1 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us for a very important episode 2 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 1: of Wisian House. All of my episodes are important, but 3 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:20,000 Speaker 1: this is one that has a sense of urgency that 4 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: I cannot over emphasize. That is one that grips our communities, 5 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 1: house and unhoused, but particularly unhoused. The holidays has left 6 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: us with some tragedies, in particularly a young football player 7 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:36,479 Speaker 1: who took his life because of his family situation of 8 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:40,240 Speaker 1: being unhoused, and in our own community here in Los Angeles, 9 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: a young lady gave up her life because being unhoused 10 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,280 Speaker 1: was too much of a burden to bear. I'm Theo 11 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 1: Henderson and I am an unhoused resident. I created this 12 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: podcast to educate and listen to the unhoused perspective from 13 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: other unhoused people. We don't blame ridicule, finger wag or 14 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:04,039 Speaker 1: joy to unhouse people period. We have a biased media, 15 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: violent and hostile law enforcement, and lying city officials to 16 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: do that. I also wanted to introduce you to some 17 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 1: guests that is very important that we all have a 18 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 1: stake in this particular issue, not only from housing but 19 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: from the mental health perspective. We have Merital Spriggs, who's 20 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 1: going to be on later on who was unhoused herself 21 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: and used her challenges and depression and stresses to create 22 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 1: something positive out of a challenging situation. We also have 23 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 1: Tondo Kaduka, a formerly unhoused woman herself who suffers from 24 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 1: some health challenges and how she uses her platform to 25 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 1: speak for the unhoused and the voiceless in this particular time. 26 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: As I go for and look forward to this time, 27 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: we are all facing amount of stress to be unhoused 28 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 1: as a full time job that requires constant trauma, constant 29 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 1: traumatic events, and right now, the traumatic events are caused 30 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: by the law enforcement and city council officials. Facing these 31 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 1: real threats creates traumas fresh and old. How we deal 32 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: with it is in a divergent ways. This takes six 33 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:13,920 Speaker 1: toll on one's mental health. For some people, prolonged stress 34 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 1: is from trauma. And let's take a step back and 35 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 1: define what trauma is for this episode. Now, I went 36 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: and did some research and I found a renowned traumatologist 37 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: and a renowned neurologist by the name of doctor Robert Skier, 38 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: and he just fines trauma as any negative life event 39 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 1: that occurs in a position of relative helplessness. Quick question, 40 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: does the un house experienced trauma? Yes, they do. Now 41 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 1: here is a deeper question. Who provides those traumatic events? 42 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:50,079 Speaker 1: Let me start off and tell you who have been 43 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 1: starting and has kept up this traumatic event Newi Martinez 44 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: on Wednesday, January twenty twenty. She ordered hundreds of unhoused 45 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 1: people displaced. She lied, she claimed, and she showed pictures 46 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:09,639 Speaker 1: of people being rescued in fire and floods to justify 47 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:13,959 Speaker 1: her displacing and causing intense trauma for over hundreds of people, 48 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 1: saying that she's helping them. When I interviewed these people 49 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 1: that have been displaced and traumatized, they have clearly stated 50 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: that they had nowhere to go. There was no services offered, 51 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 1: no motil vouchers, there was nothing. Right now, many of 52 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: their belongings are gone and right now they're spending the 53 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: cold nights with nothing, causing illnesses. They lost out on medication, 54 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: They lost out on the necessary ideas if they needed 55 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 1: to go get the difficult things like birth certificates and 56 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: things like that, if they wanted to find jobs or 57 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 1: places that social services agencies require. They are without anything. 58 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 1: That is City Council Uri Martinez her justification for his 59 00:03:56,000 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 1: brutal Crule Act was they were service resistant. You go 60 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 1: to her meeting, she makes no qualms about her disdain 61 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 1: for unhoused people. She has actually pushed for law enforcement 62 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 1: to continue to traumatize vulnerable unhoused people. The next person 63 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: would be Bloomingfield. Bloomingfield's place, he had displaced forty people 64 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: when another sweep. The next person that was responsible is 65 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: Captain berger Ovin, Chadsworth, John Lee. They are the ones 66 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 1: that listen to the Republican They've listened to doctor Drew 67 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:31,839 Speaker 1: Pinsky his hostile and hatred field and ignorant narrative on 68 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 1: unhoused people he has displaced. How can you sleep on 69 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:37,919 Speaker 1: the street while wealthy people walk by without being angry 70 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 1: and depressed, feeling isolated from your human connection? That is 71 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,839 Speaker 1: according to Sasha Parago. Carl Mark said there was a 72 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:47,840 Speaker 1: high rate of suicide with the street workers and when 73 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:50,160 Speaker 1: they found out one of the bigger causes it was 74 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 1: due to being unhoused and having poverty as an issue. 75 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: Relative helplessness could be seen in the unhoused community. On Tuesday, 76 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 1: seventh of January, when Bloomingfield displays thirty unhoused people during 77 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 1: a police raid that created a neutron ratic incident. Conspman 78 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 1: could be heard saying using Nazi Aaron remarks when remarking 79 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 1: about unhoused people about quality of life issues. One of 80 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,840 Speaker 1: another culprit is John Lee, who is causing trauma as 81 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 1: we speak to the people over in Chadsworth. There's also 82 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: the Mitch o'farroll. He's causing trauma to the people in 83 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 1: Echo Park. So here it is trauma, mental health issues, fear, displacement, helplessness. 84 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 1: These key issues in this episode will continue to be 85 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 1: recurring as we delve deeper into the experiences of unhoused 86 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: people and how they deal with it. Now. Question I 87 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 1: asked in my first episode is where are all the 88 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:43,720 Speaker 1: good people that are to stand up. The part of 89 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 1: the problem that I see and is my observation when 90 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:50,600 Speaker 1: I have interviewed countless of unhoused people all across Los Angeles, 91 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 1: is the fact this delusion that the police are there 92 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:56,159 Speaker 1: to help and they are there to do law and order. 93 00:05:56,400 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 1: From my observation, the primary problem is the cozy relationships 94 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:03,480 Speaker 1: with the police officers, the business owners, and the Los 95 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 1: Angeles Sanitation Department. They are in lockstep and this terrorizing 96 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 1: trauma induced environment. This real leaves the responsibility up to 97 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 1: our community. In order for us to do something about it, 98 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:19,600 Speaker 1: we must hold them accountable because right now they are 99 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 1: the criminals, and we have delusion and we have allowed 100 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 1: them to be criminalizing on house people. And as long 101 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 1: as we allow these criminals to go underbated, just because 102 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 1: they have a badge, the gun and they use whispers 103 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: in the council meetings does not mean that they are 104 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 1: allaw abiding citizens. We need to enlist the United Nations. 105 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 1: We need to enlist the FBI. We need to be 106 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 1: hammering on their door and having them, in no uncertain 107 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:47,559 Speaker 1: terms being investigated. If there was any unhoused or house 108 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 1: person that had committed these many civil rights violations, you 109 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:55,240 Speaker 1: can rest assured FBI what had intervened on our behalf 110 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:57,719 Speaker 1: and not only that, we should have them do the 111 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 1: same thing for a law breaking law enforcement and civil servants. 112 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: This is unhoused news. I'm THEO Henderson reporting on the 113 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 1: current issues of the day. Mayor. The SPRIGGS is helping 114 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 1: unhouse people reintegrate with low barrier housing and other services 115 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 1: that only the veterans. The Veterans VOA has been willing 116 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:30,680 Speaker 1: to step forward and make a change in a lot 117 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: of the unhoused lives. Unhouse War veteran Wayne Green took 118 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: his own life. The family states the Army did not 119 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 1: help him after leaving the Army. Unhouse Advocate nonprofit has 120 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 1: filed a fifty million dollar lawsuit against the city of 121 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 1: Denver for the camping ban's tickets. Los Angeles needs to 122 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 1: take a page out of this notebook. Nashville twenty six 123 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 1: year old Katie Quackenbush Singer charged with attempted murder of 124 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 1: shooting on the houseman Gerald Melton over where he was sleeping. 125 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 1: San Antonio police officer Matthew Luckhurst, who handed a fece 126 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 1: sandwich to an on houseman, wins this termination appeal. And 127 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 1: I was on House News. Good morning. This is Steo 128 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: Henderson from Street Watch Chinatown. I'm here in the studios 129 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 1: today with Maretive. I want to get her up, Spriggs. 130 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 1: I didn't want to say Springs. Spriggs. She is the 131 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:35,680 Speaker 1: kind officer of caradot Or Industries as well as she 132 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:39,680 Speaker 1: has had some experience in the San Diego rescue missions. 133 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:44,560 Speaker 1: So without further ado, let's welcome our new guest. Hello, Meredith. Hi, 134 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: thank you for having me. I want to just talk off. 135 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: Like the listeners, hear a little bit about your story. 136 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 1: Can you give us a little bit of who you are? Sure? 137 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 1: So we're actually not far from where I was born. 138 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 1: I was born in Pasadena, although I never lived there, 139 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:01,560 Speaker 1: but all my family is mainly from southern California, so 140 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 1: La San Diego, but grew up in Illinois, was raised there, 141 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:09,679 Speaker 1: went to school, went to seminary school to be a pastor, 142 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:13,719 Speaker 1: and was working as a youth pastor and a university 143 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: when that all kind of fell apart in two thousand 144 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 1: and eight. Lost both of my jobs and it was 145 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 1: the week that the market crashed. So with a specialized 146 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 1: degree like that, I found myself unable to afford to 147 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:28,320 Speaker 1: live indoors in San Diego. Started living out of my 148 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: car and eventually my car got towed because I couldn't 149 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: afford the tickets. So between couch surfing and spots at 150 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 1: the beach, that was what I did to survive. So 151 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: was homeless for a year and then got into homeless 152 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 1: services and started KADAD when I got back on my feet. 153 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 1: It sounds like a similar story to mine, Like I too, 154 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:53,960 Speaker 1: I'm from Chicago, so we went and after Illinois. So wait, wait, 155 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 1: are you cubs or white Sox? I am on Cubs. 156 00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 1: Sorry then, So here's the thing, is like, what all 157 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 1: of us have seen in common is that no one 158 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:08,440 Speaker 1: one day picked up the looked out the street and says, 159 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 1: you know what, it would be much more appealing to 160 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 1: be out here on the streets. Do you agree? I 161 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 1: would agree? And I think that's so common that people 162 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 1: have the misperception that all homeless want to be homeless A, 163 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:26,319 Speaker 1: or they have drug or alcohol abuse issues, or they 164 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:29,320 Speaker 1: have a mental health condition. So I think there are 165 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 1: as many different reasons for people being homeless as there 166 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: are grains of sand on the beach. So after you 167 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 1: having this experience, because I was talking to a couple 168 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 1: of my friends about my situation and when I got 169 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 1: became unhoused, I too had some of the internalized stereotypes 170 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 1: even in the house, because there are layers of on 171 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:56,679 Speaker 1: housed people that society believes that are the worthy on 172 00:10:56,800 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 1: house contrasting in the unworthy at house. But now I've 173 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 1: came around in my thinking and believe we all deserve 174 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: to be be housed, and we all deserve to get 175 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 1: the treatment and help that we need no matter what 176 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 1: our circumstances are. So with that said, I want to 177 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:17,439 Speaker 1: ask you in San Diego, what is your experience because 178 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: you are working with unhoused people, what is your experience 179 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 1: with them? Actually, I'm in Las Vegas now. Oh sorry, 180 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 1: Larry's Las Vegas. My apologies. Don't put me back there. 