Los Angeles Mission's Blog

"Hoping to remove the stigma of homelessness and curb future attacks, state Sen. Darrell Steinberg has introduced a bill to make attacking homeless people a hate crime. The bill, Senate Bill 122, would add a person's homeless status along with disability, gender, nationality and race to criteria for hate crimes. Prosecutors could seek up to a year in jail and $5,000 in fines. " -from Protecting the homeless, March 25, 2007, The Sacramento Bee.

Attacking innocent people on the streets should never be tolerated, homeless or not! However, to make such a law work we need first to define “homeless.” That term is very loosely defined today. Roughly speaking it is anyone without a permanent address.

So, does the law apply only to person out on the street? Or, does it apply to those living in a daily rate hotel, or sleeping on the floor at a friend’s house? Does it apply to a person who has an address but chooses to sleep on the street? I would rather we enhance and enforce the laws currently on the books and apply them to the maximum against those who willfully inflict violence on someone less powerful – on or off the streets – rather than add a vaguely defined term to a clear list of things that merit hate crime status.

Let’s focus on providing sufficient temporary and permanent safe housing, rather than clog up the courts with one more legal status to defend.

--Herb Smith, President

In the March 25, 2007 LA Times article by Paul Pringle titled Catholic Worker altruism isn't deductible, Pringle addresses an area sometimes little understood by many people. The IRS tax-exempt non-profit status is a great thing if you are looking to use the tax code of this country for charitable deductions. However, there are many organizations that simply choose to do well without tax credits.

To suggest all altruism needs to be run past the IRS is nonsense. However, what is more important for all charities is to have loyal donors and volunteers such as those at the Catholic Worker. The Los Angeles Mission has a large number of committed volunteers. We have chosen to register with the IRS more for the convenience of our donors than for any benefit the IRS gives to the Mission. Each organization needs to evaluate how it will work within our governmental systems. But, integrity must be foundational to whatever organizational structures or employment practices are used.

I applaud the donors and volunteers at the Catholic Worker. Together we can all make a difference for those in need.

Herb Smith, President

Thanks to Kathleen Nye Flynn for addressing this issue in this Los Angeles Downtown News article. The Los Angeles Mission is very supportive of the concept of Supportive Housing. We deeply regret the lack of HUD funding for this type of program in Los Angeles.

Although we do not take federal funding we cooperate with others who do. We see ourselves as a first and second step towards the need for permanent housing. As part of my “Mission Without Walls” vision, I would like to see us working in partnership with some of the entities who receive construction financing. I believe together we can do so much more than any one of us can do alone!

Anybody out there looking for a cause? Try on Supportive Housing!

Herb Smith, President

Recently I attended a meeting between the Hospital Association of Southern California, several hospitals --- and a number of service providers such as Midnight Mission, Union Rescue Mission and Volunteers of America on the issue of dumping indigent patients on Skid Row.

As President of the Los Angeles Mission I have repeatedly commented on the dumping issue.

“Hospitals can't cure homelessness,” was the title of an Opinion page column on February 28 in the Los Angeles Times. The Op-Ed article by Brian Johnston, chief of emergency services at White Memorial Hospital is correct in stating that hospitals cannot cure homelessness. Hospitals do have real challenges. But, I believe they should not contribute to the problem with poor practices.

I am pleased to report that there is some inkling of a plan to help correct this issue.

There are myriads of regulations, positions and opinions about how to stop it and who should pay the associated costs. There is a long way to go on this issue but I want to congratulate those that showed up and were willing to at least discuss the issues.

As they say, a lot of life is just showing up. I hope that as this pilot project progresses everyone will enter into constructive dialogue on how best to serve the homeless and poor population. We need to address both those who are discharged and those who leave against medical advice.

We at the Los Angeles Mission remain committed to help. We will continue to review our policies and procedures to see how we might be better equipped to help this homeless population with hope and dignity. I challenge the other providers, hospitals and government to do the same.

Let’s put and end to dumping and show the world that Los Angeles can do the right thing for our homeless and needy citizens!

Herb Smith, President

For decades, the 5th and Hill gang allegedly was the biggest drug dealer in downtown Los Angeles.

