West Side Homeless Outreach

Cold Tale, Warm Ending

2012-01-25T15:53:00.000-08:00

Verlette Franck with son.

Everyday living on the streets can be difficult. For most west L.A, County homeless people, the fall and winter months prove to be more challenging than other times of the year. Two years ago, we lost Geri, a local homeless woman we knew. It had been very cold, and Geri had mental-health issues. She lived on a Culver City (Calif.) street corner, using tattered blankets for a bed. That’s how her troubled life ended.

Geri didn’t lash out. She was kind. But she nervously picked her skin and didn’t seem to be present. My family and I hadn’t started West Side Homeless Outreach yet when we first met Geri, so we would take food and clothing to her from our home. Sometimes I would go to the 99-cent store and buy tuna and crackers, which she loved. Whenever it’s cold, I think of Geri.

On January 18, and it was cold. Loren got a call from another troubled homeless woman. She was referred to West Side Homeless Outreach by the County of Los Angeles. She had her immediate family with her—a husband, who lost his job months ago, and two sons, ages 1 and 4. The four were homeless and needed emergency shelter. The family had been turned out of a Pasadena shelter at 5 a.m. that day. So Loren told them if they took the bus to Westchester, we would put them up for a week in a local motel. Dirty, tired and disheartened, they arrived five hours later.

Implementing our new M.O.M.S. Program™ (“Making Our Mothers Secure”), West Side Homeless Outreach also gave the family a grocery card, a gift card for clothing, and arranged bus transportation for the family so they could seek additional resources.

West Side Homeless Outreach received monetary donations last year, so we were able to help this family, which was in urgent need. Many people contribute clothing and food, which are also needed, but more families with young children are coming to our agency for shelter and other help. Many of the other places can’t help them.

Without your financial support for our M.O.M.S. Program™ and our other outreach services, we won’t be able to either. A weeklong motel stay for a homeless family costs $375–$400. A week’s worth of food for such a family can easily run an additional $100.

We need your financial support to help all west L.A. County homeless people, especially unsheltered moms with young children. Please visit www.wshola.org/donate.html to make a generous donation.

Verlette Franck is vice president and cofounder of West Side Homeless Outreach. She may be contacted at verlette@wshola.org.

You can help West Side Homeless Outreach extend a hand up to thousands of unsheltered people on L.A.’s West Side. An IRS-approved 501(c)(3) charity, we need generous financial support. To accomplish our mission, we also need consistent donations of pop-top canned food, individually wrapped baked goods, bottled water, soft fresh fruit, men’s socks, sweatshirts, T-shirts, outdoor blankets and sleeping bags. To make a financial contribution or to schedule item pickups, please write info@wshola.org. All donations are completely tax deductible.

Visit www.wshola.org.

Reversal of Fortune

2012-01-17T13:52:00.000-08:00

Ever see Reversal of Fortune starring Glenn Close and Jeremy Irons? The entertaining biopic highlights the mysterious life turns of Sunny von Bülow and husband Claus. Formerly, both lavished in luxury, but their lives became a living hell.

Most homeless people have never lavished in luxury. Like the von Bülows, though, many of the unsheltered have experienced reversals of fortune. Few have gone from rich to poor or from living in mansions to struggling to survive as street paupers. Nevertheless, the reversals have hit hard.

Many of the homeless we assist come from middle-class backgrounds. During good times, they enjoyed comfortable homes, nice clothes, tasty food and solid educations. Most had jobs, and virtually all were on their way to achieving their life’s dreams. But then they lost their financial footing, and from there, life was a free fall.

But a different reversal of fortune also relates to homelessness. To help solve the pains and perils of being unsheltered, permanently housed people must also change the direction their lives. They must undergo a reversal of their own—a reversal of attitude, though, not an about-face of assets. To benefit the homeless requires adoption of a positive outlook geared toward solving the pandemic, not making it worse. You must be upbeat, caring and compassionate, not cynical, coldhearted and merciless. In essence, you must be willing to serve, not be served.

You can blame the homeless for their plight, or you can place empathy first and strive to understand their life-shattering catastrophes. You can chase the unsheltered from your streets, sidewalks and parks, or you can socially embrace these needy men and women and guide them to life-saving resources. In short, you can accept the homeless, or you can reject them.

When you step up to help homeless people, however, you’ll experience a reversal of fortune. Their formerly good lives crashed into a murky nightmare. Regarding their position in life, they’ve been where you are. But they’ve fallen, and you haven’t—at least not yet. You haven’t experienced their reversal of fortune.

Ideally, though, you’ll soon experience a reversal that motivates you to extend a compassionate hand up to local homeless people. And when you do, you’ll understand the fulfillment of extending a compassionate hand up to those who need it most.

Loren Franck is president and executive director of West Side Homeless Outreach. Comments or questions? Write loren@wshola.org.

You can help West Side Homeless Outreach extend a hand up to thousands of unsheltered people on L.A.’s West Side. An IRS-approved 501(c)(3) charity, we need generous financial support. To accomplish our mission, we also need consistent donations of pop-top canned food, individually wrapped baked goods, bottled water, soft fresh fruit, men’s socks, sweatshirts, T-shirts, outdoor blankets and sleeping bags. To make a financial contribution or to schedule item pickups, please write info@wshola.org. All donations are completely tax deductible.