181 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 1: It's really expensive in San Diego. So right now, what 182 00:11:30,679 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: we're doing is we're doing a garden project. So it's 183 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 1: farm reintegration, so using garden therapy. It's an indoor hydro 184 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 1: product farm. And we're hiring veterans. And I didn't set 185 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 1: out to do the project to just work with veterans. 186 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:46,839 Speaker 1: I want to do any homeless, but US Vets was 187 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 1: the only agency that would guarantee our guys and gals 188 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:52,680 Speaker 1: we hire would be indoors. So we're hiring them. US 189 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 1: VESTS is housing them, and it's a little bit different. 190 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: It's low barriers. Back to what you said about you know, 191 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: people just need help meeting them where they're at. So 192 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 1: it's really hard. Don't tell my team this, but it's 193 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:06,720 Speaker 1: really hard to get fired. I mean, stuff happens and 194 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 1: we get that and a lot of these people it's 195 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:11,720 Speaker 1: their first job back in the workforce, and so we 196 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 1: know there's going to be hiccups. So like we had 197 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:16,560 Speaker 1: a gentleman he missed two days of work. We worked 198 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 1: with this case manager. That's okay, he didn't lose his job, 199 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 1: but we tried to figure out what was wrong. Let's 200 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 1: get to root that, let's help it. And then when 201 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,080 Speaker 1: he shows back up, he's got a job again. So 202 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: it's it's a different, different approach, but I'm excited that 203 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:30,679 Speaker 1: we get to try this and do this with our partners. 204 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 1: I have to say, you know, one of the things 205 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 1: that I noticed, like, for example, there are eight different 206 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:38,840 Speaker 1: type of agencies and I want to get your perspective 207 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:42,000 Speaker 1: on do you are you pro shelters or are you 208 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 1: pro a diverse approach. I for me, shelters didn't work 209 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:49,560 Speaker 1: for me, and I had to use another approach. I'm 210 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 1: working on my housing as we speak, but I found 211 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 1: shelters to be counter productive. But I wanted to see 212 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 1: what your thoughts is interesting. I used to work at 213 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 1: the San Diego Rescue Mission and I was really lucky 214 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:06,559 Speaker 1: because we had a wing. It was called the Recrupitative 215 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:08,560 Speaker 1: Care Unit. And back to what I was saying it 216 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:11,240 Speaker 1: was low barriers. So this is really unheard of and 217 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:14,600 Speaker 1: revolutionary for its time at the Gospel as a gospel mission. 218 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 1: But we didn't have a sobriety requirement. We just had 219 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 1: it was a medical ward, so people were released from 220 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:23,120 Speaker 1: the hospital that were not well enough for the streets, 221 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:25,680 Speaker 1: but well enough to be released, and so it was 222 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:28,000 Speaker 1: different in that they could stay as long as they 223 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:30,760 Speaker 1: needed to, as long as they were resting and taking 224 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:34,120 Speaker 1: care of getting well. And then the only reason we 225 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 1: had a curfew, which they could get a pass and 226 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 1: come back later if they just called even we would 227 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: let them come in later. But it was just for 228 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:43,319 Speaker 1: medtimes and it was only because they had to be 229 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 1: other meds. Some of them are pretty serious like HIV AIDS, 230 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:50,320 Speaker 1: some as little as like a broken leg, but so 231 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 1: basically just so they could rest and get well. But 232 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 1: I mean, we had a lot of fun, and that 233 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 1: was always the joke at the rescue mission. They party 234 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:57,679 Speaker 1: up on the top floor, which is what we were on, 235 00:13:58,040 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 1: because they didn't have to be sober to be in there. 236 00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:02,199 Speaker 1: I loved that, and so I feel like if more 237 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 1: shelters could do that and restructure and meet people where 238 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 1: they're at, then they wouldn't be so bad. But I 239 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:10,560 Speaker 1: think the problem is is it's like a warehouse and 240 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:14,560 Speaker 1: it becomes we inventory people when they come in. We 241 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 1: don't ask him, what do you need? How can we 242 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 1: help you? We just throw them in a room. Here's 243 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 1: the rules, lights out, goodbye, the end. And I think 244 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 1: there could be more humane, humane ways to approaching shelter, 245 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 1: like the rescue mission that I de cited, because it 246 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 1: can be done right and be beneficial. But what we're 247 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:34,480 Speaker 1: doing right now is basically just warehousing people and keeping 248 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 1: them out of jail. I agree. I had two incidents 249 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 1: when I went to two different shelters. The first shelter 250 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 1: had like, for example, I went to one downtown and 251 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 1: I don't want to say that in the first the 252 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:50,520 Speaker 1: shelter's name in case they come after me. But this 253 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 1: shelter first had a sleeping policy. But one of the 254 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:57,440 Speaker 1: rules was that you had to come in and listen 255 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:01,440 Speaker 1: to a church service, and we had to even before 256 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 1: we ate if we didn't want If we didn't listen 257 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 1: to the church service, we didn't get eat. And after 258 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 1: we hit the church service, after we ate, we had 259 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 1: to go up to shower and people like you just 260 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 1: mentioned in prior to our interview is they have to 261 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: charge their phones. And I had to charge my phone 262 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 1: because my power was out and I wanted to keep 263 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 1: in touch with my case managers to getting my housing 264 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 1: and there are different other things, my family and things 265 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:29,320 Speaker 1: like that in contact. So which is a reasonable thing 266 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:31,560 Speaker 1: we tried to charge. I tried to charge my phone 267 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 1: and one of the directors of that program took my 268 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 1: phone and when I asked for it back, he asked 269 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 1: me before my bed ticket and says, you got to 270 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:42,960 Speaker 1: be out for fifteen days because you charged your phone. 271 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:47,920 Speaker 1: And that's one of the of the on the one 272 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:50,520 Speaker 1: of many incidents. And another one was where I was 273 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 1: in another sheltered place and this person was zealous about 274 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 1: curfew and it's the place where they have the shelter 275 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 1: is way in a very long, far long industrial place 276 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 1: that we only have very limited transportation. And secondly, it 277 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 1: was the way they communicate it is like they treated 278 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: mostly on housed like children. So I agree with what what 279 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: you're saying that this is a very big issue that 280 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 1: shelters don't want to hear about. And what the other 281 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 1: side of it is the residents like myself don't understand 282 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 1: is sometimes they are forced to do those rules because 283 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 1: they have monies coming in. Yep. Oh yeah, it's all 284 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:35,280 Speaker 1: about funding. And I would challenge challenge people that don't 285 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 1: agree and think people need rules and whatever. How many 286 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 1: of you go home at night and do you have 287 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 1: a curfew? Are you told who you can and can't 288 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 1: bring in to your place? You know? Do you have 289 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 1: to get an excuse if you go to work every day? 290 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 1: Do you have to get a pass to go to work? No, 291 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 1: you don't. You get to come and go as you please. 292 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:55,080 Speaker 1: That's how the rest of the world is. And these 293 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 1: are adults, you know, why are we treating them like 294 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 1: children that don't know what they're doing? And you can't 295 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 1: tie their own shoes? It's silly one. And also thing 296 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:05,679 Speaker 1: is like for the elderly, and I know that a 297 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:08,480 Speaker 1: couple of the elderly uh in house people that I've 298 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:11,680 Speaker 1: communicated with, they took a very big offense when they 299 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 1: had younger population or younger staff members dictating what they 300 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:18,119 Speaker 1: can do and not do, and they took that really 301 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:22,520 Speaker 1: very seriously. Yeah, it's probably in the delivery too. They 302 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: used to joke and call me the Mary Poppins of 303 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 1: the rescue mission because I could get people to do anything, 304 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 1: but it's all the delivery and if people know you care, 305 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:32,840 Speaker 1: but if they're screaming it out like a little militaristic 306 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: dictator like that, that's not going to go over well 307 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:40,960 Speaker 1: with anybody in any setting. Let's talk about too, have 308 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 1: you because one and the other experiences I wanted to 309 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:45,639 Speaker 1: get your point on, and then we'll move on to 310 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:49,119 Speaker 1: a new topic. Is the second one I mentioned was 311 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:51,960 Speaker 1: there was one where I was released to another shelter 312 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:55,400 Speaker 1: and they had space requirements that means that you had 313 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 1: packages and people in on the house. Use these things 314 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 1: for survival and because of the continuous relationship with shelters, 315 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 1: a few days or this or that and then you're 316 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 1: out on the street, you lose everything, yea. And one 317 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 1: of the reasons is that you know, this person threw 318 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:15,200 Speaker 1: me out because he just you know, I was questioning that. 319 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:17,679 Speaker 1: I just barely I just had the temerity to ask 320 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:22,160 Speaker 1: the question. So in Las Vegas, it's interesting, we only 321 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:25,520 Speaker 1: have one shelter that will keep people for seven days, 322 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:27,879 Speaker 1: and that's the rescue Mission. All the other shelters you 323 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:30,199 Speaker 1: have to check out every day. So what do you 324 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 1: do and you can't keep your stuff with you? They 325 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: make you check your stuff in and often it's lost 326 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:39,200 Speaker 1: or stolen. But yeah, if that's all your worldly possessions 327 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 1: and people look at those bags and they think, oh, 328 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:44,359 Speaker 1: it's just clutter's just trash. No, it's meds, it's personal 329 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:51,200 Speaker 1: identifying documents. In some cases, it's immigration documents, doctor's appointments. Yeah, 330 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 1: just everything that they need that you and I take 331 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:56,919 Speaker 1: for granted when we're indoors, that we can keep in 332 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:01,520 Speaker 1: a safe space. And even insulin. I've had to diabetics 333 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:04,200 Speaker 1: with their insulin that they have on them. So yeah, 334 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 1: it's a whole lot of stuff that I don't think 335 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: shelters take into account that we really need to do better. 