One good outcome of the recent increased policing in Skid Row is the arrest of these criminals! Enough can not be said about the way fear, terror and abuse affect the homeless on skid row. This gang has long been a preying on the weak on the streets. Those people not strong enough to resist the gangs – or for whom drug use has taken over all of their ability to think rationally about right and wrong.

Now that this gang is out of business, I hope we can see more of the kinder and gentler side of the LAPD as they work with the Skid Row population. They often refer the homeless to service providers such as the Los Angeles Mission where we can show love by caring for immediate needs of food, clothing and shelter with the long term goal of restoration with jobs, family and housing.

Way to go Andy Smith and department. On these arrests we can all agree you did the right thing!

To Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Police Chief William J. Bratton, let’s not stop here. Let’s finish the job of gang removal across Los Angeles.

Only then can we begin to build up safe neighborhoods where children and parents can interact safely with other neighbors. A place where NIMBYISM can be replaced with a welcome mat to those less fortunate than ourselves who need housing and supportive services. Where the quality of life rivals the economic values of our California real estate!

Herb Smith, President

Recently about 30 students from our program along with myself and a couple staff members attended the Los Angeles Kickoff of Keep America Beautiful. As far as kickoffs, speeches and rah rah went it was a great political event.

No offense, but the problem was – we went expecting to roll up our sleeves and do real cleanup. However our assignment was to go to Little Tokyo to sweep streets that are routinely cleaned! Maybe next year we can find some more needy neighborhoods and neighbors to serve. But, being the good citizens we desire to be we decided to walk to Starbucks to thank them for their donations and to sweep their parking lot. A great time was had by all as can be seen in these photos!




We were also blessed with some new flowers to plant in our courtyard to cheer the spirits of our friends and neighbors. Special thanks to Bert Ball for buying all the student coffee and goodies! I know this random act of kindness has paid eternal dividends.

I hope the spirit of this event gets put into some real elbow grease cleaning up our parks and public areas. We at the Los Angeles Mission are committed to keeping our facility at it’s best for service to the community. Our thanks to everyone that lends a helping hand.

-Herb Smith, President

I could not believe my eyes reading the Los Angeles Times article County to lose up to 2,500 rent vouchers.

Caroline Davis might be sad, I am stunned in disbelief! At the Los Angeles Mission we constantly have inquiries and needs for Section 8 assistance. We tell our students, friends and neighbors that there is such a backload shortage that they need to apply early and try to get prepared to be on their own. But, to find out our County cannot find the staffing to meet the real needs of Angelinos is appalling.

To find out that this is an historical practice leaving up to 17% of the vouchers on the table each year is just plain inexcusable. In my book it is equivalent to dumping homeless patients. It just isn’t as obvious to everyone. Does the word intentional oppression fit?

Honorable County Supervisors, may I suggest you replace those in charge with persons who can get the job done! Nothing less than 100% success is acceptable here. Maybe then we will have a chance to receive future HUD funds for the 73,472 unsheltered homeless persons per HUD’s 2005 Continuum of Care survey.

Herb Smith, President

Yesterday the Los Angeles Mission held its’ “Ask the Captain” program before lunch. This is the periodic opportunity for our guests and neighbors to ask questions of the police department. Los Angeles Police Central City Division Captain Andy Smith was kind enough to field questions – despite the noticeable snoring by some of our more tired guests!

I was intrigued by the field of questions. They ranged all the way from receiving littering tickets for stamping out a cigarette butt on the sidewalk to identity theft. There were the usual “my friend did such and such” attempts to avoid personal responsibility. There were the usual allegations of racism, abuse, wrongful accusations and the like. What amazed me was how much it sounded like the regular LA City Council meeting – where nobody really wants to own the issues they bring up.

If we are going to solve homelessness in LA in the next 10 years we need to stop hiding behind name calling and move on to constructive action. Where are the housing units promised by the Mayor? Where are the funds to address mental illness and permanent support housing with the continuum of care promised by the state? And more to the point, where is the spiritual and moral fiber needed by all of us to get off the talking points and on to the implementation of our vision of housing and services provided with dignity, open to spiritual guidance and underwritten by gainful employment that promotes independence and self esteem?

The old cliché seems to hold true, “when all is said and done, more is said than done.”

--Herb Smith, President