Visit www.wshola.org.

Desperation

2012-01-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

Homeless in Venice—desperate.

Yesterday morning, West Side Homeless Outreach fed 135 homeless people on Venice Beach (Calif.). That’s not unusual. We feed and clothe the unsheltered frequently along the Boardwalk.

Pure Gratification

I love serving the homeless in Venice. Of all the west Los Angeles County we assist, they appear to appreciate our efforts the most. The rock-bottom homeless men and women along the Boardwalk tell us so. So, as you might expect, it’s gratifying to know our efforts are vital and appreciated.

Special Occasion

But I was especially moved yesterday when we delivered three hot 16-inch pizzas to a small homeless camp on Ocean Front Walk. The scene was desperate. Unlike most past feedings, where food is received in a reserved self-controlled manner, several guys we fed yesterday scarfed down their pieces with lightning speed.

The experience reminded me there are degrees of homelessness. For instance, some homeless folks “couch surf” at friend’s houses and have minimal incomes from GR (General Relief) or SSI (Supplemental Security Income), while other homeless people are literally living and sleeping on the streets, in alleys and on the sand at the beach. Homeless people might have been created equal, but some are more equal than others.

Positive Influence

The desperation I witnessed yesterday affected me in two ways. Initially, it hit me emotionally. “These people are hungry,” I told myself. “They really need what we offer.” Second, the desperation I saw recharged my motivation to reach down to the lowest level of the homeless experience and extend a compassionate hand up.

That’s how West Side Homeless Outreach differs from many other homeless-helping agencies. We meet homeless people at their various levels and offer the assistance they need and are willing to accept. We don’t make them jump through hoops or “qualify” to receive help.

Renewed Commitment

As 2012 begins, West Side Homeless Outreach is more committed than ever to extend a much-needed hand up to west L.A. County homeless people . . . one life at a time.™ Life on West Side streets is desperate for many men and women who lack permanent homes. And unfortunately, there’s no easy fix. You can take all the pat answers for homelessness, such as “get a job,” and drag them straight to the recycle bin. They’re worthless.

Perfect Description

Desperate times do call for desperate measures. One of the best measures to help the homeless is consistent, committed and compassionate service. And that perfectly describes our work at West Side Homeless.

Loren Franck is president and executive director of West Side Homeless Outreach. Comments or questions? Write loren@wshola.org.

You can help West Side Homeless Outreach extend a hand up to thousands of unsheltered people on L.A.’s West Side. An IRS-approved 501(c)(3) charity, we need generous financial support. To accomplish our mission, we also need consistent funding, donations of pop-top canned food, individually wrapped baked goods, bottled water, soft fresh fruit, men’s socks, sweatshirts, T-shirts, outdoor blankets and sleeping bags. To make a financial contribution or to schedule item pickups, please write info@wshola.org. All donations are completely tax deductible.

For fresh information about homelessness, please visit www.wshola.org.

WSHO Rolls Out New M.O.M.S. Program on Radio Show

2011-12-23T13:34:00.000-08:00

On December 16, West Side Homeless Outreach president and executive director Loren Franck appeared on L.A. Talk Radio’s “Rare Women.”

The exclusive 40-minute nonstop interview, conducted by hosts La Roya Jordan and Vivienne Leigh, addressed WSHO’s new M.O.M.S. Program™. Franck also discussed causes and solutions to local homelessness and how community members can assist the unsheltered. To hear the complete program, click here.

“The guest spot was a wonderful opportunity to highlight our groundbreaking M.O.M.S. Program™,” Franck explained. “It offers emergency assistance to homeless mothers who have infants and other minor children.” The show also presented the essential mission and vision of West Side Homeless Outreach, which is to extend a compassionate hand up to west L.A. County’s unsheltered population. WSHO accomplishes that objective “one life at a time.”

Incredibly, Franck noted during the radio interview, West Side Homeless Outreach has experienced a nearly fourfold increase in the number of young homeless moms seeking assistance. Consequently, he and his wife, Verlette, the outreach’s vice president and cofounder, took their efforts to the next level.

“It’s tragic when anyone is homeless and doesn’t want to be, especially young moms,” said Verlette, mother of an 11-year-old son and extremely sensitive to the needs of young homeless parents. “But when mother and baby, toddlers and teens struggle to survive on the street, the situation is a tragedy.”

“West Side Homeless Outreach has been able to help several unsheltered mothers and their young children recently, but we’re eager to do much more,” Verlette added.

Success of the M.O.M.S. Program™ depends on community support. A top priority is funding, which pays for nightly and weekly stays at local motels. Supporters can also donate food, clothing and personal-hygiene items, which will be given promptly with needy families.

To support the M.O.M.S. Program™ or to obtain further information, send an e-mail to info@wshola.org or call 310-570-9065.

WSHO freelancer Geri McIntyre authored this posting.