336 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 1: I got to I had when I was on in 337 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 1: a wheelchair on a walker. I get rolled up about 338 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 1: having a wheelchair because it was outside of the limitations. 339 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:22,280 Speaker 1: Crazily enough, it wasn't a recuperative care, but I needed 340 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 1: that for my mobility. But they didn't understand because they 341 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:31,159 Speaker 1: were dogmatic. Yeah, no, nothing surprises me. So let's get 342 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:34,959 Speaker 1: to Las Vegas. How is the how situation there? So 343 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: tell me a little bit about what goes on over there. 344 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:40,160 Speaker 1: I'm sure there's some similarities, but let's talk about what's 345 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 1: going on there. I've worked in multiple cities, and it 346 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 1: makes me sad that I feel like in Las Vegas 347 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:50,120 Speaker 1: we're going the wrong way. I tell people were moving 348 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:54,359 Speaker 1: chairs around on the Titanic, but we're sinking. So we 349 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:57,159 Speaker 1: did a really great job with a federal initiative that 350 00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:00,200 Speaker 1: was called Built for Zero, and that was aning veterans homeless. 351 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:04,600 Speaker 1: But the federal VA through a bunch of money at 352 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:06,719 Speaker 1: that so it's a lot easier to do stuff with money. 353 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:10,200 Speaker 1: But we were really organized. We had a great system. Actually, 354 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:12,639 Speaker 1: we were one of the top communities in the world, 355 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:15,679 Speaker 1: and then once that money dried up, it seems to 356 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 1: have gone back to normal. And the biggest thing that 357 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:21,679 Speaker 1: I see that we're struggling with is we don't have 358 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 1: the collaboration in total buy in from the business community. 359 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:27,200 Speaker 1: Other places that have been successful have buy in from 360 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:31,359 Speaker 1: the business community. So we went down. We're around seven 361 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:34,640 Speaker 1: thousand homeless in Las Vegas. We're fifth in the country, 362 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 1: but if you break it down by percentages, we only 363 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:40,399 Speaker 1: have two million in our county, so that's one percent 364 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: of our population is homeless. That's a really high percentage 365 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 1: and it's going up. And what people don't think of 366 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:49,159 Speaker 1: and who most of our homeless are in our community 367 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:55,000 Speaker 1: are children so underage, unaccompanied youth, so eighteen and under 368 00:20:56,119 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 1: youth with multiple children, so under eighteen, with read for 369 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:05,399 Speaker 1: babies and whole family, so mom, dad and the kids, 370 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:09,160 Speaker 1: and we don't have in our system. We have only 371 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:13,000 Speaker 1: a handful of places that can take entire families. So 372 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 1: that leaves families to pick. You know, do they want 373 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 1: to separate out? Mom go into a separate shelter from dad, 374 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:21,679 Speaker 1: and a lot of families choose to not, and so 375 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 1: they stay out on the streets so they can be together. 376 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:26,919 Speaker 1: And in turn, his seat feeds into that stereotype of 377 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: single moms and the venturole that people at society throw 378 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:35,919 Speaker 1: at those kind of environment population, which brings up to 379 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:39,040 Speaker 1: another question. So what happens if you have no space 380 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:41,480 Speaker 1: available and you have a family of kids. Where do 381 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:43,360 Speaker 1: they go? Where do they? Where do your family? Those 382 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:49,800 Speaker 1: families go in Las Vegas? Yeah, it's streets, it's parks. 383 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:52,680 Speaker 1: They just try to hide and keep the kiddos safe. 384 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 1: If they have a car, if they're lucky enough they 385 00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 1: stay in the car. But yeah, it's it's a real problem. 386 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:01,080 Speaker 1: And again back to building building a better system. We 387 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:03,320 Speaker 1: haven't done a good job of addressing that. We're trying, 388 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:07,040 Speaker 1: but right now the city of Las Vegas is kind 389 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 1: of digging their heels in and pushing back on the 390 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:12,520 Speaker 1: efforts that we're working on. One of the things I 391 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:14,720 Speaker 1: noticed too is like here in Los Angeles that we 392 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 1: have an ordinance called forty one eighteen and they are 393 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 1: trying to clamp down on unhoused people being in parks, 394 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:25,040 Speaker 1: camping and things like that. And I had a conversation 395 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:29,720 Speaker 1: with a homeless outreach worker who were stating that they 396 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:32,640 Speaker 1: were thinking of the kids and not having them see 397 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 1: that people in a house state. But Sessimon Street has 398 00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:40,400 Speaker 1: now finally talked about this. They have an unhoused kid 399 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:43,159 Speaker 1: on Sessimon Street. They also have a kid that's family 400 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:47,040 Speaker 1: mother is using substance usage. And so I asked, the 401 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 1: question is if this forty one eighteen and then Martin 402 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:55,160 Speaker 1: versus Boise ruling comes back to play, this is going 403 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:59,000 Speaker 1: to affect unhouse kids just the same as unhoused men 404 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 1: and women. So what were your thoughts on that you 405 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:06,359 Speaker 1: can't criminalize away poverty, you know, And what we're doing 406 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:10,399 Speaker 1: with these laws is we're punishing people for being poor. 407 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 1: We know what we have, and the real issue is 408 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:17,400 Speaker 1: is affordable housing. There's not affordable housing, and you know 409 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:20,600 Speaker 1: it's in LA especially. I used to live in San 410 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:23,480 Speaker 1: Diego and I've worked in LA. It's really hard to 411 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:27,800 Speaker 1: make a living wage and live indoors here and it 412 00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:29,399 Speaker 1: took me a while when I was in San Diego. 413 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:32,120 Speaker 1: So I think that's what people are forgetting, is that 414 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:35,960 Speaker 1: some of these people don't have maybe the support systems 415 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:40,639 Speaker 1: or you know, family or somebody to call when they 416 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 1: fall it on hard times, and so we need to 417 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:48,160 Speaker 1: step up as communities and help people. But yeah, criminalizing 418 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:50,960 Speaker 1: is basically just playing whack them all with people. You know, 419 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 1: you're just moving them from one spot to the next. 420 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 1: You're not really getting them to the resources that they need. 421 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 1: I had a close friend in this day to say, 422 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:00,480 Speaker 1: God helps those that help themselves. Why the would the 423 00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:03,280 Speaker 1: family help? And I have the answers to that on 424 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:07,639 Speaker 1: my own. My own family has restrictions on themselves because 425 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:09,880 Speaker 1: of the fact that they may be living in places 426 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:13,480 Speaker 1: to have rules or legislation or things that nature that 427 00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:16,560 Speaker 1: doesn't allow them, or they may be financially strapped themselves. 428 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 1: So it's this myth that the family just helped out. 429 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:22,679 Speaker 1: Maybe it happened in the fifties and sixties, but it 430 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 1: doesn't happen now because times have changed, things have gone up, 431 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:31,200 Speaker 1: stressors are everywhere, and so which ties into the next 432 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:35,800 Speaker 1: question is that what would you tell a person that 433 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:38,239 Speaker 1: has not really much of an experience of being an 434 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:42,400 Speaker 1: housed how would they what would you recommend if they 435 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 1: just they found themselves the first night being in the house, 436 00:24:45,600 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 1: what would you suggest? Baby wipes, a hand sanitizer, No. 437 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:54,239 Speaker 1: Two things to live by. Now, try to find out 438 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 1: where your local church feeding is if you have ID. 439 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:02,680 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness, that's it's like you've already like overcome 440 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:04,879 Speaker 1: like half the obstacles on the street and the hurdles 441 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:07,720 Speaker 1: to get anything. Sign up for food stamps if you 442 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:10,479 Speaker 1: have ID, because that's going to be great and a 443 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:13,200 Speaker 1: life support for you on the streets. But yeah, find 444 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: out where those resources are within your walking distance to 445 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:18,960 Speaker 1: one one if you can call out on a phone. 446 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:21,760 Speaker 1: Two one one is the number you can call to 447 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:24,760 Speaker 1: get the homeless resources and then see if there's an 448 00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:30,959 Speaker 1: outreach agency nearby you. But yeah, I would even tread lightly. 449 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:35,040 Speaker 1: Not that all unhoused people are scoundrels, but I definitely 450 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 1: had some people that I trusted on the streets that 451 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:39,520 Speaker 1: took my stuff. So just you know, tread lightly with 452 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: who you trust and just be smart, be smart. And 453 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:46,159 Speaker 1: then also, oh, sidewalks are safe. You can be on 454 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:49,840 Speaker 1: the sidewalk, but don't go don't go in the streets 455 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 1: because that will get your ticket. Oh, which brings up 456 00:25:52,840 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 1: another question, because sidewalks are safe. But let's say, for example, 457 00:25:56,920 --> 00:25:59,879 Speaker 1: that you have and you're in a neighborhood that have 458 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:03,840 Speaker 1: a business improvement district or neighborhood watch groups that have 459 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:07,520 Speaker 1: like lately, particularly in Los Angeles, there has been an 460 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:12,760 Speaker 1: uptick of support between the Los Angeles Police Department. For example, 461 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:19,240 Speaker 1: council member Guilsiedeo has approved the vigilante attacks of George 462 00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:22,240 Speaker 1: you who years ago had put a stick and it 463 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:24,600 Speaker 1: had a dog or made a campaign to get me 464 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:28,800 Speaker 1: arrested and things of that nature here and drumming up 465 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:32,320 Speaker 1: community to support to eject me from the park and 466 00:26:32,359 --> 00:26:37,640 Speaker 1: things of that nature. What do you say about what 467 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 1: would an an house person needs to be aware of 468 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:43,040 Speaker 1: and how would you suggest them to be alert when 469 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:45,679 Speaker 1: you see these business improvement because they are obviously not 470 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:49,120 Speaker 1: our friends so well, and I think I would say 471 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 1: because I work with the businesses too in Las Vegas 472 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:55,600 Speaker 1: and we lockhorns often. But I think it's uninformed activism too. 473 00:26:56,480 --> 00:27:02,280 Speaker 1: They've dehumanized, you know, people that are housing challenged, and 474 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:07,359 Speaker 1: that's part of the problem. But I think, really, just 475 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:10,240 Speaker 1: don't make a mess, don't be a jerk. If somebody 476 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:12,240 Speaker 1: asked you to leave, leave nicely, don't try to fight 477 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:15,560 Speaker 1: and be a hero, but also get to know maybe 478 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:18,719 Speaker 1: those players and just be polite and be friendly. And 479 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 1: it may or may not work, you know, even Jesus 480 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:24,520 Speaker 1: didn't win them all. Indeed, Well, I was one of 481 00:27:24,520 --> 00:27:29,520 Speaker 1: those rebels because I stayed. And what I had my 482 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:33,080 Speaker 1: experience was I had an advantage. I have a little 483 00:27:33,119 --> 00:27:36,040 Speaker 1: bit more privileged. I'm very educated, and I knew that 484 00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:39,080 Speaker 1: I had constitutional rights, and I knew to connect with 485 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:43,600 Speaker 1: resources to help become a community buy in because this 486 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:46,600 Speaker 1: was my community before I became unhoused. So if you 487 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 1: become unhoused in the community you were in, it would 488 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:52,679 Speaker 1: be a good idea to connect with the resources in 489 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:56,840 Speaker 1: your community first and then have build a buy in. 490 00:27:57,080 --> 00:28:00,800 Speaker 1: So if something happens to you or someone the bids 491 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:06,679 Speaker 1: or some crazy resident attacks or starts some rumors, whatever, 492 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:09,800 Speaker 1: do you support you and keep an eye on them 493 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:13,480 Speaker 1: and start to investigate them. That changes things too. That's 494 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:18,399 Speaker 1: my suggestion. Always be neat if you can pick up 495 00:28:18,440 --> 00:28:22,720 Speaker 1: your track. And also one of the things I also 496 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:26,399 Speaker 1: wanted to ask if you a question is what would 497 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:28,879 Speaker 1: you put if you had a billboard, what would you 498 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 1: put on there for society to understand about on house people? 