

Second — the rules of the shelters are very constricting — rules like, 1) you must check in no later than 3 p.m. or you lose your bed for the night.

Small price to pay, you say?

Well, you try conducting your life on someone else’s time clock and see if you can 1) get around (usually w/no private transportation); 2) do the things you need to do during the day — like see the doctor, go to job training or even go to work, fill out job applications or rental applications — or even do laundry — and hoof it back over to Cal Expo on the other side of town in time for 3 p.m. sign-in.

[Are you surprised that some homeless people work? Yes, it's true. You can hold down a job, and still not amass enough money to make first & last month's rent, plus a deposit, to move into your own place. So people continue to live on the street.]

Another problem with the shelters that the homeless have to contend with is fighting and intimidation — and sleeping next to strangers. You see, at the shelter, they put you into dormitory-style bunk-bed housing, and you’re unable to choose your bunkmates. (Unlike the Safe Ground “camping” situation, where homeless residents set up camps in close-knit family-style units, where they know their neighbors.)

“I never saw any fighting problems until I came out here,” said one man identifying as Reno, talking about his experience at one of the shelters.

I’m not suggesting they do away with the shelters. I’m simply saying that shelters are for “temporary emergencies” — and the homeless problem is not a “temporary” one.

So, what to do?

Clearly, what Sacramento has tried thus far hasn’t worked.

Sister Libby Fernandez of Loaves & Fishes said that she and others won’t stop fighting until there is “safe ground” for homeless people to sleep on at night without fear of reprisal — ie: being forced to move on from said location by the city, as its done since it shut down Tent City exactly one year and one day ago.

The city’s illegal camping ordinance, which prohibits outdoor camping on both private and public property for more than 24 hours (thus making even overnight Scouting trips illegal, although no Boy Scout troop has ever been cited), is, in short, applied arbitrarily, and criminalizes people for being poor.

As one minister interviewed for the film said, securing an outdoor space — ie: “safe ground” — isn’t the end-all, be-all solution for homelessness in Sacramento. We all know that permanent housing is needed. But until that can be accomplished, and until there are more and better methods for housing the homeless, “safe ground” is a good start.

As we heard in Mantis’ film, the city has only been obstructionists when it comes to allowing the homeless to gather and rest their heads in a safe place. At one point last year, before Tent City was dismantled, a private company bought and paid for 10 Porta-Johns to be placed in and around the location — free of charge to the city.

The city ordered them removed. Then it complained that Tent City had too much refuse.

Later, when civil rights attorney Mark Merin offered his private property as a place where homeless residents could set up camp, he was cited by police, acting at the behest of the city.

Seems like the city just wants its homeless to go away. But go away to where?

As one homeless resident said, “These people WERE somebody…ARE somebody. There’s welders, secretaries, lawyers, a waitress… nobody planned to become homeless. But we’re here.”

One wonders how Mayor Kevin Johnson would treat Jesus in Jesus’ day for sleeping outside?

Look at it another way: Do you feel it is a right or a privilege to lay your head down and sleep every night?

There, but for the grace of God, go I.

Until next time.

Keep the faith.
AY