You can help West Side Homeless Outreach extend a hand up to thousands of unsheltered people on L.A.’s West Side. An IRS-approved 501(c)(3) charity, we need generous financial support. To accomplish our mission, we also need consistent donations of pop-top canned food, individually wrapped baked goods, bottled water, soft fresh fruit, men’s socks, sweatshirts, T-shirts, outdoor blankets and sleeping bags. To make a financial contribution or to schedule item pickups, please write info@wshola.org. All donations are completely tax deductible.

Visit www.wshola.org.

Rainy Days and Mondays

2011-12-12T16:47:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles gets a three-day storm in mid-December. You can calibrate a calendar to it.

Many who enjoy comfortable homes don’t think much about these seasonal storms. For the homeless, however, rain wreaks havoc. What scant temporary shelter they have diminishes. And often the thundershowers destroy their blankets, baggage, clothing and other belongings.

To provide a poignant picture of how west Los Angeles County homeless people deal with rain, we asked seven of them to share their best blurbs about the rain.

Imagine what it’s like to be homeless during a thundershower. Then think again. What can you do to help west L.A. County homeless men, women and children get off the streets?

Zack: “If I can’t stay dry in a library or Laundromat when it rains, I’m out of luck. I get soaked.”

Carol: “I hate rain. Whenever it comes, I get sick. Last time it poured, I had pneumonia for a month.”

Monica: “Everything I owned was ruined the most recent time it rained—my backpack, suitcase, clothes, you name it. I used to love the rain. It made everything so clean. Now I hate it.”

Roland: “Freezing, wet and miserable—that’s my comment about the rain.”

Jeff: “Being homeless during heavy rain is the worst. If you thought it’s bad living on the streets, it’s really bad being out there in the rain.”

Barbara: “I’m 67. Living on the streets is hard. But trying to get by on the streets during a rainstorm makes my life that much harder.”

Gary: “Most people living in permanent housing don’t understand the horrors of homelessness the rain brings. When these ‘fine folks’ are warm and dry in their living rooms, we’re getting drenched.”

Loren Franck is president and executive director of West Side Homeless Outreach. Comments or questions? Write loren@wshola.org.

Visit www.wshola.org.

Grave Concerns

2011-12-01T17:54:00.000-08:00

Recently, while taking food, towels and personal-hygiene items to west L.A. County homeless people, I met a troubled man. To protect his privacy let’s call him Big E.

Chronically homeless, Big E. lives in Santa Monica parks during the day and sleeps in West L. A. each night. His biggest fear isn’t that he’ll be mugged or see his few belongings burned. Instead, he’s afraid he’ll be homeless until he dies. Big E. is fortysomething, so he could remain without a home for decades.

“I don’t want to die like this,” Big E. told me, tears welling up in his eyes. “Most people don’t understand. Like everyone else, I need to eat, sleep and stay warm. I have medical, dental and eye-care needs.”

Big E. gladly accepted one of the 60 meals we delivered that clear and balmy morning. He appreciated West Side Homeless Outreach’s compassion for the unsheltered, and that we cordially greet them face-to-face as we address their needs. But more than food, Big E. wanted a listening ear—and he got one.

“You’re not alone in your fear of dying homeless,” I assured him, an anxious look riveted in Big E.’s eyes. “Many unhoused people we help say the same thing. In their worst nightmare, they can’t dream of living on the streets for the next 20 years—day after day, cold night after cold night. But they don’t know where to turn.”

“So, what’s the answer?” queried Big E., suddenly more attentive. “I get SSI and my needs are basic, but every night I have to sleep in an outside doorway. And during the day, there’s little to do.”

“Most people would probably say, ‘Get a job,’” I interjected. “That’s a common first response to homelessness.”

“I’ve tried to find work,” Big E. confided, drifting away from me emotionally. “I haven’t had much luck, though, especially in today’s job market. Get real, man. If in a position to hire someone, would you hire me? I don’t know what to do. I can’t be homeless the rest of my life.”

After our ten-minute chat, Big E. and I parted ways, promising to talk with each other again soon. As I returned to my car, Big E. shouted, “Hey, thanks for listening.”

“My pleasure!” I bellowed back. “More than you know,” I whispered to myself.

Loren Franck is president and executive director of West Side Homeless Outreach. Comments or questions? Write loren@wshola.org.

You can help West Side Homeless Outreach extend a hand up to thousands of unsheltered people on L.A.’s West Side. An IRS-approved 501(c)(3) charity, we need generous financial support. To accomplish our mission, we also need consistent donations of pop-top canned food, individually wrapped baked goods, bottled water, soft fresh fruit, men’s shoes, socks, sweatshirts, T-shirts, outdoor blankets and sleeping bags. To make a financial contribution or to schedule item pickups, please write info@wshola.org. All donations are completely tax deductible.

Visit www.wshola.org.

We Get It

2011-11-11T10:17:00.000-08:00

As Thanksgiving approaches, you’re probably being bombarded with emotional appeals. Trust me, it will continue until after New Year’s.

West Side Homeless Outreach is a blossoming charity that serves unsheltered people throughout west Los Angeles County, so we know December and November are the hottest fundraising months for nonprofits. Largely because of tradition, many donate money or products (aka “in-kind” donations) to their pet nonprofits between November and January. There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, we greatly appreciate those who support West Side Homeless Outreach at this “crunch time."