499 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:37,879 Speaker 1: Oh that's tough. I mean right now, it's just in 500 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:40,880 Speaker 1: my head because I've been we're literally fighting the city 501 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 1: of Las Vegas is trying to pass an ordinance that 502 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:47,000 Speaker 1: would ban homeost from sitting, standing, or sleeping on sidewalks. 503 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:49,120 Speaker 1: It'd be a thousand dollars fine and up to four 504 00:28:49,120 --> 00:28:52,320 Speaker 1: months jail time. So I just keep thinking housing not handcuffs, 505 00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:58,840 Speaker 1: or housing works or maybe housing is it right I 506 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:00,920 Speaker 1: think would be good? Or housing saved lives. Oh man, 507 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:02,640 Speaker 1: that was a whole bunch. I'm going to have a 508 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:06,360 Speaker 1: really worthy billboard that nobody's going to read. What do 509 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:10,000 Speaker 1: you say to the residents that out here that are 510 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:13,080 Speaker 1: against on house people in their communities that are trying 511 00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:16,720 Speaker 1: to push them away and saying that housing isn't a right, 512 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:20,240 Speaker 1: it's a privilege. I've worked hard all my life, and 513 00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:23,040 Speaker 1: you know these people are just some lazy scoundrels or 514 00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:26,440 Speaker 1: bums or hobos or whatever. How would you be able 515 00:29:26,480 --> 00:29:29,320 Speaker 1: to try to change the course of that conversation. I 516 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 1: think first, I like to use stats and facts because 517 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:37,239 Speaker 1: that speaks to people that aren't emotional and attached to 518 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:41,040 Speaker 1: the to the homeless outside. But I think first addressing 519 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:44,200 Speaker 1: the cost, the cost of homelessness what they're currently doing, 520 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:48,800 Speaker 1: and most communities, which is the enforcement. It's a really 521 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:52,480 Speaker 1: expensive solution, and the taxpayers are paying for that. I 522 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:55,360 Speaker 1: don't think people realize that. So if you add up 523 00:29:55,360 --> 00:29:58,240 Speaker 1: the jail time, the cleanup time, all the tickets at 524 00:29:58,320 --> 00:30:01,560 Speaker 1: the court like and now I can only speak to 525 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:03,880 Speaker 1: Las Vegas. I forget what the cost study is for here, 526 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:08,560 Speaker 1: but it's fifty thousand dollars for someone to be homeless 527 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 1: versus twenty twenty two thousand dollars to house them indoors 528 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:18,280 Speaker 1: with case management. And that's already being paid for. Because 529 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:20,800 Speaker 1: you know, you think about you're paying for the police. 530 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:24,560 Speaker 1: You're paying for the vehicles that they're driving. You're paying 531 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:26,840 Speaker 1: for the cleanup if they use a solution to clean 532 00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:30,280 Speaker 1: up anything. If people go to jail, that costs. If 533 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:32,800 Speaker 1: they go before a judge, there's a cost associated with that. 534 00:30:32,960 --> 00:30:35,520 Speaker 1: Plus if they're in jail, all the things that are 535 00:30:35,560 --> 00:30:40,280 Speaker 1: associated with that, whether it be their food, their clothing, everything, 536 00:30:40,720 --> 00:30:43,600 Speaker 1: that's all a cost that your pain is a tax payer, 537 00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:45,880 Speaker 1: and I think that is what is such a shame. 538 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:48,600 Speaker 1: People don't realize this. They think get them gone and 539 00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:51,880 Speaker 1: use enforcement, but it's no, that's actually an expensive solution. 540 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:53,520 Speaker 1: If it was done the right way, it would actually 541 00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:56,760 Speaker 1: cost the community less and you'd see results. I have 542 00:30:56,800 --> 00:30:59,720 Speaker 1: a question for a couple of my other unhousaliens that 543 00:31:00,040 --> 00:31:03,080 Speaker 1: offer from domestic violence. Are there any resources in a 544 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:06,440 Speaker 1: Los Angeles, Las Vegas that can be helped for our 545 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:10,600 Speaker 1: house viewers there, our listeners there. Yeah, we have the 546 00:31:10,680 --> 00:31:14,040 Speaker 1: shade trees are big one, and then we have safeness 547 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:17,040 Speaker 1: So those are for women. And unfortunately we do a 548 00:31:17,080 --> 00:31:18,960 Speaker 1: horrible job. And it's not just us, this is a 549 00:31:19,040 --> 00:31:21,640 Speaker 1: nationwide things. I work with all the federal partners. We 550 00:31:21,680 --> 00:31:25,960 Speaker 1: don't do a good job of men or LGBTQ couples. 551 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:28,280 Speaker 1: So that's what we have for women. But yeah, we're 552 00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:31,400 Speaker 1: really at a loss. If you're a man or an 553 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:36,400 Speaker 1: LGBTQ relationship fleeing domestic violence, there's nothing for you, and 554 00:31:36,480 --> 00:31:39,200 Speaker 1: that is really just a shame. I'm glad you're pointing 555 00:31:39,240 --> 00:31:40,760 Speaker 1: it out. That was going to be my next thing 556 00:31:40,840 --> 00:31:43,960 Speaker 1: I go say I have for our transgender and our 557 00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:49,160 Speaker 1: because I know one of our transgender guests had issues 558 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:53,320 Speaker 1: in shelters and I was wondering what could some things 559 00:31:53,360 --> 00:31:56,240 Speaker 1: could be done to help them. For the listeners that 560 00:31:56,360 --> 00:32:01,960 Speaker 1: want to really revolutionize the shelter procedures and the exact name, well, 561 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:04,360 Speaker 1: I get to brag on our partners at the Salvation Army. 562 00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 1: We have the only Salvation Army trans dorm. So yay 563 00:32:09,560 --> 00:32:11,920 Speaker 1: for being so progressive as Salvation Army because they are 564 00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:14,920 Speaker 1: a Christian organization. But I love that and they saw 565 00:32:14,960 --> 00:32:16,520 Speaker 1: the need for it and they did it, and so 566 00:32:16,560 --> 00:32:19,280 Speaker 1: I think that's pretty cool and I wish more shelters 567 00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:24,360 Speaker 1: would do that because what I have found and I 568 00:32:24,440 --> 00:32:27,960 Speaker 1: have friends that I just think the world of and 569 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:32,560 Speaker 1: the trans community, but they often get discriminated for jobs 570 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:37,880 Speaker 1: and sometimes even within the LGBT community. They get discriminated, 571 00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:40,440 Speaker 1: you know, and shunned, and so it is a hard 572 00:32:40,600 --> 00:32:43,280 Speaker 1: road and they might have been cut off from family. 573 00:32:43,320 --> 00:32:45,840 Speaker 1: If they're lucky, they will have family support them, but 574 00:32:45,880 --> 00:32:49,160 Speaker 1: they might not have anybody, And so we really really 575 00:32:49,160 --> 00:32:51,800 Speaker 1: need to step up and do better for a trans community. 576 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:55,000 Speaker 1: What would do? What are the resources in Las Vegas 577 00:32:55,040 --> 00:32:59,520 Speaker 1: for people Let's say, for example, this is their first 578 00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:02,640 Speaker 1: time me in house and they need some help, some 579 00:33:02,760 --> 00:33:08,280 Speaker 1: direction that may not necessarily be they are not disabled 580 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:11,240 Speaker 1: or they're not not in the situations that I just described, 581 00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:15,280 Speaker 1: I would say if they can there's a couple of agencies. 582 00:33:15,320 --> 00:33:18,480 Speaker 1: There's Help Us in the Nevada that's fantastic, and they're 583 00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:21,000 Speaker 1: out on the streets so they have teams that go 584 00:33:21,040 --> 00:33:24,200 Speaker 1: out and stuff, so it's easy to find them and 585 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:26,680 Speaker 1: they can direct you. They're out a street outreach. And 586 00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:29,080 Speaker 1: then there's also any of the Clark County Social Service 587 00:33:29,120 --> 00:33:31,840 Speaker 1: offices and they are all over the place in the 588 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:34,160 Speaker 1: valley and if you can get in there, they'll do 589 00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:37,120 Speaker 1: a housing assessment, they'll help you get to resources. But 590 00:33:37,160 --> 00:33:41,320 Speaker 1: then there's also down by where the shelters are. It's 591 00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:45,920 Speaker 1: called the Care Complex and there's all the shelters are 592 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:49,240 Speaker 1: kind of right next to each other in downtown Las Vegas. 593 00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:52,800 Speaker 1: But the care complex is open every day but Sunday. 594 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:55,520 Speaker 1: But there are just there. They let people have their 595 00:33:55,560 --> 00:33:58,240 Speaker 1: mail get sent there, all sorts of good resources. I 596 00:33:58,240 --> 00:34:01,320 Speaker 1: love them because they just make anything. They make stuff happen. 597 00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:06,440 Speaker 1: They're good private funding. That's great. So here's another one 598 00:34:06,480 --> 00:34:10,840 Speaker 1: I have because I want to trying to put the saving. 599 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:14,279 Speaker 1: What can happen here we can do as well as 600 00:34:14,280 --> 00:34:17,120 Speaker 1: in Las Vegas. I met a couple. I met a 601 00:34:17,160 --> 00:34:20,840 Speaker 1: gentleman who has a wife who suffers from some challenges 602 00:34:20,880 --> 00:34:23,960 Speaker 1: in mental health, and I was wondering, if that is 603 00:34:23,960 --> 00:34:27,440 Speaker 1: the situation in Las Vegas, what resources are out there 604 00:34:27,480 --> 00:34:33,240 Speaker 1: for them. Well, we have. It's we're different in Nevada 605 00:34:33,400 --> 00:34:37,080 Speaker 1: versus California. It's actually as horrible as mental health care 606 00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:41,480 Speaker 1: is here. It's worse in Nevada, if that's possible, because 607 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:43,680 Speaker 1: it's still state run. Back in the eighties, you know, 608 00:34:43,719 --> 00:34:48,759 Speaker 1: everybody they went back to the county. Ours didn't, so 609 00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:52,239 Speaker 1: it's still state run. So it's okay, but it's not 610 00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:55,880 Speaker 1: the best. But we do have Southern Nevada Adult Mental 611 00:34:55,880 --> 00:34:59,240 Speaker 1: Health and they have resources, and they have funding for housing, 612 00:34:59,280 --> 00:35:01,640 Speaker 1: and they have excellent case managers. So I would tell 613 00:35:01,640 --> 00:35:03,640 Speaker 1: somebody if they're struggling with that, get over there and 614 00:35:03,680 --> 00:35:05,480 Speaker 1: they can help you and point in the right direction. 615 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:07,680 Speaker 1: And if you have insurance, they even help you get 616 00:35:07,719 --> 00:35:11,400 Speaker 1: to who's covered by your insurance. So they're wonderful, Which 617 00:35:11,400 --> 00:35:14,320 Speaker 1: brings another question, who are the greatest who are the 618 00:35:14,360 --> 00:35:23,960 Speaker 1: best supporters in Nevada Las Vegas. Yeah, to help run 619 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:26,239 Speaker 1: the house people? Which ones would you like to give 620 00:35:26,280 --> 00:35:30,160 Speaker 1: a shout out to so people can either donate or 621 00:35:30,680 --> 00:35:35,319 Speaker 1: help amplify some of the services. Because it's such a 622 00:35:35,360 --> 00:35:37,960 Speaker 1: big thing that's going on around the country. Which ones 623 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:40,520 Speaker 1: would you pick out? There's so many good ones that 624 00:35:40,560 --> 00:35:43,520 Speaker 1: I mean that, but there's one that I well, obviously 625 00:35:43,640 --> 00:35:46,440 Speaker 1: us FATS because they're a partner in the garden. But 626 00:35:47,320 --> 00:35:51,480 Speaker 1: Straight from the Streets and the Care Complex. Straight from 627 00:35:51,520 --> 00:35:55,000 Speaker 1: the Streets has been around since late eighties early nineties 628 00:35:55,719 --> 00:35:59,239 Speaker 1: and Linda Randall Ll founded it because she saw it 629 00:35:59,280 --> 00:36:02,680 Speaker 1: was until that point it was everybody sitting in their 630 00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:04,719 Speaker 1: offices waiting for the homeless to come to them. This 631 00:36:04,760 --> 00:36:06,320 Speaker 1: isn't right. We need to go out where the people 632 00:36:06,360 --> 00:36:08,840 Speaker 1: are and so she started street outreach in southern Nevada. 633 00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:12,200 Speaker 1: So she passed about four years ago and so it's 634 00:36:12,200 --> 00:36:15,279 Speaker 1: her widow that carries it on and he works full 635 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:18,960 Speaker 1: time and so it's all volunteer run and they're amazing 636 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:21,080 Speaker 1: and they will do literally anything it takes, so I 637 00:36:21,080 --> 00:36:23,799 Speaker 1: love them. And then also the Care Complex which I 638 00:36:23,880 --> 00:36:27,879 Speaker 1: mentioned before, they're great too. They have a center down 639 00:36:27,920 --> 00:36:31,000 Speaker 1: by the shelters on fore Master Lane, and same kind 640 00:36:31,040 --> 00:36:33,640 Speaker 1: of attitude. Anything it takes, they'll do it to get 641 00:36:33,680 --> 00:36:37,800 Speaker 1: people where they need to be to that next next step. 642 00:36:38,880 --> 00:36:41,160 Speaker 1: One other thing I mentioned I forget I have an 643 00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:45,080 Speaker 1: on housed individual that is immigrant, but it doesn't have 644 00:36:45,160 --> 00:36:47,680 Speaker 1: all of his papers. And I want I know that 645 00:36:47,760 --> 00:36:49,799 Speaker 1: this is going on in Las Vegas too, and I 646 00:36:49,840 --> 00:36:52,920 Speaker 1: want to include as many as my community members and 647 00:36:52,960 --> 00:36:56,279 Speaker 1: my friends as possible. So this is for you. You 648 00:36:56,360 --> 00:36:58,000 Speaker 1: know who you are. I don't want to say your name, 649 00:36:58,080 --> 00:37:03,959 Speaker 1: but this is here's the question. Resources for those populations 650 00:37:03,960 --> 00:37:07,200 Speaker 1: that in a fear, that are working, but they are 651 00:37:07,239 --> 00:37:12,600 Speaker 1: afraid that at any moment that Donald Trump's Ice custom 652 00:37:13,280 --> 00:37:16,080 Speaker 1: team will come and sweep them up. What would you suggest? 