Los Angeles Mission's Blog

The LAPD is cracking down on all kinds of crime on Skid Row lately and that is good. One of the most recent stories is the arrest of shop owners who have been scanning food stamp cards and giving some cash to the holders, and then pocketing the rest.

The card holders then use the money for drugs or alcohol, stuff the cards weren’t designed to supply.

Then they come to the Mission seeking help or a meal, because their money – and government assistance – is gone.

We don’t turn away anyone seeking help, and we won’t unless they present a danger to others who are coming here for assistance. But… If they were using their government support for what it was intended, rather than feeding their addictions, they might more readily face the reality of their situation.

Once that happens, once someone realizes that the temporary fix isn’t fixing anything, then they are more likely to seek the help that will result in turning their life around.

You can’t force someone into successful rehab. But you can narrow their choices so that they seek the help they need.

That’s why drying up the sources and their resources for recreational drugs is important.

--Herb Smith, President

At the Los Angeles Mission you will often hear references to dignity and respect. We believe that when you treat a person with dignity and respect that it elevates them, and often give them a glimmer of how life can be when they have self-respect.

I recently wrote about Councilwoman Jan Perry talking about people not living on the streets of Skid Row, but rather dying on the street.

Everything was brought home by a story and an editorial in the LA Times about the annual burial of the unclaimed deceased in LA. More than 1,600 people we buried at one time with a modest ceremony and virtually no public attention. While I’m sure the “modest” ceremony was dignified, the deaths and burial of these humans – many homeless – certainly wasn’t.

Most funerals have some recognition of a person’s life, some memories shared, and their passing noted. Not these people. Sometimes only their name is known. Sometimes not even that.

We will all pass from this life to the next one. As Christians, we believe that life is everlasting, and we will spend eternity with our Savior. We respect our guests at the Mission enough to tell them that, and offer them the opportunity to accept it or not, it is their decision to make.

The time to show respect is not just in death. It is important, and the reason we exist, to show respect to people during their life. We believe it is the first step to redeeming a life from the streets of Skid Row.

--Herb Smith, President

Last weekend Wolfgang Kaupish became a new US citizen. In recognition of his changes in life his family suggested a donation to the Los Angeles Mission in his honor.

What you might not know is that Wolfgang was a German Luftwaffe lieutenant. At 91 years of age he has chosen to become a US citizen. A man who at one time was part of the enemy forces is now a brother.

I congratulate Wolfgang and his family for this change in his life. I say this to instill hope in all of us that bad circumstances, sometimes beyond our control, ultimately do not control us … and we can change. That’s the message of the Los Angeles Mission. Lives are changed by love and compassion.

For more on the life of Wolfgang check out his story at Venturacountystar.com. Welcome home Wolfgang!

--Herb Smith, President

The recent crackdown on garbage is long overdue in Skid Row. The comments in the LA Downtown News article blaming the homeless for this problem are silly. Yes, the homeless should know better, but they don’t! It’s like putting a drink in front of an alcoholic and getting upset when they get drunk! You need to remove the temptation to help bring about the desired results.

Businesses need to assume the social responsibility for disposing of their trash in an appropriate manner and many do their part. I’m sure Estella Lopez and the team at Central City East Association is capable of finding a solution that benefits the businesses, patrons and ultimately the homeless.

Here at the Los Angeles Mission we clean up our sidewalks and take care of our trash. I suggest others do the same. At the same time we will continue to provide services that will hopefully take people of out the cardboard and dumpsters and put them in a warm, safe dignified place to begin their recovery.

Cardboard is trash, human lives are not!

--Herb Smith, President

Homeless in America


One of our friends sent me this video depicting his perspective on homelessness. On opening day of “The Pursuit of Happyness”, I wanted to share another set of images with you. Look into the eyes of these people in these images and you will see that haunting need for acceptance and love that binds all of us together as humanity.

On a sadder note, I applaud the LA Times for its article today on the scams of Skid Row. We who work here on Skid Row are constantly having to evaluate the distribution of goods and services in expectation that some of our assistance will be turned to currency for the drug trade. Who would think that things like Pez candy, Barbie dolls or clothing can become barter for those preying on the homeless during their addictions.