But as we expand our services throughout L.A.’s West Side, we’re amazed by our supporters that assist us 365/24/7. For example, HBO and Entertainment Partners, which share prominent positions in WSHO’s Extra Mile Club, recently came through for us big-time. Their outstanding contributions to West Side Homeless Outreach didn’t result merely from holiday tradition or because “everybody else is doing it.” Instead, both companies wanted to help the neediest men, women and children within our communities.

The same is true with NewRoads School in Santa Monica (Calif.). Throughout each school year, middle- and high-school students there learn about local homelessness and then put that knowledge into action by gathering food, clothing, shoes, blankets, sleeping bags and other items. The students donate these to West Side Homeless Outreach, which promptly delivers them to unsheltered men, women and children throughout west L.A. County (that is, the 80–90 percent of L.A.’s homeless people who are not in shelters). New Roads students are making a difference in disadvantaged people’s lives.

So, as the winter holidays approach, celebrate what’s yours. Rejoice with loved ones. Don’t take anything (or anyone) worthwhile for granted. And if you have a favorite charity—we hope it’s West Side Homeless Outreach—remember it with a generous gift at Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukah. You might feel the need to give during the winter holidays. We understand.

But we hope you’ll also realize that the needs of homeless people don’t fluctuate with the seasons. Their requirements, basic as they are, remain steady year-round. And while unsheltered people’s needs shift slightly with the heat and cold, in rain versus dry weather, the homeless need food, clothing, shoes, shelter and many other important items throughout the year.

Our goal at West Side Homeless Outreach? To help supply those needs consistently, compassionately and with commitment.

Loren Franck is president and executive director of West Side Homeless Outreach. Comments or questions? Write loren@wshola.org.

You can help West Side Homeless Outreach extend a hand up to thousands of unsheltered people on L.A.’s West Side. An IRS-approved 501(c)(3) charity, we need generous financial support. To accomplish our mission, we also need consistent donations of pop-top canned food, individually wrapped baked goods, bottled water, soft fresh fruit, men’s shoes, socks, sweatshirts, T-shirts, outdoor blankets and sleeping bags. To make a financial contribution or to schedule item pickups, please write info@wshola.org. All donations are completely tax deductible.

Visit www.wshola.org.

The Right Side of the Law

2011-10-24T18:35:00.000-07:00

While working the West Side Homeless Outreach Resources Line recently, I received a call from the Los Angeles Police Department. An “Officer Johnson” asked if I was missing a backpack.

A Venice Beach homeless man was arrested that morning, and during the booking process, officers noticed his backpack. The words “Loren Franck” were embroidered on the back. My car has been burglarized a year ago, so officers wanted to know if the backpack tied to the crime. Thankfully, it was unrelated. I donated the backpack to West Side Homeless Outreach a month ago, knowing it would be invaluable to anyone struggling to survive on West Side streets.

I explained all this to Officer Johnson, who sounded skeptical about my reasons for operating a successful outreach agency in west L.A. County. “This guy is bad news,” said the officer, a tone of experience as well as warning in his voice.

“Unfortunately,” I responded, “some people we help wind up breaking the law. And though it’s certainly understandable given their homelessness, we disapprove. We encourage all people to obey the law, even when they don’t agree with it. Homeless people are no exception. No, the backpack belongs to the man you have in custody.”

Nobody for a minute believes homeless people are saints. In truth, they’re much like the housed: good, bad and in between. Like some housed men and women, certain homeless people drink alcohol, abuse drugs, are verbally and physically abusive, and don’t feel like getting up in the morning. And yes, some of the unsheltered commit serious crimes.

But our message is that homelessness doesn’t excuse criminal activity. So the unsheltered, whatever their degree of desperation, don’t get a pass on obeying the law. Like everyone else, the homeless must remain on the right side of the law. Throughout all our outreach activities—meal service; beverage provision; clothing, blanket and sleeping-bag distributions; assistance to long-term social services; and much more—we don’t enable anyone to break the law. We encourage the opposite.

West L.A. County’s unsheltered men and women have enough trouble battling the stereotypes that confront them. You know the list: laziness, alcohol and drug abuse, and the assumption that once you’re homeless, you’re always homelessness. Among our other responsibilities, West Side Homeless Outreach teaches the truth about the people we serve. And much of that battle involves shattering the myths surrounding homelessness.

One of the biggest lies about the homeless? They’re above, below or beyond the law. But as my Uncle Herman used to say, “It just ain’t so.”

Loren Franck is president and executive director of West Side Homeless Outreach. Comments or questions? Write loren@wshola.org.

Visit www.wshola.org.

Common Sense

2011-09-29T18:54:00.000-07:00

Perhaps more than anything else, helping homeless people involves common sense. Essentially, those who successfully assist unsheltered people assess accurately, secure vital needs, and then provide them effectively.

All too often, though, this isn’t the case. Many among the well-to-do are so busy blaming the homeless for their plight that they can’t see the need to help.

No levelheaded individual would blame women who have breast cancer for their disease, and no straight-thinking soul would blame a stroke victim for his vascular insufficiency. That wouldn’t make sense. Similarly, a diabetic shouldn’t receive scorn for her lack of insulin production. Instead, those who suffer in these areas receive empathy, encouragement and other means of support.