653 00:37:16,320 --> 00:37:19,359 Speaker 1: So that's actually an Obama administration left or I don't 654 00:37:19,360 --> 00:37:21,400 Speaker 1: know if you're aware of that law and that crazy 655 00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:27,360 Speaker 1: stuff that's actually Obama. But yeah, so HUD has said, 656 00:37:27,440 --> 00:37:31,000 Speaker 1: which is housing in urban development has said that you 657 00:37:31,120 --> 00:37:34,400 Speaker 1: can house people and there are loopholes, and so housing 658 00:37:34,520 --> 00:37:37,160 Speaker 1: agencies will know how to work through those. But also 659 00:37:37,200 --> 00:37:40,799 Speaker 1: I wish, yeah, I don't have one on me, but 660 00:37:40,840 --> 00:37:43,960 Speaker 1: there are these cards and basically if ice does come 661 00:37:43,960 --> 00:37:46,000 Speaker 1: to your door, you don't have to open the door. 662 00:37:46,040 --> 00:37:47,640 Speaker 1: You don't have to let them in. They have to 663 00:37:47,640 --> 00:37:49,360 Speaker 1: have a search. One. I think people get scared and 664 00:37:49,400 --> 00:37:52,719 Speaker 1: they don't know that. So that's another good thing to 665 00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:54,480 Speaker 1: know is that you don't have to open your door 666 00:37:54,480 --> 00:37:58,000 Speaker 1: if they come. But also that if you do need help, 667 00:37:58,600 --> 00:38:01,600 Speaker 1: there are loopholes. The agencies can get around them to 668 00:38:01,640 --> 00:38:04,720 Speaker 1: help you. Okay, that's going for people that have houses, 669 00:38:04,760 --> 00:38:08,120 Speaker 1: but what if they are in house? Oh okay, because 670 00:38:08,120 --> 00:38:11,160 Speaker 1: you don't yes, right, Okay, because I'm going to say 671 00:38:11,360 --> 00:38:14,440 Speaker 1: because as well, you're correct that Obama did do that, 672 00:38:14,719 --> 00:38:17,920 Speaker 1: but who really pushed for it was unfortunately but particularly 673 00:38:18,120 --> 00:38:22,440 Speaker 1: here in Los Angeles. Uh, they have been around so 674 00:38:23,040 --> 00:38:28,960 Speaker 1: and Trump is now extolling it. And so what I 675 00:38:29,040 --> 00:38:33,120 Speaker 1: wanted to actually tie up and say is if you 676 00:38:33,160 --> 00:38:37,120 Speaker 1: have any challenges in Las Vegas or anywhere else, please 677 00:38:37,239 --> 00:38:41,080 Speaker 1: keep abreast of our station here. We keep things, uh 678 00:38:41,960 --> 00:38:43,959 Speaker 1: keep you. We're trying to keep you informed and trying 679 00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:47,240 Speaker 1: to find the best solutions for you to be safe, 680 00:38:47,920 --> 00:38:52,680 Speaker 1: to find some housing as well as to navigate out 681 00:38:52,719 --> 00:38:55,919 Speaker 1: here because it's very different. But I've noticed to live 682 00:38:55,960 --> 00:38:58,439 Speaker 1: in the house that live on the street, because there's 683 00:38:58,520 --> 00:39:01,360 Speaker 1: a lot of things that very very different. And is 684 00:39:01,360 --> 00:39:03,040 Speaker 1: there also very different if you live in a car 685 00:39:03,160 --> 00:39:06,319 Speaker 1: because those are other dimensions, or if you have from 686 00:39:06,400 --> 00:39:10,040 Speaker 1: the lgb q t I index of the community as well, 687 00:39:11,239 --> 00:39:14,160 Speaker 1: and if there is anything else you want to add, No, 688 00:39:14,320 --> 00:39:17,920 Speaker 1: just that every city is really different. So definitely to 689 00:39:18,040 --> 00:39:20,560 Speaker 1: reiterate with you said to get connection to the local 690 00:39:20,600 --> 00:39:27,040 Speaker 1: resources I think is well advised. Yeah. Is there anything 691 00:39:27,600 --> 00:39:31,319 Speaker 1: people can do to donate to your your agency? Yep. 692 00:39:31,480 --> 00:39:36,040 Speaker 1: You can find us online d C A r I 693 00:39:36,280 --> 00:39:40,320 Speaker 1: d A D charity the word charity spelled out dot 694 00:39:40,320 --> 00:39:47,000 Speaker 1: com or we're Caridad LV for Las Vegas on Facebook 695 00:39:47,080 --> 00:39:51,440 Speaker 1: and Instagram. Thank you very much, Meredith, you came all 696 00:39:51,480 --> 00:39:53,880 Speaker 1: the way from Las Vegas, come to take some time 697 00:39:53,920 --> 00:39:57,000 Speaker 1: to spend with us. Travel all day to get to you. 698 00:39:58,840 --> 00:40:01,759 Speaker 1: Thank you guys for listing, and may we again meet 699 00:40:01,760 --> 00:40:15,759 Speaker 1: in the light of understanding We The Unhouse is a 700 00:40:15,840 --> 00:40:19,440 Speaker 1: podcast we record every week. We interview people from different 701 00:40:19,480 --> 00:40:22,480 Speaker 1: places and we use our resources in order for it 702 00:40:22,480 --> 00:40:24,880 Speaker 1: to make it happen. And up to now we have 703 00:40:24,960 --> 00:40:29,960 Speaker 1: been depleting all types of energy, time and patience to 704 00:40:30,160 --> 00:40:33,520 Speaker 1: give you a quality product. Now you will not hear 705 00:40:33,600 --> 00:40:36,440 Speaker 1: our recordings in a live, quiet studio, but what you 706 00:40:36,480 --> 00:40:39,279 Speaker 1: will hear is where we meet the clients or the 707 00:40:40,280 --> 00:40:43,879 Speaker 1: listeners and the guests after these places where they are. 708 00:40:45,600 --> 00:40:47,480 Speaker 1: In order for us to continue, we're going to need 709 00:40:47,480 --> 00:40:50,800 Speaker 1: some help for a lot of things like a new phone. 710 00:40:50,880 --> 00:40:55,560 Speaker 1: My phone is dying, my computer, I have none different 711 00:40:55,560 --> 00:40:58,040 Speaker 1: other equipment in order for us to start a new 712 00:40:58,080 --> 00:41:00,160 Speaker 1: project where we will have we the young housed or 713 00:41:00,280 --> 00:41:06,239 Speaker 1: people that are want to share their stories visually, and 714 00:41:06,280 --> 00:41:08,720 Speaker 1: then we're going to have a podcast for Wedian How's 715 00:41:08,800 --> 00:41:11,399 Speaker 1: for children? So in order for this to happen, we're 716 00:41:11,440 --> 00:41:13,680 Speaker 1: gonna need a lot of help from our listeners and 717 00:41:13,760 --> 00:41:17,719 Speaker 1: for people that are interested in doing something for their community. 718 00:41:18,600 --> 00:41:21,640 Speaker 1: And after this, if you would like to contribute to 719 00:41:21,680 --> 00:41:24,760 Speaker 1: this campaign, you can contact WI and how's on Twitter? 720 00:41:25,040 --> 00:41:27,960 Speaker 1: That's my thing where I have a PayPal link and 721 00:41:28,000 --> 00:41:29,959 Speaker 1: you can link it there and you can make any 722 00:41:29,960 --> 00:41:33,080 Speaker 1: donation from two dollars to five or however you feel. 723 00:41:33,840 --> 00:41:48,440 Speaker 1: But it's really appreciated. Right now, I'm walking across the 724 00:41:48,480 --> 00:41:50,839 Speaker 1: street from the park to interview a couple of more 725 00:41:50,920 --> 00:41:54,600 Speaker 1: unhoused people and find out their situation and how they 726 00:41:54,600 --> 00:42:01,080 Speaker 1: feel about the sweat sweep. What's your name, sir, well Terrence? 727 00:42:01,080 --> 00:42:06,120 Speaker 1: What what happened yesterday? It was a park ranger clean up? 728 00:42:06,600 --> 00:42:10,000 Speaker 1: Apparently they wanted to clean up this part of the 729 00:42:10,040 --> 00:42:15,160 Speaker 1: part that we live in. And I guess the cleanup 730 00:42:15,400 --> 00:42:18,600 Speaker 1: was us leaving that area. Was it supposed to be 731 00:42:18,640 --> 00:42:25,160 Speaker 1: today or yesterday? Or it was supposed to be today? No, yesterday? Okay, 732 00:42:25,200 --> 00:42:27,520 Speaker 1: so on the fours because but it rained, but they 733 00:42:27,560 --> 00:42:33,600 Speaker 1: came and everything. So what amount of time did they 734 00:42:33,600 --> 00:42:36,799 Speaker 1: give you to move? We weren't here. No, they didn't 735 00:42:36,800 --> 00:42:38,640 Speaker 1: give us any time. So what happened was they were 736 00:42:38,640 --> 00:42:40,920 Speaker 1: supposed to come tomorrow on that spare, but it rained, 737 00:42:40,960 --> 00:42:43,279 Speaker 1: and that's an act of God. What didn't happen was 738 00:42:43,280 --> 00:42:45,839 Speaker 1: the secondary notice of what that what we should do? 739 00:42:46,200 --> 00:42:48,799 Speaker 1: So under normal assumptions, we assumed, all right, we'll just 740 00:42:48,840 --> 00:42:52,640 Speaker 1: live our life. We go to the church to collect something, right, 741 00:42:52,719 --> 00:42:55,239 Speaker 1: it was a free giveaway during the church had and 742 00:42:55,280 --> 00:42:57,040 Speaker 1: it spent on the week books on the weeks. Right. 743 00:42:57,080 --> 00:42:59,360 Speaker 1: So we go there, come back all of our stuff's missing. 744 00:42:59,480 --> 00:43:01,120 Speaker 1: We're not all a lot of it, it's missing and 745 00:43:01,280 --> 00:43:05,640 Speaker 1: these things and yet no notice, no nothing. This angers 746 00:43:05,680 --> 00:43:08,840 Speaker 1: me because I too, I'm away near the alpine park 747 00:43:08,880 --> 00:43:11,359 Speaker 1: and the fact that I've had this very same thing 748 00:43:11,400 --> 00:43:13,960 Speaker 1: happened to me. This really ticks me off. But I 749 00:43:14,080 --> 00:43:17,040 Speaker 1: truly understand. I've had to move my things and they 750 00:43:17,200 --> 00:43:19,799 Speaker 1: never cleaned. They kept it there just to keep me 751 00:43:19,960 --> 00:43:23,560 Speaker 1: out like any other unhoused person. They didn't even clean. 752 00:43:23,600 --> 00:43:26,600 Speaker 1: They didn't even clean. This is a tactic that Mitchell 753 00:43:26,640 --> 00:43:30,560 Speaker 1: Farrell and any of the other council members do deliberately 754 00:43:30,640 --> 00:43:35,240 Speaker 1: to displaces unhoused people. I see one of another resident 755 00:43:35,280 --> 00:43:38,360 Speaker 1: that I interviewed a while ago, Bob, what do you 756 00:43:38,719 --> 00:43:41,440 Speaker 1: what happened with your stuff? Well, they broke my phone. 757 00:43:41,600 --> 00:43:44,480 Speaker 1: I have about six thousand dollars worth of brand new 758 00:43:44,520 --> 00:43:47,120 Speaker 1: clothes that are running because they threw it in the 759 00:43:47,120 --> 00:43:51,000 Speaker 1: fucking mud. They put me in handcuffs for forty five 760 00:43:51,040 --> 00:43:53,239 Speaker 1: minutes because I was gonna kill the son a little bit. 761 00:43:54,040 --> 00:43:56,840 Speaker 1: I'm sorry to hear that. I can understand you upset 762 00:43:56,840 --> 00:44:01,600 Speaker 1: because I probably wouldn't just strangling myself. So I have 763 00:44:01,880 --> 00:44:04,640 Speaker 1: ten tents that they broke in half because they're no good. 764 00:44:04,960 --> 00:44:07,600 Speaker 1: People can't live in them now, and I will not 765 00:44:07,640 --> 00:44:11,320 Speaker 1: accept accept a smaller tent than what I had because 766 00:44:11,360 --> 00:44:14,200 Speaker 1: my stuff will not fit in it. My apologies for that. 767 00:44:14,800 --> 00:44:18,080 Speaker 1: So Mitchell Ferrell just stated to the public that they 768 00:44:18,120 --> 00:44:21,520 Speaker 1: don't have enough money for housing for unhoused people, but 769 00:44:21,600 --> 00:44:25,000 Speaker 1: yet somehow they found two hundred and fifty eight million 770 00:44:25,040 --> 00:44:29,360 Speaker 1: dollars for police, more police after they haven't already bloated 771 00:44:29,440 --> 00:44:32,480 Speaker 1: police budget. So where is this money going. I got 772 00:44:32,480 --> 00:44:34,680 Speaker 1: a feeling we know it's right on this police sweep 773 00:44:34,680 --> 00:44:37,960 Speaker 1: sending these kind of ridiculous raids. Thank you Bob, and 774 00:44:38,000 --> 00:44:40,799 Speaker 1: thank you Terrence, and I'm in as well. I'm going 775 00:44:40,840 --> 00:44:43,120 Speaker 1: to go down and interview a few more people just 776 00:44:43,160 --> 00:44:46,239 Speaker 1: to see what their reactions to this ridiculous sweep was. 777 00:44:47,200 --> 00:44:49,440 Speaker 1: So can you give us a brief description what happened 778 00:44:49,440 --> 00:44:55,280 Speaker 1: to you? I, youth Tay, been going through the social 779 00:44:55,320 --> 00:44:59,400 Speaker 1: system for about eight months in and out. I needed 780 00:44:59,400 --> 00:45:02,120 Speaker 1: a tent. I went to go get me one. Eventually 781 00:45:02,239 --> 00:45:04,480 Speaker 1: had some money to saved up to go get attend 782 00:45:04,480 --> 00:45:08,560 Speaker 1: at least. So it was confusing to me because I 783 00:45:08,560 --> 00:45:10,640 Speaker 1: didn't know that. I mean, I thought the park was 784 00:45:10,680 --> 00:45:13,480 Speaker 1: public property. I thought that this would be somewhere where 785 00:45:13,480 --> 00:45:15,840 Speaker 1: we can go put our tents up, you know, and 786 00:45:15,840 --> 00:45:18,360 Speaker 1: didn't go find somewhere to go shower, put our stuff 787 00:45:18,400 --> 00:45:21,840 Speaker 1: that we need and our necessary needs at that moment. 788 00:45:22,520 --> 00:45:26,879 Speaker 1: You know, I don't really expect people of money, people 789 00:45:26,880 --> 00:45:29,560 Speaker 1: who bring us stuff to take those stuff away, throw 790 00:45:29,600 --> 00:45:33,000 Speaker 1: it away and be the responsible of it. I just 791 00:45:33,000 --> 00:45:35,239 Speaker 1: feel like they're just picking on us at this point. 792 00:45:35,560 --> 00:45:37,839 Speaker 1: I have to share that sety bit for you. How 793 00:45:37,840 --> 00:45:42,720 Speaker 1: long have you been in house? I've been in house 794 00:45:42,760 --> 00:45:45,839 Speaker 1: for almost a year and a half. How did you 795 00:45:45,880 --> 00:45:50,040 Speaker 1: get to this situation? Some have illness, I have mental health. 796 00:45:51,520 --> 00:45:53,399 Speaker 1: I just have a few mental health issues that I'm 797 00:45:53,400 --> 00:45:56,600 Speaker 1: working through. I'm trying my best, but it's hard when 798 00:45:56,640 --> 00:45:59,280 Speaker 1: you get people kicking you out every five seconds because 799 00:45:59,280 --> 00:46:00,880 Speaker 1: you don't have a job, but you don't have the 800 00:46:00,960 --> 00:46:03,160 Speaker 1: means to get the income. But when you do have 801 00:46:03,400 --> 00:46:05,960 Speaker 1: gr and they say, oh, well that's enough, to come 802 00:46:05,960 --> 00:46:09,120 Speaker 1: into the shelter for thirty days or ninety days, but 803 00:46:09,160 --> 00:46:11,399 Speaker 1: that's not enough to you to get a job. That's 804 00:46:11,440 --> 00:46:13,920 Speaker 1: not enough for you to get your medication together and 805 00:46:14,000 --> 00:46:16,200 Speaker 1: make sure you're not drowsy at work, make sure you're 806 00:46:16,239 --> 00:46:19,839 Speaker 1: not upset, or make sure you're not having to deal 807 00:46:19,880 --> 00:46:23,560 Speaker 1: with everybody else's drama that you live with. Like, it's 808 00:46:23,600 --> 00:46:25,279 Speaker 1: a lot of stuff that goes on to be in 809 00:46:25,400 --> 00:46:28,279 Speaker 1: these shelters. It's not just you have a bed all 810 00:46:28,320 --> 00:46:32,359 Speaker 1: the time. Not to mention the draconian rules they have. 811 00:46:32,520 --> 00:46:36,120 Speaker 1: Every little minor thing could result of you being expelled 812 00:46:36,120 --> 00:46:39,640 Speaker 1: out of the shelter. Have you experienced that in these shelters, Yeah, 813 00:46:39,760 --> 00:46:44,600 Speaker 1: a lot of strict ruling. The last shelter or place 814 00:46:44,640 --> 00:46:47,440 Speaker 1: of being I was supposed to be in was a 815 00:46:47,480 --> 00:46:52,200 Speaker 1: program off Avalon and it was a nice shelter to 816 00:46:52,280 --> 00:46:54,720 Speaker 1: have us, you know, for curfew, But if we didn't 817 00:46:54,719 --> 00:46:56,319 Speaker 1: make it to our curfew at ten o'clock, then we 818 00:46:56,320 --> 00:46:58,760 Speaker 1: would have to be sitting outside in the cold. Basically, 819 00:46:58,800 --> 00:47:01,000 Speaker 1: So if you trying to go find a job, if 820 00:47:01,040 --> 00:47:03,480 Speaker 1: you're trying to come from way yonder to go get 821 00:47:03,480 --> 00:47:05,680 Speaker 1: plasma or whatever you're doing to go get your income. 822 00:47:06,160 --> 00:47:07,839 Speaker 1: They're not going to let you in on that day 823 00:47:08,320 --> 00:47:11,160 Speaker 1: because you didn't make it to his hand o'clock and 824 00:47:11,280 --> 00:47:14,440 Speaker 1: they come back, you can come back. It's just that 825 00:47:14,680 --> 00:47:16,839 Speaker 1: was that was a ruling, because I mean, I'll still 826 00:47:16,840 --> 00:47:19,640 Speaker 1: be outside in the cold. I'll still have nowhere to go. See, 827 00:47:19,680 --> 00:47:23,279 Speaker 1: this is the tiptoe stands that unhouse people undergo. And 828 00:47:23,320 --> 00:47:26,440 Speaker 1: when you hear people talking about that people don't want services. 829 00:47:26,680 --> 00:47:29,440 Speaker 1: This is the reality that they don't tell you about. 830 00:47:30,000 --> 00:47:31,960 Speaker 1: So one of the things what happened when you came 831 00:47:32,000 --> 00:47:34,520 Speaker 1: this morning and they found they had to move? What 832 00:47:34,600 --> 00:47:38,719 Speaker 1: was going on? I just found that I either got 833 00:47:38,719 --> 00:47:41,600 Speaker 1: to go find somewhere on the sidewalk versus a park, 834 00:47:41,719 --> 00:47:44,240 Speaker 1: which is like it's kind of cruel and unusual punishment 835 00:47:44,239 --> 00:47:46,240 Speaker 1: because it's like we can put it on the sidewalk 836 00:47:46,239 --> 00:47:48,319 Speaker 1: and we can't put it in the park. That makes 837 00:47:48,360 --> 00:47:50,440 Speaker 1: no sense to me. Which one would you rather be 838 00:47:50,440 --> 00:47:52,160 Speaker 1: if you were in my shoes, which you should rather 839 00:47:52,160 --> 00:47:53,920 Speaker 1: be in the park, or would you rather be on 840 00:47:54,000 --> 00:47:58,520 Speaker 1: the hard ground where you basically are hurting yourself and 841 00:47:58,600 --> 00:48:02,239 Speaker 1: damaging your own body just by want to sleep? So 842 00:48:02,400 --> 00:48:05,120 Speaker 1: I didn't get your name? What's your name? Maa Soria 843 00:48:05,640 --> 00:48:09,520 Speaker 1: Soria Soria. I wanted to ask you wanted what would 844 00:48:09,600 --> 00:48:12,839 Speaker 1: you want the audience or the viewers listeners to take 845 00:48:12,880 --> 00:48:15,799 Speaker 1: away with this in helping you? How would they best 846 00:48:15,840 --> 00:48:20,680 Speaker 1: help you? I don't know at this point. Just try 847 00:48:21,000 --> 00:48:24,280 Speaker 1: the best to see if we can vote for more 848 00:48:24,800 --> 00:48:28,960 Speaker 1: housing for you know, youth, for any homeless youth or 849 00:48:29,000 --> 00:48:31,640 Speaker 1: any homeless well I'm saying youth because I'm twenty two. 850 00:48:33,120 --> 00:48:35,399 Speaker 1: Just give us more chances to show that we can 851 00:48:35,520 --> 00:48:37,719 Speaker 1: pay for their bills and we can't get on a 852 00:48:37,760 --> 00:48:40,600 Speaker 1: program and do the program. If we would have the 853 00:48:40,640 --> 00:48:43,320 Speaker 1: freedom in order to go to our appointments and freedom 854 00:48:43,360 --> 00:48:45,799 Speaker 1: to do the things that we need to do and 855 00:48:45,960 --> 00:48:47,839 Speaker 1: go get a job and make sure we're in these 856 00:48:47,880 --> 00:48:50,120 Speaker 1: programs and go to school. Like if I had a 857 00:48:50,280 --> 00:48:52,080 Speaker 1: stable place to be, I would be back in school. 