The troubling economy has brought troubles throughout the country; people have lost jobs, health care and homes. They aren’t just people who worked hourly-paid jobs, they are teachers, engineers, construction and government workers.
Foreclosures are slowing in some areas, but increasing in others, sort of like the unemployment pattern. Some of the lower- to middle-class workers who have been losing their jobs for months now can’t afford to pay their monthly mortgages, or in many cases, even rent. Many lost their homes and have been forced to the one place they worked the hardest to avoid — the streets. They are the new homeless.
Entire families roam the streets in their cars at night looking for a safe place to sleep. Some have to continuously move around throughout the night in order to avoid being harassed by police. They persevere and try to squeeze in as much sleep as they can for the night, because the agenda for the next day is to find work. Sadly, if they have to keep roaming around all night trying to avoid the police, how can they rejuvenate their spirits for the next day?
Long Beach 6th District Councilman Dee Andrews noticed the rising number of people sleeping in their cars in his central district and believes the same problem is spreading to other parts of the city. He wants to help create a safe haven for the new homeless.
“Some people choose to be homeless, but I am trying to help the new homeless,” Andrews said in an interview with the Daily 49er. “These were engineers and teachers that have lost their $500,000 homes and are just looking for a place to sleep without being harassed by the police.”
Andrews is proposing that the city create designated legal sleeping-in-car zones; places where people who have lost their homes can park their cars and sleep at night. These zones will have accessible public restrooms, essential social services and security.
Although his plan should be looked at from a humanitarian perspective, politics is being dragged into it. His fellow council members, who are seeking re-election, will treat the proposal as a hot potato. Already, most of them don’t want to touch it for fear of voter backlash.
Even some homeless advocates — who would be expected to smile and nod to the idea — are surprisingly questioning how it can work. Could it be they are jealous they did not come up with the idea first?
“Ahh, well obviously I need to do a lot more homework,” Andrews said with a chuckle. Yes, there is a lot of homework to be done and questions to be answered, but helping our fellow humans during these times of dire need seems more prudent than completely nixing the idea.
Building new homeless shelters could be a solution, but that is longer term. If the proposal is publicized there are bound to be individuals, churches and organizations willing to help.
Andrews is not looking to make homelessness disappear. As he stated, there is a distinction between “people who choose to be homeless” — the chronic homeless with drug and alcohol problems or mental health issues — and the “new homeless.” He is looking to aid those unfamiliar with their new plights; those who are cruising the streets in cars not pushing shopping carts.