So why the difference regarding homeless people?

Several quick thoughts come to mind. First, many don’t see homelessness as a disease. But in several important ways, it’s a social disease. Many of the unsheltered are mentally, physically, emotionally and interpersonally dysfunctional. Much like serious disease, this causes pain plus the inability to perform normal daily activities. To make matters worse, homeless people are often treated as lepers. Many people with jobs and homes believe the unsheltered deserve their plight, that they’re morally weak because they lack a roof and four walls. Not so.

Second, it’s no secret there’s significant alcoholism and drug addiction among homeless people. This sometimes prompts so-called normal individuals to view the homeless as self-indulging drunks and druggies, not as down-and-out men and women who need homes. Clearly, alcoholism and substance abuse can exacerbate homelessness and vice-versa. The reasons are obvious. But whatever their “baggage”—whether it’s alcoholism, drug abuse, mental illness, lack of education or inadequate job training—you can’t effectively help the homeless until you understand they need housing.

Finally, many people mistakenly believe that unlike cancer, heart disease and diabetes, homelessness is a choice. Sometimes it is. But for most unsheltered people, it comes by default. While serving on the West Side Homeless Outreach Resources Line at 310-570-9065, I counsel people daily who are homeless but don’t want to be. Instead, they want good-paying jobs, permanent homes and productive, fulfilling lives. Our goal is to help them get it.

We don’t blame cancer victims for their cancer, stroke victims for their busted aneurisms, or diabetics for their sugar and insulin issues. Besides proving we’re uncaring, that callous approach wouldn’t solve anything. It would perpetuate suffering. And suffering results when homeless people are blamed for their plight.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure that one out. It’s common sense.

Loren Franck is president and executive director of West Side Homeless Outreach. Comments or questions? Write loren@wshola.org.

Visit www.wshola.org.

A Troubling Trend

2011-09-24T15:03:00.000-07:00

This month, our resources line at 310-570-9065 has received a surge of calls from unsheltered women with small children, sometimes infants. In fact, our contact rate with young homeless mothers tripled in September.

This presents unexcelled cause for concern. Are more single mothers becoming homeless throughout west Los Angeles County? Are they losing homeless services formerly enjoyed? Or both?

We’re not sure, but in response to the increased contact, we’re supercharging our efforts. West Side Homeless Outreach is ensuring that every homeless person who contacts us receives all needed services. We’ll focus especially on single mothers toting young children.

Homelessness is serious for its victims and the communities where they dwell. And despite noble efforts by agencies and caring individuals, homelessness won’t vanish anytime soon. Yet we work toward that goal, especially where young mothers with children are concerned.

Our funding is tight, our resources scarce. Nevertheless, we’re going the extra mile—two, if necessary—to help homeless women with small children. If we can’t assist directly, we’ll refer them to someone who can. That’s our commitment.

We’re witnessing a troubling trend in west L.A. County homelessness, and that trend must end.

Loren Franck is president and executive director of West Side Homeless Outreach. Comments or questions? Write loren@wshola.org.

You can help West Side Homeless Outreach extend a hand up to unsheltered people on L.A.’s West Side. An IRS-approved 501(c)(3) charity, we need generous financial support. To accomplish our mission, we also welcome consistent donations of pop-top canned food, individually wrapped baked goods, bottled water, soft fresh fruit, men’s socks, sweatshirts, T-shirts, outdoor blankets and sleeping bags. To schedule item pickups, please write info@wshola.org. All donations are completely tax deductible.

Visit www.wshola.org.

Too Young to Suffer

2011-08-29T13:31:00.000-07:00

Imagine a ten-day-old baby . . . soft, sweet, sleeping. Now picture her crying because she’s hungry and wearing her toddler brother’s diapers. Unless her life improves, homelessness is the only future awaiting her.

At West Side Homeless Outreach, we don’t merely imagine the perils of homelessness; we see them. Our agency recently received a call from a father staying with his family and another family in a small Venice, Calif., motel room. The adults and six kids were out of food, and both families were desperate for help.

Loren, our president, responded immediately by taking bread, cheese and milk to both families. However, he wasn’t fully prepared for what he found—adults, kids of varying ages and a ten-day-old baby. Loren realized the need for diapers and formula. He again went shopping for the families and brought back basic supplies to help them through several more days.

Similarly, imagine a middle-aged mother and her teenage son, their only protection from the rain and cold a makeshift tent beneath the San Diego freeway. She relies on a wheelchair because of a recent stroke, and he’s trying to meet her many needs. One of the most urgent is a permanent home.

A concerned passerby saw them and contacted our agency, so we went to work immediately. First, we supplied food and healthy beverages for the mother and son. Then we secured a short-term local motel stay so they could rest and rejuvenate. Our third step was to link them with Los Angeles County Homeless Services so caseworkers could address the two’s long-term needs.

And finally, visualize young parents, homeless and living in their small sedan for six months, trying to rear their 23-month-old twins without a roof over their heads. If this family doesn’t find permanent housing soon, homelessness will be the toddlers’ initial memory.