858 00:48:52,120 --> 00:48:54,400 Speaker 1: I just like I know what I wouldn't do. I 859 00:48:54,520 --> 00:48:58,480 Speaker 1: just need somewhere to be there. You have it from 860 00:48:58,520 --> 00:49:02,839 Speaker 1: the people that have experienctant instead of well dressed lawmakers 861 00:49:02,880 --> 00:49:05,600 Speaker 1: and angry residents that are living in the house and 862 00:49:05,760 --> 00:49:09,120 Speaker 1: have the affordability to sneer and thumb and nose and 863 00:49:09,160 --> 00:49:12,239 Speaker 1: punch down on the vaultable this is the reality that 864 00:49:12,320 --> 00:49:33,440 Speaker 1: unhoused people face. Thank you again for listening. Good afternoon. 865 00:49:33,680 --> 00:49:36,680 Speaker 1: This is Theil Henderson from Weezian House and in the 866 00:49:36,719 --> 00:49:42,520 Speaker 1: studios today is a fellow warrior in the war under 867 00:49:42,600 --> 00:49:46,600 Speaker 1: House and the Revolution. Her name is Tondaka, and tondo 868 00:49:46,680 --> 00:49:52,960 Speaker 1: Ka hails from I want to say central or midwest Michigan. 869 00:49:53,520 --> 00:49:55,640 Speaker 1: Is that in my correct way? Did I get this wrong? 870 00:49:57,400 --> 00:50:01,080 Speaker 1: So in a roundabout way and it up in uh, 871 00:50:01,280 --> 00:50:05,799 Speaker 1: mid Michigan. Actually was born and raised in South Africa 872 00:50:06,280 --> 00:50:08,719 Speaker 1: and then went to Michigan for my schooling and now 873 00:50:08,760 --> 00:50:14,600 Speaker 1: I live in Oakland, California. Oh excellent, So welcome to Oakland, California, 874 00:50:14,719 --> 00:50:17,920 Speaker 1: and we are calling off that book. So can you 875 00:50:17,920 --> 00:50:19,919 Speaker 1: tell us a little bit about a little bit about 876 00:50:19,960 --> 00:50:22,759 Speaker 1: yourself and how did you become involved in a little 877 00:50:22,800 --> 00:50:28,920 Speaker 1: bit into trauma here just a short statement. Oh absolutely, 878 00:50:28,960 --> 00:50:35,040 Speaker 1: absolutely So. I actually started my work in corporate very hierarchical, 879 00:50:35,280 --> 00:50:39,920 Speaker 1: very autocratic, you know, very mundane. And but now it 880 00:50:40,000 --> 00:50:43,600 Speaker 1: wasn't until I actually got sick and I realized what 881 00:50:43,719 --> 00:50:49,400 Speaker 1: the what the what the wellness strategy required that I 882 00:50:49,520 --> 00:50:57,760 Speaker 1: ended up in mental health. And through my own educational experiences, 883 00:50:58,040 --> 00:51:04,399 Speaker 1: I've learned about advocacy, Sigma discrimination reduction, attended a year 884 00:51:04,440 --> 00:51:08,840 Speaker 1: long training program where I learned the values of wellness 885 00:51:08,880 --> 00:51:16,920 Speaker 1: and recovery within the mental health dioramas. And so I 886 00:51:17,040 --> 00:51:22,200 Speaker 1: was able to use that experience the training program to 887 00:51:22,440 --> 00:51:27,359 Speaker 1: actually find work within the ELEMENTA County behavioral health fields. 888 00:51:28,120 --> 00:51:32,239 Speaker 1: And so now I have been at peer run community 889 00:51:32,239 --> 00:51:37,280 Speaker 1: based organizations for the last fifteen years. And by peer run, 890 00:51:37,480 --> 00:51:41,719 Speaker 1: I mean that the organizations themselves fifty one percent of 891 00:51:41,760 --> 00:51:46,840 Speaker 1: the organization, the board members as well as the people 892 00:51:46,880 --> 00:51:52,920 Speaker 1: that work there. The employees are or excuse me, have 893 00:51:53,120 --> 00:51:57,279 Speaker 1: lived experience with a mental health challenge and they are 894 00:51:57,360 --> 00:52:01,919 Speaker 1: very vocal about that. Excellent. You know, I was from 895 00:52:01,920 --> 00:52:05,200 Speaker 1: the school because you know, we went through a finance. 896 00:52:05,640 --> 00:52:10,240 Speaker 1: I was informed only about a certain model of mental 897 00:52:10,239 --> 00:52:12,799 Speaker 1: health care. And like many of us, if you've gone 898 00:52:12,840 --> 00:52:18,120 Speaker 1: into higher education, which is the DSM four, you were 899 00:52:18,120 --> 00:52:22,080 Speaker 1: mentioning in our conversations earlier about trauma informed care. Can 900 00:52:22,120 --> 00:52:25,000 Speaker 1: you tell us the difference between trauma informed care and 901 00:52:25,160 --> 00:52:27,560 Speaker 1: the current model of the DSM four. What are your 902 00:52:27,560 --> 00:52:32,440 Speaker 1: thoughts on that? So the DSM is really from everything 903 00:52:32,480 --> 00:52:36,480 Speaker 1: that I've heard, it's something that is a guide it's 904 00:52:36,480 --> 00:52:40,320 Speaker 1: a tool, right. Yes, it's not necessarily to be used 905 00:52:41,160 --> 00:52:45,279 Speaker 1: to diagnose people, so to speak, but that's exactly what 906 00:52:45,360 --> 00:52:51,879 Speaker 1: happens in the field. It is definitely the biomedical model, 907 00:52:52,360 --> 00:52:56,879 Speaker 1: which is very much higherarcual, very much autocratic, very much 908 00:52:57,040 --> 00:53:00,239 Speaker 1: the psychiatrist or the clinician telling you what is wrong 909 00:53:00,280 --> 00:53:04,279 Speaker 1: with you and what you need to do to fix it. 910 00:53:05,760 --> 00:53:08,640 Speaker 1: And so for myself, I found that model to be 911 00:53:08,719 --> 00:53:15,120 Speaker 1: really really inflexible. I was with I think, in my 912 00:53:15,360 --> 00:53:19,680 Speaker 1: learning curve of what depression was and what it meant 913 00:53:19,960 --> 00:53:23,239 Speaker 1: and how I could take care of myself. I was 914 00:53:23,320 --> 00:53:28,000 Speaker 1: able to find the dimensions of wellness through sam stuff 915 00:53:28,440 --> 00:53:33,040 Speaker 1: and that is the Substance Abuse and Mental health But 916 00:53:33,200 --> 00:53:39,400 Speaker 1: it's that samh SA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services. 917 00:53:41,120 --> 00:53:43,640 Speaker 1: I forget what the A stands for, but anyways, it's 918 00:53:43,680 --> 00:53:48,120 Speaker 1: a federal program, right and through SAMSA they have the 919 00:53:48,160 --> 00:53:52,080 Speaker 1: dimensions of wellness. One of the dimensions of wellness is 920 00:53:52,120 --> 00:53:56,120 Speaker 1: actually peer recovery model. And the peer recovery model is 921 00:53:56,200 --> 00:54:01,319 Speaker 1: exactly that it puts these strains back onto the individual 922 00:54:01,920 --> 00:54:07,280 Speaker 1: who is challenged with mental health condition and it says 923 00:54:07,320 --> 00:54:10,319 Speaker 1: you are in the driver's seat, and it is up 924 00:54:10,400 --> 00:54:14,600 Speaker 1: to you to realize you have agency, you have self determination, 925 00:54:14,800 --> 00:54:17,640 Speaker 1: you have choices. It's up to you to decide what 926 00:54:17,760 --> 00:54:23,880 Speaker 1: is going to work best for you and your particular challenge. 927 00:54:24,000 --> 00:54:28,080 Speaker 1: And so I, for obvious reasons, I fell in love 928 00:54:28,080 --> 00:54:33,719 Speaker 1: with the peer recovery model because it allowed for the 929 00:54:33,760 --> 00:54:39,040 Speaker 1: intersectionality of all of myself. It allowed for a wealth 930 00:54:39,040 --> 00:54:43,120 Speaker 1: of personal wisdom, the practical judgment, It allowed for my 931 00:54:43,200 --> 00:54:47,160 Speaker 1: leadership experience to come in, and more so than anything else, 932 00:54:47,280 --> 00:54:54,120 Speaker 1: it allowed me to be empowered within my treatment modality. 933 00:54:54,400 --> 00:54:59,359 Speaker 1: So and then trauma informed care, I Trauma informed care 934 00:54:59,440 --> 00:55:03,239 Speaker 1: is actually you is for clinicians, and I personally am 935 00:55:03,280 --> 00:55:06,680 Speaker 1: a huge fan of trauma informed care. In that you know, 936 00:55:06,719 --> 00:55:08,080 Speaker 1: I would and I would love to give you a 937 00:55:08,200 --> 00:55:12,200 Speaker 1: definition of traumananformed care as it stands right now, there 938 00:55:12,320 --> 00:55:16,600 Speaker 1: isn't one acceptable definition that is used across the board. 939 00:55:17,840 --> 00:55:20,920 Speaker 1: But all traumanformed care says is you know what, we 940 00:55:21,000 --> 00:55:26,279 Speaker 1: see the person first, So it's person centered care. And 941 00:55:26,480 --> 00:55:30,080 Speaker 1: it's also it does not look at the illness modality. 942 00:55:31,000 --> 00:55:33,759 Speaker 1: It actually looks at wellness. So what is it that 943 00:55:33,800 --> 00:55:38,560 Speaker 1: you need to be and to stay well? Trauma informed care, 944 00:55:38,680 --> 00:55:44,239 Speaker 1: I think, also addresses the social justice aspects of and 945 00:55:44,640 --> 00:55:46,319 Speaker 1: I think that we are going to be talking about 946 00:55:46,360 --> 00:55:49,960 Speaker 1: this a little bit later on, but it addresses the 947 00:55:50,040 --> 00:55:56,560 Speaker 1: social justice aspects of poverty. Why does poverty occur? How 948 00:55:56,640 --> 00:56:00,719 Speaker 1: is it that we can take the steps to eradicate poverty? 949 00:56:01,920 --> 00:56:05,960 Speaker 1: Why is that poverty in a capitalistic society especially is 950 00:56:06,000 --> 00:56:10,200 Speaker 1: a man made, human made phenomenon, because it is, we're 951 00:56:10,239 --> 00:56:15,520 Speaker 1: all literally one paycheck away from being unhoused. And so 952 00:56:16,160 --> 00:56:20,399 Speaker 1: how is it that we can create humane policies that 953 00:56:20,600 --> 00:56:25,200 Speaker 1: add to the safety net, that bridge the gap for 954 00:56:25,520 --> 00:56:30,560 Speaker 1: people that are disenfranchised and don't have a lot of assistance. 955 00:56:31,360 --> 00:56:34,600 Speaker 1: So trauma informed care, I think is really more holistic. 956 00:56:35,200 --> 00:56:39,960 Speaker 1: It looks as the entire individual as well as their environment. 957 00:56:40,440 --> 00:56:45,359 Speaker 1: The DSM manuals whether it's and I believe it's one 958 00:56:45,440 --> 00:56:50,439 Speaker 1: through five now, but I think we've been talking about 959 00:56:50,480 --> 00:56:54,840 Speaker 1: DSM four. If it is a DSM four, it looks 960 00:56:54,880 --> 00:56:59,080 Speaker 1: at just the illness and the pathology of the illness. 961 00:56:59,160 --> 00:57:01,680 Speaker 1: And that's it. Let me ask you this, how can 962 00:57:01,719 --> 00:57:05,040 Speaker 1: I get myself together if I have a break using 963 00:57:05,080 --> 00:57:07,680 Speaker 1: trum informed care? I know many of the how people 964 00:57:08,040 --> 00:57:10,560 Speaker 1: would like to be able to have the agency to 965 00:57:10,640 --> 00:57:13,440 Speaker 1: be able to correct if they have a break? What 966 00:57:13,480 --> 00:57:15,440 Speaker 1: would I would need to do if I had one 967 00:57:15,480 --> 00:57:17,480 Speaker 1: out here on the street? You know, I think it's 968 00:57:17,520 --> 00:57:19,400 Speaker 1: really one of those things that if it is that 969 00:57:19,600 --> 00:57:24,320 Speaker 1: I am experiencing a break, then I might need the 970 00:57:24,400 --> 00:57:29,440 Speaker 1: assistance of Good Samaritans. And so if it is that 971 00:57:29,520 --> 00:57:33,360 Speaker 1: I am experiencing a break, how do I advocate for 972 00:57:33,480 --> 00:57:36,240 Speaker 1: the care that I need when it is that I 973 00:57:36,280 --> 00:57:39,280 Speaker 1: am surrounded with good Samaritans? I think it might be 974 00:57:39,320 --> 00:57:43,800 Speaker 1: a better question is can I answer that one I'm 975 00:57:43,800 --> 00:57:46,240 Speaker 1: going to lead into that one as a business owner 976 00:57:46,560 --> 00:57:49,800 Speaker 1: calling the police? Is that a good idea? Or should 977 00:57:49,800 --> 00:57:52,560 Speaker 1: I as a community member? What training do I need 978 00:57:52,600 --> 00:57:57,160 Speaker 1: to be able to help you be safe? And exactly 979 00:57:58,040 --> 00:58:01,240 Speaker 1: exactly this question has one of the most important thing 980 00:58:01,280 --> 00:58:04,280 Speaker 1: is especially let's say, for example, I'm a business person, 981 00:58:04,400 --> 00:58:09,800 Speaker 1: right and someone is experiencing a break in my store. 982 00:58:10,960 --> 00:58:13,640 Speaker 1: I think the most important thing is, first of all, 983 00:58:13,680 --> 00:58:16,760 Speaker 1: I need to check myself. Do I have any internalized 984 00:58:16,800 --> 00:58:21,400 Speaker 1: stigma and discrimination around Do I have a bias for example, 985 00:58:21,800 --> 00:58:26,320 Speaker 1: around mental illness? If it is that I have a bias, 986 00:58:26,560 --> 00:58:30,960 Speaker 1: can I call someone else to be of assistant. I 987 00:58:31,000 --> 00:58:35,520 Speaker 1: think that it's really important to be humane with someone 988 00:58:35,560 --> 00:58:42,120 Speaker 1: that is experiencing a break. The listening skills, empathy, having foresight, 989 00:58:42,240 --> 00:58:47,800 Speaker 1: having an awareness, being persuasive, all of these skills are 990 00:58:47,920 --> 00:58:53,600 Speaker 1: very important characteristic as well as addressing my bias that 991 00:58:53,680 --> 00:58:58,080 Speaker 1: one I think is paramount. Most individuals that are attic. 992 00:58:58,320 --> 00:59:02,160 Speaker 1: Excuse me statistics, as they tell us that most people 993 00:59:02,320 --> 00:59:05,760 Speaker 1: that are un housed, most people that have a mental 994 00:59:05,800 --> 00:59:12,840 Speaker 1: health challenge, are more inclined to have violence occur against 995 00:59:12,960 --> 00:59:18,160 Speaker 1: them than to be violent if I'm experiencing a break. Honestly, 996 00:59:18,200 --> 00:59:21,080 Speaker 1: I'm not going to be violent in your store. But 997 00:59:21,200 --> 00:59:24,480 Speaker 1: what I do need is some assistance and maybe I 998 00:59:24,640 --> 00:59:28,160 Speaker 1: am able to advocate for myself in that moment. I 999 00:59:28,360 --> 00:59:33,400 Speaker 1: personally do not think that it needs to be the 1000 00:59:33,480 --> 00:59:38,520 Speaker 1: police department. I think that a lot of communities have 1001 00:59:38,640 --> 00:59:45,200 Speaker 1: mobile crisis teams or crisis intervention street teams that are 1002 00:59:45,520 --> 00:59:49,720 Speaker 1: on the street twenty four to seven to coordinate the 1003 00:59:49,760 --> 00:59:55,760 Speaker 1: care for me, the individual that is Quite honestly, it's 1004 00:59:55,800 --> 00:59:58,400 Speaker 1: not the job of the police. It's not the job 1005 00:59:58,560 --> 01:00:04,440 Speaker 1: of the police or the fire department or the fire department. 1006 01:00:05,640 --> 01:00:10,040 Speaker 1: I think that it is a sad case where most individuals, 1007 01:00:10,040 --> 01:00:13,840 Speaker 1: and once again this is a statistic most individuals will 1008 01:00:13,880 --> 01:00:20,720 Speaker 1: receive their first treatment strategies while they are in jail. 1009 01:00:21,280 --> 01:00:25,120 Speaker 1: Jail actually happens to be the largest hospital in the 1010 01:00:25,240 --> 01:00:29,280 Speaker 1: United States for individuals that are on house as well 1011 01:00:29,320 --> 01:00:34,560 Speaker 1: as have mental health challenges. I find that socially as 1012 01:00:34,600 --> 01:00:39,040 Speaker 1: socidally to be unacceptable. We need to do better, We 1013 01:00:39,080 --> 01:00:46,880 Speaker 1: need to do more, We need to offer more alternatives 1014 01:00:47,400 --> 01:00:51,000 Speaker 1: to just calling the police. Hope that answer your question. 1015 01:00:51,200 --> 01:00:53,800 Speaker 1: It does. My question is the follow up on that 1016 01:00:54,040 --> 01:00:58,520 Speaker 1: is that many times, partectarly in Chinatown, we have a 1017 01:00:58,520 --> 01:01:02,200 Speaker 1: business improvement district that is very aggressive to unhoused people, 1018 01:01:02,240 --> 01:01:06,040 Speaker 1: in particular to people of color and people that are 1019 01:01:06,040 --> 01:01:10,520 Speaker 1: having aediza breaks that they have and one of the 1020 01:01:10,520 --> 01:01:12,520 Speaker 1: things that they do is their go to is always 1021 01:01:12,560 --> 01:01:14,959 Speaker 1: has been to the police right now that they had 1022 01:01:15,720 --> 01:01:20,120 Speaker 1: last Thursday, the neighborhood prosecutor for misdemeanors in the meeting 1023 01:01:20,600 --> 01:01:24,720 Speaker 1: looking at a person that has challenges and sending them 1024 01:01:24,800 --> 01:01:29,080 Speaker 1: to h to arrest and prosecute people that have these challenges, 1025 01:01:29,160 --> 01:01:32,480 Speaker 1: like at that jail mental health hospital. So the follow 1026 01:01:32,520 --> 01:01:35,320 Speaker 1: up is a lot of it is due to ignorance 1027 01:01:35,320 --> 01:01:37,160 Speaker 1: and a lot of it is due to poor education. 1028 01:01:37,960 --> 01:01:41,320 Speaker 1: How can the help in spreading the word on trauma 1029 01:01:41,360 --> 01:01:46,400 Speaker 1: informed care. You know, I'm really hesitant on using the 1030 01:01:46,480 --> 01:01:51,880 Speaker 1: media on any of these things. I the reason being, 1031 01:01:52,280 --> 01:01:54,960 Speaker 1: you know, there's been several movies that have come out 1032 01:01:55,000 --> 01:01:59,280 Speaker 1: just this past year. One of them was I don't 1033 01:01:59,480 --> 01:02:01,360 Speaker 1: know if I can say this, but it was Batman. 1034 01:02:01,840 --> 01:02:04,400 Speaker 1: I don't know if you guys, but anyways, let me 1035 01:02:04,400 --> 01:02:11,080 Speaker 1: continue where the Joker had mental health challenges and it 1036 01:02:11,160 --> 01:02:17,320 Speaker 1: was so stigmatizing. It was so stigmatizing. It was so stigmatizing, right, 1037 01:02:17,800 --> 01:02:20,360 Speaker 1: And I think that in terms of the media, the 1038 01:02:20,400 --> 01:02:25,000 Speaker 1: media has a narrative and usually you will find it 1039 01:02:25,080 --> 01:02:29,080 Speaker 1: in the school shootings for example. Right, Oh, well it 1040 01:02:29,080 --> 01:02:31,680 Speaker 1: was a mental health challenge. Well, no, that's not true. 1041 01:02:32,280 --> 01:02:34,720 Speaker 1: It was not a mental health challenge. It was violent. 