I for one applaud this effort by the police as part of the process necessary to begin assisting those most affected from this greed and dishonesty. Maybe as a community service the guilty could clean the new $250,000 toilets. Better yet, they could staff some free ones elsewhere on Skid Row!

--Herb Smith, President

Last evening, thanks to Sony Pictures and Imagine LA, I had the opportunity to screen the upcoming Will Smith movie The Pursuit of Happyness. I highly recommend it as entertainment and for the fact it does address homeless issues at a talking point level for children. And, in the end, Will’s character, based on the true story of Chris Gardner, does succeed in finding that American dream.

The real-life issues the homeless face, such as the decline in family support structures, economic challenges and living conditions portrayed in the film, are all too well known to those who work with the homeless. In reality there are very, very few homeless with the fortitude of character and natural abilities to succeed in life like Chris Gardner. Absent from the movie were the more prevalent issues the homeless face, like mental illness, drug or alcohol abuse or battered children and spouses. Homeless issues are much more down and dirty in reality - more the reality TV genre rather than a PG-13 Christmas release.

I do applaud the producers for this work and hope that it indeed does raise awareness of the issues some homeless face. I especially like the positive role model in the movie of a black man’s dedication to his child, something so needed in our larger culture. I just hope we don’t let fairytale endings cause us to loose the dedication, fortitude and persistence to really address the other issues the homeless face.

--Herb Smith, President

Jan Perry spoke to the City Club last Thursday. I love the comment she made that people don’t live on the sidewalks of Skid Row; they are dying on the sidewalks. Instead of an ACLU lawsuit to let people sleep on the street, why isn’t there a lawsuit to force other parts of the city and county to comply with housing laws already on the books! As the Mayor said Sunday, the issue of homelessness is not a Skid Row only issue. It is a national disgrace.

I am looking at one man’s demise as I write these words. For the last hour I have peeked out my window on Skid Row to watch one older guy. He’s probably 60; cleanly dressed but drunk. He started leaning on the wall. Then progressed to sitting on the sidewalk, and is now completely out cold, sleeping it off. I then saw someone come by and pick up his bagged bottles and carry them away. Around him have been Christmas shoppers with boxes in tow, a couple of kids looking a bit “gang banger,” a woman and her child and a host of others who stepped around him, looked over or beyond him and kept on walking. Reminds me of the Good Samaritan story in the Bible.

Next time you hear that lyric from the Christmas song “Silver Bells:” “city sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style,” remember the guy for whom too much holiday spirits is killing him on those sidewalks. Better yet, contact your government officials to see what they are doing to help with the needs of the homeless in your community. Or get involved with the Los Angeles Mission as we try to provide help and hope for those in need.

--Herb Smith, President

I am outraged that the City of LA even considered spending 3 Million dollars to settle a law suit on the grounds of discrimination when everyone involved had participated in these pranks before! I’m a former volunteer fireman and my brother is a fire chief. I know that firefighters need a stress reducing outlet. Good personnel policies should allow for some fun in the workplace without jumping to the “D” word! These are bright men and women whom I’m sure can find some creative ways to have fun.

My outrage is compounded by knowing how many housing units could be created for the homeless with those funds! Based on my understanding of the cost of the recently dedicated Rainbow apartments on Skid Row it would be about a dozen! Yes 12 people, many of whom might have eaten dog food while out on the streets, would be given help. To me the “D” word applies more to failure to help the homeless –not one questionable prank.

The old adage “do unto others as you would want others to do unto you” should be remembered. For my money I’d rather the dog food go to a new puppy in an affordable housing unit where a mother and her children have safe housing and supportive services for the future!

--Herb Smith, President

This week we transition from thoughts of turkey to those of mistletoe. I wonder what it feels like to those out on the street. Those pilgrims and turkeys have given way to trees, stars and other symbols of Christmas and Hanukkah. But, does this transition mean anything to those wondering about the next meal or where to go out of the rain?

The Los Angeles Mission celebrates transitions because it celebrates the change in human lives! No twinkling lights to sparkle on these changes, only the celebration of a host of angels celebrating the renewal of life.

So, while you plan those traditions under your roof, buy a gift for a needy child or make those yearend tax contributions, think about what really matters. And if changing lives matters to you, then make a contribution of more than toys to something that really matters in life. Yes, it might be the Los Angeles Mission or some other human life changing cause that makes an ultimate difference.

--Herb Smith, President