Stepping in to assist, our primary concern was for the twins, who had spent one-fourth of their young lives homeless. So, again, we turned to the basics, furnishing food, clothing and personal-hygiene items to them and their parents. Afterward, as with the homeless mom and her teenage son, we sought emergency shelter. When you’re homeless with two 23-month-olds, a safe room, warm bed and fully equipped bathroom work wonders.

These stories aren’t typical for West Side Homeless Outreach, but as more people become unsheltered, they may well become the norm. Handing out food, blankets and various other urgent needs is only part of the solution to homelessness. Another part is listening to people and encouraging them not to give up. Many of the homeless aren’t looking for a handout . . . they’re simply looking for a hand up to help them back on their feet.

WSHO is helping keep their dream alive.

Verlette Franck is vice president and cofounder of West Side Homeless Outreach. She may be contacted at verlette@wshola.org.

You can help West Side Homeless Outreach extend a hand up to thousands of unsheltered homeless people on L.A.’s West Side. Visit www.wshola.org for details. An IRS-approved 501(c)(3) charity, we need generous financial support and consistent donations of pop-top canned food, individually wrapped baked goods, bottled water, soft fresh fruit, men’s socks, sweatshirts, T-shirts, outdoor blankets and sleeping bags. To schedule item pickups, please write info@wshola.org. All donations are completely tax deductible.

The 10 Best Reasons to Help Homeless People

2011-08-17T16:26:00.000-07:00

Why help the homeless? In our era of volunteerism, “it takes a village” and “community counts,” you need to know the ten most compelling reasons to assist the unsheltered.

1. Unadulterated Need

Many local homeless people live—and sleep—on cold, hard asphalt. They endure wind, rain and fog; eat like peasants; lack simple bathroom opportunities; are despised as lepers; and have little privacy. Nobody has greater need for your help.

2. You Reap What You Sow
Call it karma, the Golden Rule, whatever you want—you get what you give. Treat homeless people with compassion and respect, and guess what you’ll get? Compassion and respect. You do reap what you sow . . . in countless ways.

3. From KITA to Carrots
Giving essentials to the homeless will spark a paradigm shift in your life’s motivation. Too many man and women operate on the KITA (“kick in the ass”) principle. They usually don’t complete crucial tasks until they receive a size 12 across their backsides. The carrot-on-a-stick approach to motivation is much more effective. Using this tactic, you accomplish great tasks because you want to, not because you have to.

4. Unparalleled Depth
Admittedly, it costs time and money to help the homeless. Gathering blankets and clothes, collecting practical food items, and volunteering for outreach are all honorable activities. To be sure, your efforts will elevate you from personal shallowness to unparalleled depth of character.

5. Peace of Mind
Demanding jobs, mounting caffeine consumption (I love coffee as much as anyone does), increased traffic, and pressure to measure up and fit in rob our peace of mind. And sometimes it’s hard to get it back. When you help homeless people, though, you’ll have peace of mind to spare.

6. Sweet Satisfaction
Some people have the wrong idea about helping the homeless. It involves more than one or two soup-kitchen efforts during the winter holidays. Providing food, clothing, blankets and other services year-round can furnish sweet satisfaction—for you and for those served.

7. Sobering Humility
If you’re arrogant and egocentric when beginning to help the homeless, you won’t remain that way long. Sustaining the unsheltered is an excellent way to live a noble-minded, self-effacing life. When helping homeless people, you can’t help but assure yourself, “There but for the grace of God go I.”

8. Community Development
Granted, helping the homeless is good for the unsheltered. But extending a hand up to society’s neediest people also benefits local communities. After all, those without homes are part of the communities where they live. And when housed community members meet the needs of the local homeless population, the entire community prospers.

9. Unseen Power
Whether professional educators or not, most of us teach. If we don’t instruct by precept, we inculcate by example, which is often the more powerful method. What do we teach when helping homeless people? Compassion, kindness, selflessness, service, mutual benefit and many other vanishing virtues. And who’s learning? Almost everybody around you.

10. When the Lights Go Out
I sometimes ask myself, “When I’m about to die, what will I regret?” During my final moments, I’ll probably wish I’d loved my family more, helped greater numbers of needy individuals, and accomplished more for the greater good. I won’t wish I had earned money, achieved more in the workplace or owned coveted property. For me, when the lights dim for the final curtain, positive relationships will matter more than possessions and social status. And how I treated homeless people will top my list.

The Bottom Line
So there you have it—the ten best reasons to help the homeless.

But there’s an 11th reason, and it’s most important of all: Those who help the homeless do so because it’s right. In the overall scheme of life, it’s the right thing to do.

What’s right about not helping? You can do the math on that one.

Loren Franck is president and executive director of West Side Homeless Outreach. Comments or questions? Write loren@wshola.org.

You can help West Side Homeless Outreach extend a hand up to thousands of unsheltered homeless people on L.A.’s West Side. Visit www.wshola.org for details. An IRS-approved 501(c)(3) charity, we need generous financial support and consistent donations of pop-top canned food, individually wrapped baked goods, bottled water, soft fresh fruit, men’s socks, sweatshirts, T-shirts, outdoor blankets and sleeping bags. To schedule item pickups, please write info@wshola.org. All donations are completely tax deductible.