1042 01:02:35,440 --> 01:02:42,080 Speaker 1: There's those are two diametrically opposed sensibility. Just because I 1043 01:02:42,080 --> 01:02:45,000 Speaker 1: have a mental health challenge does not mean that I 1044 01:02:45,080 --> 01:02:49,600 Speaker 1: am violent. It's because I am violent does not mean 1045 01:02:49,640 --> 01:02:52,920 Speaker 1: that it is because of a mental health challenge. I 1046 01:02:52,960 --> 01:02:55,480 Speaker 1: hope that makes sense. And so we have to be 1047 01:02:55,520 --> 01:02:59,920 Speaker 1: able to differentiate in the community who are allies are 1048 01:03:00,120 --> 01:03:04,920 Speaker 1: going to be? Myself personally, I don't use the media 1049 01:03:05,000 --> 01:03:11,240 Speaker 1: as an ally because I find them with I find 1050 01:03:11,320 --> 01:03:16,280 Speaker 1: them with. Their philosophy is if it leads, it leads, 1051 01:03:16,600 --> 01:03:21,680 Speaker 1: So let's sensationalize it. Let's sensationalize it. Let's sensationalize it. Unfortunately, 1052 01:03:21,720 --> 01:03:24,920 Speaker 1: that's not going to work when it is about stigma 1053 01:03:25,000 --> 01:03:29,600 Speaker 1: reduction and education. Then what we need for stigma reduction 1054 01:03:29,640 --> 01:03:34,280 Speaker 1: and education And what we've found, once again statistically, is 1055 01:03:34,360 --> 01:03:37,960 Speaker 1: the more interfacing I have with someone that is different 1056 01:03:38,120 --> 01:03:42,360 Speaker 1: than myself, the more likely my walls are going to 1057 01:03:42,360 --> 01:03:45,800 Speaker 1: come down and the humanity is going to rise up. 1058 01:03:46,680 --> 01:03:49,960 Speaker 1: And so really the question is with the business district, 1059 01:03:50,320 --> 01:03:55,560 Speaker 1: how do we create safe places, safe zones where their 1060 01:03:55,600 --> 01:03:59,200 Speaker 1: business community can meet the unhaused community, or maybe meet 1061 01:03:59,240 --> 01:04:02,960 Speaker 1: the mental health challenge community in an area that is 1062 01:04:03,080 --> 01:04:06,600 Speaker 1: neutral for everyone, get everyone to get to know one another. 1063 01:04:07,120 --> 01:04:10,800 Speaker 1: It sounds really old fashioned because it is, but it 1064 01:04:10,880 --> 01:04:14,520 Speaker 1: also works really, really well. And the reason for that 1065 01:04:14,720 --> 01:04:18,960 Speaker 1: is because I see you, I see your humanity, I 1066 01:04:19,000 --> 01:04:21,440 Speaker 1: see your you know the blood, the bone, the grist, 1067 01:04:21,800 --> 01:04:24,640 Speaker 1: I see all of that, and it becomes very very 1068 01:04:24,680 --> 01:04:28,480 Speaker 1: difficult for me to demonize you when it is I 1069 01:04:28,520 --> 01:04:31,200 Speaker 1: can see your humanity. So I would say for the 1070 01:04:31,240 --> 01:04:38,960 Speaker 1: business district, what would be really important is actually being 1071 01:04:39,040 --> 01:04:42,600 Speaker 1: able to create the safe faces. It does require a 1072 01:04:42,640 --> 01:04:46,840 Speaker 1: different kind of work, but I think that it's preventative 1073 01:04:46,920 --> 01:04:51,080 Speaker 1: work that I've actually seen succeed in Northern California in 1074 01:04:51,120 --> 01:04:53,560 Speaker 1: our platando. Here's another thing that I've noticed and I 1075 01:04:53,600 --> 01:04:57,640 Speaker 1: want your aspect on it. I've had several people close 1076 01:04:57,640 --> 01:05:00,000 Speaker 1: to me and that have had like life changing illness. 1077 01:05:00,240 --> 01:05:03,960 Speaker 1: For example, one that was terminally ill. And one of 1078 01:05:04,000 --> 01:05:07,120 Speaker 1: the things that I remember when we would go and 1079 01:05:07,160 --> 01:05:09,600 Speaker 1: take care of them, they were not at their best. Obviously, 1080 01:05:09,680 --> 01:05:14,440 Speaker 1: they were sometimes disorientated, they were made went to the 1081 01:05:14,440 --> 01:05:18,439 Speaker 1: bathroom on themselves. They they just basically was not it's 1082 01:05:18,520 --> 01:05:22,360 Speaker 1: not worth the agency was lost in the respect that 1083 01:05:22,400 --> 01:05:25,560 Speaker 1: they were going through illness. And so what I'm thanking 1084 01:05:25,600 --> 01:05:28,959 Speaker 1: to is the fact that that wasn't the time for 1085 01:05:29,120 --> 01:05:31,320 Speaker 1: me to pull out a camera and witness them at 1086 01:05:31,320 --> 01:05:33,840 Speaker 1: their best. What do you think of the phenomenon of 1087 01:05:33,960 --> 01:05:36,600 Speaker 1: you see people now when people are going through the 1088 01:05:36,720 --> 01:05:40,080 Speaker 1: challenges that we are trying to normalize and humanely look 1089 01:05:40,160 --> 01:05:42,920 Speaker 1: at the same situation from mental health or people that 1090 01:05:43,000 --> 01:05:46,520 Speaker 1: are having substance usage of recording them and not at 1091 01:05:46,520 --> 01:05:49,400 Speaker 1: their best moment. Is that said something about our humanity 1092 01:05:49,480 --> 01:05:53,160 Speaker 1: or do you think that's a good, wise idea for 1093 01:05:53,280 --> 01:05:55,840 Speaker 1: us to do that because we're when we I think, 1094 01:05:55,880 --> 01:05:59,600 Speaker 1: I think, I think honestly, that's classic classic shaming or 1095 01:05:59,640 --> 01:06:04,760 Speaker 1: shaming the individual. I am seeing you at your absolute worst, 1096 01:06:04,840 --> 01:06:08,280 Speaker 1: where you can't even advocate for yourself, and then I'm 1097 01:06:08,320 --> 01:06:11,840 Speaker 1: going to spotlight and highlight you at your absolute worst 1098 01:06:12,480 --> 01:06:15,800 Speaker 1: to make a point. And the point is shame on you, 1099 01:06:15,880 --> 01:06:20,680 Speaker 1: shame on you for being ill. Right, And yes, do 1100 01:06:20,760 --> 01:06:24,080 Speaker 1: we live in a shame based society? Absolutely? Do we 1101 01:06:24,120 --> 01:06:27,800 Speaker 1: live in a fear based society? Absolutely? But I think 1102 01:06:27,840 --> 01:06:30,480 Speaker 1: that we need to recognize when it is that there 1103 01:06:30,520 --> 01:06:38,360 Speaker 1: are certain there are certain incidences that will either add 1104 01:06:38,400 --> 01:06:43,400 Speaker 1: to the stigma or they will support why people are 1105 01:06:43,400 --> 01:06:47,640 Speaker 1: being discriminated. Again, as far as I'm concerned, something like 1106 01:06:47,720 --> 01:06:50,960 Speaker 1: that happening and I've seen it, something like that happening 1107 01:06:51,040 --> 01:06:55,920 Speaker 1: is atrocious. It's absolutely utterly atrocious and I have no 1108 01:06:56,040 --> 01:06:59,040 Speaker 1: other words for it. I can't believe that someone would 1109 01:06:59,080 --> 01:07:04,680 Speaker 1: do that to another human beings. That is dehumanizing another person. 1110 01:07:06,160 --> 01:07:11,000 Speaker 1: How can we galvanize people to come around on house 1111 01:07:11,040 --> 01:07:16,160 Speaker 1: people instead of us galvanizing to get rid of them 1112 01:07:16,560 --> 01:07:21,040 Speaker 1: exactly exactly how do we build alliances in the community. 1113 01:07:21,680 --> 01:07:25,560 Speaker 1: You know, one of the places is actually the Border Supervisors. 1114 01:07:26,920 --> 01:07:29,680 Speaker 1: I think that you're probably familiar with the Border of Supervisors. 1115 01:07:29,720 --> 01:07:33,080 Speaker 1: I'm pretty sure that you know who the supervisor is. Yes, 1116 01:07:33,600 --> 01:07:37,080 Speaker 1: say that again. Well, unfortunately, because their solution is, uh, 1117 01:07:37,200 --> 01:07:39,840 Speaker 1: they're they taking their lead. Two of the Border supervise 1118 01:07:40,080 --> 01:07:43,800 Speaker 1: supervisors is taking their lead from doctor true Minski, who's 1119 01:07:43,960 --> 01:07:47,120 Speaker 1: running around saying mental health people because he has experiences. 1120 01:07:47,200 --> 01:07:52,960 Speaker 1: That's what Yes, exactly is that they have a voice. 1121 01:07:53,720 --> 01:07:56,400 Speaker 1: If it is that they have a voice, right, and 1122 01:07:56,600 --> 01:08:01,400 Speaker 1: it is the voice of the very very few, very 1123 01:08:01,520 --> 01:08:07,280 Speaker 1: very few, as well as our conservative voice, then we 1124 01:08:07,400 --> 01:08:10,440 Speaker 1: also need to come in with our own voice to 1125 01:08:10,640 --> 01:08:16,280 Speaker 1: counter that one. I really do think and I've seen 1126 01:08:16,400 --> 01:08:23,200 Speaker 1: it work where community organizers like yourself feel are able 1127 01:08:23,320 --> 01:08:27,200 Speaker 1: to bring in a group of people, like minded individuals 1128 01:08:27,560 --> 01:08:32,160 Speaker 1: who want to address a very specific policy measure, and 1129 01:08:32,240 --> 01:08:34,760 Speaker 1: they are able to do it, especially with the Board 1130 01:08:34,760 --> 01:08:37,840 Speaker 1: of Supervisors, to say, hey, you know what, I'm in 1131 01:08:37,880 --> 01:08:42,960 Speaker 1: your district, I vote, I'm a constituent, I matter, and 1132 01:08:43,040 --> 01:08:45,960 Speaker 1: this is my issue. The truth of the matter is 1133 01:08:45,960 --> 01:08:48,800 Speaker 1: that we are not at the county Board of Supervisors, 1134 01:08:49,120 --> 01:08:52,560 Speaker 1: and we need to be the county board of supervisors, 1135 01:08:53,080 --> 01:08:56,320 Speaker 1: a lot of them, especially in California. How it's broken 1136 01:08:56,400 --> 01:09:00,719 Speaker 1: down to feed plus odd space is that the county 1137 01:09:00,720 --> 01:09:04,160 Speaker 1: Board of Supervisors is actually the one that creates the 1138 01:09:04,200 --> 01:09:08,320 Speaker 1: policy for mental health care. It goes through the County 1139 01:09:08,320 --> 01:09:13,120 Speaker 1: Board of Supervisors. And so I really think it is 1140 01:09:13,160 --> 01:09:17,720 Speaker 1: imperative that when there are votes that are about our 1141 01:09:17,840 --> 01:09:22,240 Speaker 1: mental health, when there are votes that are about un 1142 01:09:25,880 --> 01:09:30,479 Speaker 1: laws or city ordinances or codes, that we be in 1143 01:09:30,520 --> 01:09:34,840 Speaker 1: those rooms. We be in the rooms before the laws 1144 01:09:34,840 --> 01:09:40,680 Speaker 1: are passed, and we are in the rooms as constituents, 1145 01:09:40,760 --> 01:09:44,920 Speaker 1: as citizens, as voters. It makes a huge difference. I've 1146 01:09:44,960 --> 01:09:48,320 Speaker 1: seen the tie turns when it is that we provide 1147 01:09:48,320 --> 01:09:52,920 Speaker 1: our own anecdotal evidence, and we provide our personal narratives, 1148 01:09:53,200 --> 01:09:55,280 Speaker 1: and we do it in such a way that it 1149 01:09:55,479 --> 01:10:01,080 Speaker 1: reaches across all of that arc conservatives them and the 1150 01:10:01,160 --> 01:10:07,760 Speaker 1: fear mongering that demagogureys have a tendency to deal. And 1151 01:10:07,840 --> 01:10:11,439 Speaker 1: I'm not naming any names, but I am saying La 1152 01:10:11,560 --> 01:10:14,559 Speaker 1: County definitely has a demogogue and yeah, let's see if 1153 01:10:14,600 --> 01:10:19,559 Speaker 1: we can topple him. I agree. I think one of 1154 01:10:19,560 --> 01:10:22,519 Speaker 1: the like you stated earlier about the media has had 1155 01:10:22,520 --> 01:10:27,439 Speaker 1: a handle it also listening to anti on house rhetoric 1156 01:10:27,600 --> 01:10:32,920 Speaker 1: like doctor Dupinski right exactly from the Union Rescue Mission 1157 01:10:33,160 --> 01:10:35,160 Speaker 1: talking about get rid of support of house and just 1158 01:10:35,280 --> 01:10:38,200 Speaker 1: brought them in shelters or send them off into the desert. 1159 01:10:38,240 --> 01:10:43,040 Speaker 1: I mean, that's that's deemagoguery, that's pemagogory, and that has 1160 01:10:43,040 --> 01:10:46,120 Speaker 1: no place at all whatsoever in a democracy, and it 1161 01:10:46,160 --> 01:10:48,360 Speaker 1: certainly doesn't have a place at all in the twenty 1162 01:10:48,439 --> 01:10:51,840 Speaker 1: first century. Right. The things of the matter is that 1163 01:10:52,080 --> 01:10:56,519 Speaker 1: between the Department of Public Health and the Board of Supervisors, 1164 01:10:56,880 --> 01:10:59,960 Speaker 1: we have to realize, either as members of the unhoused 1165 01:11:00,080 --> 01:11:07,800 Speaker 1: population or as members of the mental health awareness population, 1166 01:11:08,640 --> 01:11:10,639 Speaker 1: we have to realize that the system has never been 1167 01:11:10,640 --> 01:11:15,800 Speaker 1: designed for us. The system is a warehouse, and it 1168 01:11:15,840 --> 01:11:19,120 Speaker 1: is to isolate and to hide us. It is oppressive, 1169 01:11:19,280 --> 01:11:23,360 Speaker 1: it is traumatic, it's very traumatic, and so one it 1170 01:11:23,560 --> 01:11:27,080 Speaker 1: is that whether it's a Department of Public Health or 1171 01:11:27,120 --> 01:11:29,800 Speaker 1: the Board of Supervisors, they say that, you know, it's 1172 01:11:29,840 --> 01:11:34,600 Speaker 1: not about a lack of hospital beds, it's it's excuse me. 1173 01:11:34,760 --> 01:11:37,639 Speaker 1: They'll say that we don't have the space, we don't 1174 01:11:37,680 --> 01:11:41,000 Speaker 1: have the room, it's about a lack of hospital beds. 1175 01:11:41,240 --> 01:11:43,080 Speaker 1: No no, no, no, no no, no, no, no no. It's 1176 01:11:43,080 --> 01:11:48,080 Speaker 1: about redesigning the whole system. It's about us as constituents 1177 01:11:48,280 --> 01:11:54,519 Speaker 1: getting involved, attending hearings, making public statements, highlighting at the 1178 01:11:54,600 --> 01:11:57,360 Speaker 1: time of making the public statement, which districts we're in, 1179 01:11:58,600 --> 01:12:02,799 Speaker 1: and it's definitely that we're folder. And it's also making 1180 01:12:02,920 --> 01:12:10,439 Speaker 1: sure that we hold our elected officials accountable. That's the 1181 01:12:10,479 --> 01:12:12,360 Speaker 1: only way to do it, Honestly, if we want to 1182 01:12:12,400 --> 01:12:16,400 Speaker 1: see change, we have to be where change occurs, and 1183 01:12:16,439 --> 01:12:18,280 Speaker 1: we have to be in those arenas and we have 1184 01:12:18,400 --> 01:12:21,639 Speaker 1: to be comfortable in those spaces. You know, there's currently 1185 01:12:21,680 --> 01:12:25,640 Speaker 1: ten million people in La County and it is the 1186 01:12:25,680 --> 01:12:29,719 Speaker 1: County of Los Angeles for the supervisors, the first, second, third, fourth, 1187 01:12:29,760 --> 01:12:36,040 Speaker 1: and fifth district. So knowing that, I think it's also 1188 01:12:36,120 --> 01:12:39,000 Speaker 1: important to know that for the annual budget, this is 1189 01:12:39,000 --> 01:12:44,600 Speaker 1: for twoenty twelve, twenty and thirteen, the annual budget for 1190 01:12:44,680 --> 01:12:49,519 Speaker 1: the County of Los Angeles Public Health was eight hundred 1191 01:12:49,560 --> 01:12:53,960 Speaker 1: and ninety three million dollars. Eight hundred and ninety three 1192 01:12:54,040 --> 01:12:58,400 Speaker 1: million dollars. It's close to a billion dollars. So if 1193 01:12:58,439 --> 01:13:00,360 Speaker 1: it is that someone is saying that we need to, 1194 01:13:01,160 --> 01:13:06,519 Speaker 1: I don't know, leave leave Alley Counting and move out 1195 01:13:06,640 --> 01:13:10,639 Speaker 1: to where no. I think what we need to do 1196 01:13:10,760 --> 01:13:14,320 Speaker 1: is actually hold La County accountable where is opposed to 1197 01:13:14,320 --> 01:13:18,160 Speaker 1: a billion dollars going if it is that it's not 1198 01:13:18,320 --> 01:13:21,600 Speaker 1: in service to the people that greatly need it the most. 1199 01:13:22,320 --> 01:13:24,280 Speaker 1: One of the things that I've noticed, for a fact 1200 01:13:24,479 --> 01:13:27,800 Speaker 1: is that most of the money that I've noticed anytime 1201 01:13:28,080 --> 01:13:30,320 Speaker 1: when we're dealing with on the unhoused crisis, which is 1202 01:13:30,320 --> 01:13:34,040 Speaker 1: over six hundred thousand people and growing daily, is the 1203 01:13:34,120 --> 01:13:37,920 Speaker 1: fact that they allocate a line's share of the money 1204 01:13:37,960 --> 01:13:42,680 Speaker 1: to police officers or police services to go and like 1205 01:13:42,760 --> 01:13:48,320 Speaker 1: you stay police or inconcerrate the unhoused mentally health mentally 1206 01:13:48,320 --> 01:13:52,080 Speaker 1: ill individuals and unhoused people in general who don't follow 1207 01:13:52,360 --> 01:13:55,479 Speaker 1: the ordinances. So they're in lines where some of the 1208 01:13:55,520 --> 01:13:59,160 Speaker 1: money goes the other moneyes go with business improvement district 1209 01:13:59,520 --> 01:14:03,680 Speaker 1: community these that use them as a finder's fee or 1210 01:14:03,720 --> 01:14:07,840 Speaker 1: as a scout if you want, on a diabolical nature 1211 01:14:07,920 --> 01:14:11,120 Speaker 1: to find these on how mental health people and to 1212 01:14:11,160 --> 01:14:14,320 Speaker 1: get them into the net of the police department. So 1213 01:14:14,960 --> 01:14:18,599 Speaker 1: what is your thoughts on that? It's really it's really 1214 01:14:18,680 --> 01:14:23,559 Speaker 1: quite possible to uh divert the money that is going 1215 01:14:23,600 --> 01:14:26,640 Speaker 1: to the police department, for example, and use it for 1216 01:14:26,680 --> 01:14:32,280 Speaker 1: crisis intervention teams. Crisis intervention teams would do the same 1217 01:14:32,400 --> 01:14:35,519 Speaker 1: word that the police officers are doing, but they are 1218 01:14:35,600 --> 01:14:42,800 Speaker 1: actually trained clinicians, they're trained peer providers, and they are 1219 01:14:42,960 --> 01:14:49,960 Speaker 1: trained individuals who can actually de escalate a crisis, and 1220 01:14:50,000 --> 01:14:53,200 Speaker 1: then they determine whether or not the person needs to 1221 01:14:53,200 --> 01:14:56,360 Speaker 1: be in a hospital or perhaps even respect Kim, maybe 1222 01:14:56,400 --> 01:14:59,559 Speaker 1: it's not even a hospital, right, And so I really 1223 01:14:59,600 --> 01:15:02,080 Speaker 1: do think that once again, the system has never been 1224 01:15:02,200 --> 01:15:06,320 Speaker 1: design for us. And so how do we advocate to 1225 01:15:06,479 --> 01:15:11,880 Speaker 1: divert funding away from police departments and into humane, holistic 1226 01:15:13,080 --> 01:15:19,479 Speaker 1: services like crisis intervention teams or even peer excuse me, 1227 01:15:19,720 --> 01:15:24,320 Speaker 1: even respect Care, which is very similar to a hospital. 1228 01:15:24,960 --> 01:15:29,400 Speaker 1: The Respect Care is in a residential neighborhood. I am 1229 01:15:29,479 --> 01:15:36,760 Speaker 1: not isolated. I am still part of the community. My my, my, 1230 01:15:36,760 --> 01:15:41,519 Speaker 1: my illness so to speak, is normalized. It's part of 1231 01:15:41,560 --> 01:15:44,599 Speaker 1: the human condition. And it's got maybe two to three 1232 01:15:44,640 --> 01:15:48,200 Speaker 1: weeks to stay to respect Care and take care of 1233 01:15:48,240 --> 01:15:53,000 Speaker 1: myself and and and figure out what my treatment strategies 1234 01:15:53,040 --> 01:15:56,840 Speaker 1: are going to be. So there are a lot of 1235 01:15:56,920 --> 01:16:01,439 Speaker 1: options besides the police apartment, is what I'm trying to say. 1236 01:16:01,840 --> 01:16:05,960 Speaker 1: But we need to be able to advocate and get involved. Well, 1237 01:16:06,120 --> 01:16:08,960 Speaker 1: I thank you again Tando for taking your time out 1238 01:16:08,960 --> 01:16:12,320 Speaker 1: of your busy schedule in light up with Steve Lopez's 1239 01:16:12,439 --> 01:16:16,519 Speaker 1: article that basically demonized an unhoused and people with these 1240 01:16:16,520 --> 01:16:20,439 Speaker 1: health challenges. This is a very timely message. We have 1241 01:16:20,479 --> 01:16:23,720 Speaker 1: a far part series, so Tondo, I invite you to 1242 01:16:23,760 --> 01:16:26,120 Speaker 1: come back for the rest of the series. But again, 1243 01:16:26,439 --> 01:16:28,920 Speaker 1: thank you for your time, and we're going to shut 1244 01:16:28,920 --> 01:16:31,719 Speaker 1: off right now here. This is Theo Henderson from Mean 1245 01:16:31,800 --> 01:16:34,400 Speaker 1: House and thank you guys for listening. Make me again 1246 01:16:34,479 --> 01:16:56,759 Speaker 1: beat in the light of understanding. I want to switch 1247 01:16:56,800 --> 01:17:01,439 Speaker 1: gears here and I want to introduce another gentleman here, Eric. 1248 01:17:01,960 --> 01:17:05,720 Speaker 1: This was black Wolf. I like the Black Thing, so 1249 01:17:06,920 --> 01:17:09,240 Speaker 1: I want to just say a welcome black Wolf, and 1250 01:17:09,479 --> 01:17:11,840 Speaker 1: I would like to give the bike to you. Tell 1251 01:17:11,920 --> 01:17:14,280 Speaker 1: us your story. I want to hear it. Hi, my 1252 01:17:14,400 --> 01:17:20,080 Speaker 1: name's David Lopez, otherwise known as black Wolf. I actually 1253 01:17:20,960 --> 01:17:26,760 Speaker 1: left my house from my own reasons and there was 1254 01:17:26,840 --> 01:17:30,599 Speaker 1: just a lot of family, you know, disruptions, a lot 1255 01:17:30,640 --> 01:17:35,680 Speaker 1: of losses. People have died of the sickness is some 1256 01:17:35,720 --> 01:17:39,679 Speaker 1: people like my uncle, he passed away in the dialysis room. 1257 01:17:39,840 --> 01:17:45,440 Speaker 1: My grandmother, she was drinking and taking pills off a depression. 