Monday, January 18, 2010

Visions of Homeless People in LA (by Janet Rothstein)

   My first attempt at making a video is a slide show: "Homeless in LA. " I really should have said Homeless People in LA, because each person here has value, character, personality, a story and a name.  Most of these people are still homeless. Some remember and acknowledge me, some are in their own worlds. 
   Johnny "Uh-Oh" has now gone into rehab, is living in an apartment, and now directs driveway-traffic to stop for all of us pedestrians on Hill Street. He greets me and others every day with a fabulously healthy attitude! 
   These red shopping carts are provided by a Catholic Organization, specially for the homeless people for their belongings and also for their income-producing can/bottle -recycling!
   I hope the music keeps you watching these scenes and compells you to find someone to help out, as I have.

   By being involved in helping the homeless people here I have met some admirable people:
   Rev. Andy Bales is the CEO of the Union Rescue Mission in the Skid Row area of LA.  He walked around at 3 am to take a census of all the homeless people: in makeshift cardboard shelters, tents, or just laying on the sidewalks. You can volunteer via their website http://www.urm.org/
   Mark Horvath travels across the USA bringing names and faces to the word "Homeless." You can see his videos on InvisiblePeople.tv. 
His friend Dan Cho got me 3 huge bages of socks, which has kept me sorting for months!
   You can follow more good people (some have been homeless) in my twitter list.