Driving Lessons

2011-08-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

How you drive might reveal how you treat the homeless.

Helping the homeless is like driving a car.

Los Angeles drivers are painfully aware of the facts—and frustrations—of heavy traffic. When on the road, there are two basic approaches. First, drive lightning speed to your destinations, dart in and out of lanes, and hump the rear bumpers of vehicles in front of you. Entitlement is crucial with this option. The open road all around your vehicle? You own it—however wide and far-reaching. The horn and accelerator are precious assets, as are your mouth and each middle finger.

You can take a different approach, however—a much better approach. Drive leisurely, stay in your lane reasonable amounts of time, and allow ample space between you and other vehicles. Safety, comfort, patience and sharing the road far outweigh the need for speed here. When operating vehicles in this mindset, the highway is public domain, not private property—and it’s definitely not the autobahn. Your horn warns dangerous oncoming drivers instead of serving as a road-rage instrument. Your mouth and fingers remain peaceful. Granted, the second approach to driving is difficult, which explains why few drivers succeed at it.

So how does driving relate to homelessness? As when behind the wheel, you make choices. You decide to help the homeless or to shun them. You choose to be selfish, greedy, impatient and entitled. You can have little regard for the “other guy,” in this case, the homeless. Or you can choose to be selfless and community minded. You can emphasize giving rather than getting, what’s good for the whole instead of “what’s in it for me?” You can share the road with other drivers—just as you can share food, clothing and shelter with local homeless people.

You can cuss up a storm, lean on your horn and tailgate. You can boil over when drivers in front of you don’t go fast enough to suit you. And in the same way, you’re free to intimidate homeless people, to rid them from your neighborhood, and to ignore their pleas for help. Hey, let your rage flow. You do have choices. And in limited capacities, for better or worse, you exercise self-direction.

But road rage and careless driving won’t end until every man and woman behind the wheel moves from getting to giving, from impatience to calm persistence, and from self-centeredness to group mindedness. Likewise, homelessness will thrive when people are greedy, self-seeking, possessive and childish. Through our actions, we can say yes or no to homelessness—yes when we ignore the needy; no when we rise above ourselves and consider the other guy.

Yes, homelessness is a lot like driving. How will you handle the road ahead of you?

Loren Franck is president and executive director of West Side Homeless Outreach. Comments or questions? Write loren@wshola.org.

You can help West Side Homeless Outreach extend a hand up to thousands of unsheltered homeless people on L.A.’s West Side. Visit www.wshola.org for details. An IRS-approved 501(c)(3) charity, we need generous financial support and consistent donations of pop-top canned food, individually wrapped baked goods, bottled water, soft fresh fruit, men’s socks, sweatshirts, T-shirts, outdoor blankets and sleeping bags. To schedule item pickups, please write info@wshola.org. All donations are completely tax deductible.

From Small Steps to Giant Leaps

2011-07-21T14:28:00.000-07:00

A giant leap for Neil Armstrong

I was 15 when Neil Armstrong first set foot on the Moon. I remember few of my activities that day, July 20, 1969—nearly 42 years ago to the day of this posting. However, I do recall that his achievement amazed me.

In fact, the Moon still fascinates me. Hearing Armstrong say, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” convinced me that everything worthwhile is possible.

I still believe that.

But now, for me, small steps and giant leaps involve thousands of unsheltered men, women and children, not moon missions. My small steps and giant leaps concern feeding, clothing and otherwise providing essentials to people living on west Los Angeles County streets. Small steps and giant leaps entail transforming compassion it into action on behalf of those who can’t adequately assist themselves.

What small steps ensure giant leaps of benefits for west L.A. County homeless people? Here’s a sample:

1. Decide to Act

Good intentions toward homeless people are great, but given today’s lagging economy, deciding to take action is better. Go ahead; make a decision to help. You can do it!

2. Make a Commitment

When you’ve decided to help society’s most unfortunate people, make a commitment—to yourself and to others—and follow through on your decision. Don’t back out. You’re just starting.

3. Choose an Avenue

Select a simple avenue of assistance. For example, send West Side Homeless Outreach a tax-deductible donation. Ten bucks. Five bucks. We’ll use that money to feed, clothe and otherwise provide for unsheltered people in west L.A. County. Or you could donate WSHO pop-top canned food, a sleeping bag, bar soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes. We’ll take those items to the homeless. All donations are tax-deductible. See, you have dozens of helpful avenues to travel. Pick one.

4. Set a Time

When will you walk your chosen path to help the homeless? Once yearly? Monthly? Every week? You decide. Small steps of effort do result in giant leaps of benefits for homeless people. But given your ultra-busy schedule, you’ll need to schedule time to help.

5. Hit the Road

Put good intentions into action. C’mon, try it. Need a jump-start? We can walk you through the process. It’s easy. Helping homeless people will definitely change your life—for the better.

More than 20 years ago, when I first served meals to homeless people, I felt awkward. But that feeling soon surrendered to the satisfaction that I was doing something valuable for others. I was hooked.

Don’t be surprised if you become hooked too.

Loren Franck is president and executive director of West Side Homeless Outreach. Comments or questions? Write loren@wshola.org.

