Sweeps only shuffle people from one underpass or street corner to another, escalating their crises and solving nothing.
These were the words that haunted me during the more than two decades I spent living on the streets of Los Angeles, from 1977 to 1998. At the time, the city enforced robust anti-camping laws that kept homeless people out of sight but made it nearly impossible for friends, family and case workers to help me find permanent housing.Gavin Newsom gave his own green light
I remember the constant dislocation during those years, and the feeling as a Black woman that a target was on my back. Each displacement not only stripped me of my meager possessions but also my dignity. With each arrest for living outside, I lost everything I owned: Important documents, medications — essentials for managing my life — were gone.
In my worst moments, the threat of arrest led me to dangerous environments where I could avoid law enforcement, but where substance use and domestic violence were prevalent. One such instance led to a terrifying situation where someone overdosed, and out of fear for arrest, we fled instead of calling for help.
The solution lies not in displacement but in permanent, supportive measures. The overwhelming majority of Californians recognize this need. found that 68% of voters believe there is at least some need for additional funding to address housing affordability, with 55% expressing support for a $9 billion housing bond. This indicates a clear public mandate for solutions that provide housing and services rather than punishment.
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