You can help West Side Homeless Outreach extend a hand up to thousands of unsheltered homeless people on L.A.’s West Side. Visit www.wshola.org for details. An IRS-approved 501(c)(3) charity, we need generous financial support and consistent donations of pop-top canned food, individually wrapped baked goods, bottled water, soft fresh fruit, men’s socks, sweatshirts, T-shirts, outdoor blankets and sleeping bags. To schedule item pickups, please write info@wshola.org. All donations are completely tax deductible.

My Buddy, Billy

2011-07-13T16:59:00.000-07:00

I first met Billy 11 years ago. We pumped iron six days every week at the now-defunct World Gym in Marina del Rey, Calif. Billy wasn’t homeless then.

A World Gym employee by day and lauded for his superhuman biceps (see photo at upper right), Billy was a well-known Venice Beach “musclehead” on weekends. To be sure, like many Southern California bodybuilders, Billy enjoyed a good life.

But when World Gym entrepreneur Joe Gold died unexpectedly in July 2004, part of Billy passed away too. The gym fell into bankruptcy, Billy lost his job, and his only option was the street. Billy didn’t relish making Venice Beach streets his home, but as with life’s other challenges, he took it in stride.

Living Legacy

How did Billy become homeless? And what can his experiences teach us? Consider these five fast facts:

1. Billy Lacked Job Skills.

Though hardworking and a versatile employee, Billy lacked crucial job skills when he became homeless. The highpoint of his work experience was in the 1970s, but that didn’t equip him for the work world of the 21st century.

2. He Was Unprepared.

Shortly after Gold’s death, Billy was ill-equipped for the future. A vestige from a bygone era that launched the sport of bodybuilding worldwide, he didn’t fit the high-pressure fashion and marketing environments rampant in today’s fitness centers, so there’s no way he could work in one.

3. Billy Focused on the Present.

Concentrating on his daily needs and desires, Billy thought little about his future when enjoying a comfortable home and working at World Gym. He never envisioned being homeless. A hard homeless life on the streets was something that happened to the other guy.

4. He Didn’t Stay Current.

Sad to say, while Billy worked at World Gym, he didn’t maintain contemporary job skills. So, as time passed, Billy’s job ability became progressively obsolete. Furthermore, now well into his 50s, he encounters age discrimination in the workplace.

5. Billy Refused to Network.

Like other serious athletes, particularly hard-core bodybuilders who thrive as “long rangers,” Billy had few intimate friends. Consequently, he didn’t become involved in job networks. When the gym closed its doors closed permanently, Billy lost what few connections he had with people who could help him land a job.

No Guarantees

The homeless and non-homeless alike can learn valuable lessons from Billy. Avoiding the mistakes he made won’t always prevent homelessness. And there’s no guarantee that all homeless people can—or will—reverse their plight.

But Billy’s heartbreaking and painful experience on West Side streets is an excellent starting point for all who want to improve their lives, especially those without permanent homes.

Loren Franck is president and executive director of West Side Homeless Outreach. Comments or questions? Write loren@wshola.org.

You can help West Side Homeless Outreach extend a hand up to thousands of unsheltered homeless people on L.A.’s West Side. Visit www.wshola.org for details. An IRS-approved 501(c)(3) charity, we need generous financial support and consistent donations of pop-top canned food, individually wrapped baked goods, bottled water, soft fresh fruit, men’s socks, sweatshirts, T-shirts, outdoor blankets and sleeping bags. To schedule item pickups, please write info@wshola.org. All donations are completely tax deductible.

Ironic, Isn’t it?

2011-07-01T05:13:00.000-07:00

Two days ago, an outdoor storage locker at West Side Homeless Outreach was burglarized. The structure was slightly damaged, but the lock was destroyed. Nothing monumental was stolen—just a backpack and several cans of food and some toothbrushes. They were scheduled for delivery to unsheltered people in Santa Monica and Venice the next day.

True, the items are easily replaceable. But the incident is baffling. Someone was compelled to steal food, a backpack and a few toothbrushes—from a homeless outreach. We gladly would have given the thief more than he stole—if he’d asked. They didn’t. And we could have referred him to dozens of supportive agencies on our ResourcesList if he was homeless. But we couldn’t . . . because he didn’t ask. Instead, he stole.

Sad to say, theft is common among homeless people. But not all—or even most—of the unsheltered steal. Nevertheless, many homeless men and women have had their belongings stolen. In fact, on Wednesday, the day of our burglary, West Side Homeless Outreach provided a new sleeping bag for Brian, a Marina del Rey homeless man. His blankets were stolen the night before. Who “lifted” Brian’s blankets? Probably someone who lives on the streets. Unfortunately, homeless people steal from other homeless people; the desperate pilfer from the ultrapoor.

That was surely the case with Wednesday’s burglary: the desperate stole from the more desperate—in this case, provisions meant for west L.A. County homeless people. But the thief didn’t know that. He didn’t understand that his real victims are homeless people, that the simple items he pocketed were destined for them the next day.

Ironic, isn’t it?

Loren Franck is president and executive director of West Side Homeless Outreach. Comments or questions? Write loren@wshola.org.