1258 01:17:45,920 --> 01:17:48,799 Speaker 1: So a lot of that kind of stays in my family. 1259 01:17:49,240 --> 01:17:53,880 Speaker 1: Aside from diabetes and heart failure. Me personally, I've gone 1260 01:17:53,920 --> 01:17:59,560 Speaker 1: through a lot. I have PTSD, schizophrenia, by pol disorder, paranoia, 1261 01:18:00,360 --> 01:18:05,120 Speaker 1: and my partner, Black Lily, she pretty much helps me 1262 01:18:05,160 --> 01:18:08,559 Speaker 1: cope with that from a day to day basis. The 1263 01:18:08,600 --> 01:18:11,760 Speaker 1: reason why I'm on the streets is because I was 1264 01:18:11,760 --> 01:18:14,360 Speaker 1: trying to get my record clean, trying to clear my name, 1265 01:18:14,600 --> 01:18:17,240 Speaker 1: trying to be a better person. I mean, I used 1266 01:18:17,280 --> 01:18:18,920 Speaker 1: to be a house person. I used to be upper 1267 01:18:18,920 --> 01:18:21,400 Speaker 1: middle class. I would go out of my way and 1268 01:18:21,479 --> 01:18:23,519 Speaker 1: come out to the people that aren't house and get 1269 01:18:23,560 --> 01:18:26,719 Speaker 1: money out of my own pocket to help them try 1270 01:18:26,720 --> 01:18:30,160 Speaker 1: to enlighten themselves. And she's to it that there aren't 1271 01:18:30,520 --> 01:18:33,360 Speaker 1: really bad people out here, and now that I'm on 1272 01:18:33,520 --> 01:18:36,280 Speaker 1: house and I'm on the streets, I'm still doing my 1273 01:18:36,520 --> 01:18:38,439 Speaker 1: part to try and make the best of it and 1274 01:18:38,520 --> 01:18:42,640 Speaker 1: help my community out. I think that's very well spoken. 1275 01:18:44,120 --> 01:18:46,759 Speaker 1: Can you tell me what was it like your first 1276 01:18:46,800 --> 01:18:49,280 Speaker 1: time to be unhoused, What did you feel what was 1277 01:18:49,320 --> 01:18:52,920 Speaker 1: going through your head that was never going to make 1278 01:18:52,960 --> 01:18:56,799 Speaker 1: it back to where I was, and that there's probably 1279 01:18:56,960 --> 01:19:00,719 Speaker 1: certain substances that are probably gonna help me, like stay 1280 01:19:00,760 --> 01:19:04,160 Speaker 1: where I was and be stuck there. Intent Yeah, that's 1281 01:19:04,240 --> 01:19:07,000 Speaker 1: very true. I can recall this first time I was 1282 01:19:07,120 --> 01:19:10,639 Speaker 1: in house to fear and the uh because I didn't 1283 01:19:10,640 --> 01:19:13,800 Speaker 1: sleep a wink. I guess I had no idea because 1284 01:19:13,840 --> 01:19:16,519 Speaker 1: there is no manual to be out on house. People 1285 01:19:16,840 --> 01:19:20,600 Speaker 1: have this nonsensical belief that people just go around with 1286 01:19:20,720 --> 01:19:23,600 Speaker 1: big shopping cars, but the reason they have those is 1287 01:19:23,640 --> 01:19:26,760 Speaker 1: because of survival things to survive. I didn't know that 1288 01:19:26,960 --> 01:19:30,360 Speaker 1: because I was uninitiated. The second question I would like 1289 01:19:30,400 --> 01:19:32,439 Speaker 1: to ask is like, how long have you been un house? 1290 01:19:33,400 --> 01:19:35,839 Speaker 1: Me personally, I've been on house since I was about sixteen, 1291 01:19:35,920 --> 01:19:38,400 Speaker 1: so about ten years now. Well it will be ten 1292 01:19:38,479 --> 01:19:41,880 Speaker 1: years next year, but nine years total. So how are 1293 01:19:41,960 --> 01:19:46,160 Speaker 1: you able to Because it sounds like you're reasonably resilient, 1294 01:19:46,280 --> 01:19:52,240 Speaker 1: it's obviously obviously resourceful. What keeps you from plunging into 1295 01:19:52,360 --> 01:19:56,320 Speaker 1: the forces of depression or getting off track, if you will, 1296 01:19:56,720 --> 01:19:58,720 Speaker 1: surrounding yourself with good people that kind of relate to 1297 01:19:58,760 --> 01:20:02,800 Speaker 1: you very asking them what are their reasons for being 1298 01:20:02,840 --> 01:20:06,320 Speaker 1: out here and sitting down with these people and actually 1299 01:20:06,320 --> 01:20:08,679 Speaker 1: sitting in come and go as you can hear that 1300 01:20:08,760 --> 01:20:12,280 Speaker 1: this is the same kind of philosophy that how people 1301 01:20:12,360 --> 01:20:14,840 Speaker 1: have as well as other house people. We're really not 1302 01:20:14,960 --> 01:20:17,639 Speaker 1: that different. It's just that some kind of way we've 1303 01:20:17,640 --> 01:20:21,080 Speaker 1: been dehumanized, and it made them feel like we're at others. 1304 01:20:21,920 --> 01:20:25,920 Speaker 1: There was a few weeks ago an Echo Park in 1305 01:20:25,960 --> 01:20:29,880 Speaker 1: the Rain. Park rangers came and confiscated there was a 1306 01:20:30,160 --> 01:20:34,320 Speaker 1: there's a disability disabled man, he has multiple scrosses, and 1307 01:20:34,360 --> 01:20:37,519 Speaker 1: there's other people who have all sorts of challenges in 1308 01:20:37,560 --> 01:20:41,599 Speaker 1: this park. They went and confisated their things. They put 1309 01:20:41,640 --> 01:20:44,320 Speaker 1: some of it in the trash. They handcuffed the guy, 1310 01:20:44,439 --> 01:20:46,680 Speaker 1: the tanged the guy and one of the guys and 1311 01:20:46,720 --> 01:20:48,959 Speaker 1: they started to speak out and stand up for themselves, 1312 01:20:49,479 --> 01:20:53,960 Speaker 1: and one of the park rangers responses was, you're the 1313 01:20:54,000 --> 01:20:56,880 Speaker 1: only person that sees that sees that they aren't human, 1314 01:20:57,560 --> 01:21:01,400 Speaker 1: that therein lies the challenges. And then when I have 1315 01:21:01,560 --> 01:21:04,599 Speaker 1: my own experience is when I was in Alpine and 1316 01:21:04,720 --> 01:21:08,479 Speaker 1: hearing the staff whining about it's not fair. They don't 1317 01:21:08,520 --> 01:21:11,920 Speaker 1: see it's not about you being black or a house. 1318 01:21:12,000 --> 01:21:15,080 Speaker 1: But it's actually that it's just that they're so insiduous, 1319 01:21:15,120 --> 01:21:18,599 Speaker 1: that they are so implicitly biased, they can never possibly 1320 01:21:18,640 --> 01:21:23,559 Speaker 1: see the track record that they did, which brings up 1321 01:21:23,840 --> 01:21:27,520 Speaker 1: why I say this. It's because this is the nucleus 1322 01:21:27,760 --> 01:21:31,800 Speaker 1: of how forty one, eighteen sixty four, forty four and 1323 01:21:32,280 --> 01:21:36,960 Speaker 1: DIETO two has been realized. It's the implicit bias about people. 1324 01:21:37,200 --> 01:21:41,040 Speaker 1: It's the implicit ideas that people are a danger or 1325 01:21:41,080 --> 01:21:43,360 Speaker 1: they it's one of the guys there told me you 1326 01:21:43,360 --> 01:21:46,400 Speaker 1: should move your things away because you're two near children, 1327 01:21:46,920 --> 01:21:49,120 Speaker 1: or you know, they think you're setting up or you're 1328 01:21:49,160 --> 01:21:52,320 Speaker 1: going to do something to the kids. It's the idea 1329 01:21:52,439 --> 01:21:55,680 Speaker 1: that you are not a community member, you're not a 1330 01:21:55,920 --> 01:21:58,880 Speaker 1: human being, and they want you to fall in line 1331 01:21:58,960 --> 01:22:02,920 Speaker 1: with that dehuman eye think an insulting practice. So what 1332 01:22:03,000 --> 01:22:06,360 Speaker 1: is your thoughts on forty one to eight? Pretty much, 1333 01:22:06,479 --> 01:22:09,280 Speaker 1: in my general opinion from someone from what you said 1334 01:22:09,400 --> 01:22:12,240 Speaker 1: is these people were pretty much doing everything in their 1335 01:22:12,240 --> 01:22:17,439 Speaker 1: power to lower morale. The lower morale is out here, 1336 01:22:18,040 --> 01:22:20,120 Speaker 1: it's a higher chance for them to just say, hey man, 1337 01:22:20,160 --> 01:22:24,360 Speaker 1: you got to get your shit and go. And pretty much, 1338 01:22:24,640 --> 01:22:28,320 Speaker 1: I mean to me, I've been in compliance with everything 1339 01:22:28,360 --> 01:22:33,200 Speaker 1: that these lapd have released, so far, so good, and 1340 01:22:33,240 --> 01:22:36,439 Speaker 1: it's just I would say if people could look at 1341 01:22:36,520 --> 01:22:39,920 Speaker 1: my example and follow from what I'm doing, we won't 1342 01:22:39,960 --> 01:22:44,439 Speaker 1: have trouble. My issue is this, and if you free 1343 01:22:44,479 --> 01:22:47,360 Speaker 1: to jump in Black Lily, is the fact that do 1344 01:22:47,479 --> 01:22:50,720 Speaker 1: you also consider yourself as American citizens? Yes, I was 1345 01:22:50,760 --> 01:22:54,840 Speaker 1: born on American soil. David was black, Wolf was born 1346 01:22:54,880 --> 01:22:58,120 Speaker 1: on American soil. If you're born on American soil, you're 1347 01:22:58,120 --> 01:23:04,639 Speaker 1: an American. You're an American, whether you pay taxes or not. Okay, 1348 01:23:04,720 --> 01:23:07,800 Speaker 1: so they're in that. This is following me with what 1349 01:23:07,920 --> 01:23:10,559 Speaker 1: I'm going with this line of questioning, is that why 1350 01:23:10,680 --> 01:23:12,880 Speaker 1: is it that people feel that and house people are 1351 01:23:12,880 --> 01:23:16,600 Speaker 1: not accorded the same civil rights and the dignities that 1352 01:23:16,680 --> 01:23:20,040 Speaker 1: house people do. So what is your thoughts for that? Honestly, 1353 01:23:20,280 --> 01:23:23,599 Speaker 1: I think it has to stem from Honestly, it's not 1354 01:23:23,760 --> 01:23:28,639 Speaker 1: just about unhoused people. It's more of the fact that 1355 01:23:29,360 --> 01:23:33,559 Speaker 1: they see us as weaker. For years and centuries, people 1356 01:23:33,600 --> 01:23:37,639 Speaker 1: have been wanting to dehumanize somebody else just because of 1357 01:23:37,800 --> 01:23:40,680 Speaker 1: them being weak, just because of them being different, just 1358 01:23:40,760 --> 01:23:43,880 Speaker 1: because of where they live, just because of how they live, 1359 01:23:44,720 --> 01:23:49,160 Speaker 1: and because of their culture. For years, we've been dehumanizing people. 1360 01:23:49,240 --> 01:23:53,960 Speaker 1: It's not just the homeless people that been receiving it. 1361 01:23:54,200 --> 01:23:59,080 Speaker 1: Like if you look at it, homelessness has been around 1362 01:23:59,120 --> 01:24:07,120 Speaker 1: for a while. But honestly, all that we ask for 1363 01:24:07,720 --> 01:24:12,160 Speaker 1: it's just a little bit of a respect. Honestly, yeah, 1364 01:24:13,040 --> 01:24:15,960 Speaker 1: I agree, respect goes a long way. However, I want 1365 01:24:16,000 --> 01:24:19,679 Speaker 1: to also talk about respect civil rights and in two 1366 01:24:20,840 --> 01:24:23,519 Speaker 1: the first of the year, and just to let everyone 1367 01:24:23,560 --> 01:24:26,559 Speaker 1: know on this listing the first of the year, Mitchell Pharaoh, 1368 01:24:26,760 --> 01:24:31,599 Speaker 1: the mayor and LAPD have been having backroom talks. They 1369 01:24:32,280 --> 01:24:38,320 Speaker 1: have half heartedly let the care teams have less police practice, 1370 01:24:38,640 --> 01:24:43,679 Speaker 1: but behind the societies behind scrutiny. They have been sweeping 1371 01:24:43,720 --> 01:24:49,400 Speaker 1: places like Koreatown Echo Park, and it's partly because of 1372 01:24:49,439 --> 01:24:54,679 Speaker 1: the fact that they have been getting backlash from house residents. However, 1373 01:24:54,800 --> 01:24:58,280 Speaker 1: here is the irony of the whole situation is that 1374 01:24:59,520 --> 01:25:01,880 Speaker 1: no matter where they do all these raids, there is 1375 01:25:01,920 --> 01:25:04,040 Speaker 1: nowhere for the young house to go. They are still 1376 01:25:04,080 --> 01:25:06,880 Speaker 1: going to be un housed. They must look like they 1377 01:25:07,320 --> 01:25:11,800 Speaker 1: are doing something. But have you have heard anything of 1378 01:25:11,920 --> 01:25:17,240 Speaker 1: any mayor, Mitchell Pharaoh, or any council City council members 1379 01:25:17,320 --> 01:25:19,920 Speaker 1: speaking out against the vigilanteism that has been going on 1380 01:25:19,960 --> 01:25:22,160 Speaker 1: with unhoused people. Have you heard, I have not, But 1381 01:25:22,360 --> 01:25:27,160 Speaker 1: no I haven't. I haven't heard of any city came 1382 01:25:27,240 --> 01:25:30,000 Speaker 1: down to this that one time. But I don't know 1383 01:25:30,000 --> 01:25:32,960 Speaker 1: if he's for us or against us. For as far 1384 01:25:33,000 --> 01:25:36,960 Speaker 1: as I've seen Mary Grisetti, as far as I've seen 1385 01:25:37,080 --> 01:25:39,400 Speaker 1: from what he's done in the past, is he's against 1386 01:25:39,479 --> 01:25:45,320 Speaker 1: the homeless his direct words, whereas he's his job is 1387 01:25:45,360 --> 01:25:49,120 Speaker 1: to make the Republicans and the Liberals angry. He wants 1388 01:25:49,160 --> 01:25:52,559 Speaker 1: to make the Republicans angry because he wants to spend 1389 01:25:52,640 --> 01:25:55,559 Speaker 1: money on the young housed. He wants to make the 1390 01:25:55,680 --> 01:25:59,960 Speaker 1: Liberals angry because they can't sleep near parks or school 1391 01:26:00,240 --> 01:26:02,600 Speaker 1: or things like that. So the forty one eighteen was 1392 01:26:02,640 --> 01:26:07,080 Speaker 1: his brain child, along with Mike Feher, Mitchell Farroh, the 1393 01:26:07,120 --> 01:26:10,559 Speaker 1: Border supervisors, they all have got the new Martinez by 1394 01:26:10,600 --> 01:26:14,439 Speaker 1: the way, as gotten together to foment this kind of 1395 01:26:14,479 --> 01:26:18,200 Speaker 1: the human nation. To the humanization campaign. Well you have 1396 01:26:18,240 --> 01:26:20,280 Speaker 1: to see it this way too, that if we're gonna 1397 01:26:20,320 --> 01:26:24,640 Speaker 1: be forced out into the desert, we're just gonna be 1398 01:26:24,640 --> 01:26:28,280 Speaker 1: forced to learn just survive. As much as we've been 1399 01:26:28,360 --> 01:26:31,360 Speaker 1: doing it's just gonna be different. Instead, we're gonna be 1400 01:26:31,400 --> 01:26:33,559 Speaker 1: building our own huts out there. And it's like, if 1401 01:26:33,560 --> 01:26:37,439 Speaker 1: you're really gonna be mad about the homeless people being 1402 01:26:37,439 --> 01:26:40,040 Speaker 1: in the city and you want them out, stop blaming 1403 01:26:40,080 --> 01:26:44,559 Speaker 1: the fires on us. Stop you know, making us the 1404 01:26:44,640 --> 01:26:48,400 Speaker 1: bad guys because we're just trying to survive. You push 1405 01:26:48,439 --> 01:26:53,160 Speaker 1: us on to the desert. It's just gonna be an 1406 01:26:53,680 --> 01:26:57,840 Speaker 1: what's the difference. What's the difference. It's a concentration camp, 1407 01:26:57,920 --> 01:27:02,400 Speaker 1: that's the difference. Know what it is is they're pushing 1408 01:27:02,479 --> 01:27:06,040 Speaker 1: us away from resources that can help us get off 1409 01:27:06,040 --> 01:27:09,559 Speaker 1: the street. And most importantly when in the Nazi Germany, 1410 01:27:09,680 --> 01:27:14,760 Speaker 1: this this is exactly like that. The first thing when 1411 01:27:14,800 --> 01:27:17,160 Speaker 1: I was in college and I interviewed some of the 1412 01:27:17,200 --> 01:27:20,040 Speaker 1: Holocaust survivors, the thing of it is is they did 1413 01:27:20,080 --> 01:27:22,800 Speaker 1: not just cool out and just scoop them up. They 1414 01:27:22,880 --> 01:27:25,880 Speaker 1: used a steady campaign. Like I would be very hard 1415 01:27:25,920 --> 01:27:29,600 Speaker 1: pressed to believe that they haven't modeled and observed this 1416 01:27:30,280 --> 01:27:35,040 Speaker 1: is the campaign of always having the outside forces generate 1417 01:27:35,360 --> 01:27:40,120 Speaker 1: the public outcry. My observation is the police officers are 1418 01:27:40,160 --> 01:27:42,759 Speaker 1: behind it as well. They will go to business owners, 1419 01:27:42,800 --> 01:27:46,240 Speaker 1: they will go to residents, and force them and make 1420 01:27:46,280 --> 01:27:50,599 Speaker 1: the story so horrific that you see this mentally ill guy, 1421 01:27:50,920 --> 01:27:53,360 Speaker 1: he's walking around with a bag of feces. Do you 1422 01:27:53,400 --> 01:27:55,920 Speaker 1: want them around your children? They make the story so 1423 01:27:56,320 --> 01:28:03,080 Speaker 1: horrific that the humanization can camping goes on unabated. And 1424 01:28:03,120 --> 01:28:06,280 Speaker 1: then after that that momentum going on. Once you send 1425 01:28:06,280 --> 01:28:10,360 Speaker 1: out people to the camps, they ain't gonna have no 1426 01:28:10,439 --> 01:28:13,719 Speaker 1: recourse there. They aren't going to be able to fight 1427 01:28:13,800 --> 01:28:17,200 Speaker 1: back because they are usually beaten down by the police, 1428 01:28:17,439 --> 01:28:23,280 Speaker 1: park rangers, city house residents. They're so used to condition 1429 01:28:23,439 --> 01:28:26,360 Speaker 1: to be dehumanized, they would just go along with it. 1430 01:28:26,680 --> 01:28:30,280 Speaker 1: But many of the unhoused are disabled, ill, they need 1431 01:28:30,400 --> 01:28:33,479 Speaker 1: surgeries and things like that. They can't survive out there 1432 01:28:33,520 --> 01:28:37,240 Speaker 1: in the camps because they, like a few days ago, 1433 01:28:37,280 --> 01:28:41,479 Speaker 1: a few people have been passing away. So that's that's 1434 01:28:41,520 --> 01:28:44,479 Speaker 1: where we're going. And that's why we must all of us, 1435 01:28:44,560 --> 01:28:48,200 Speaker 1: is the unhoused. We must unite and speak out against this. 1436 01:28:48,360 --> 01:28:52,479 Speaker 1: We cannot shift our uh drop our shoulders and our heads. 1437 01:28:52,560 --> 01:28:56,440 Speaker 1: We need to send and I completely agree. I've actually 1438 01:28:57,080 --> 01:29:00,680 Speaker 1: you're gonna ask black Wolf here when I go to 1439 01:29:01,040 --> 01:29:04,280 Speaker 1: Salvation Army. Like there's been a few times where I 1440 01:29:04,439 --> 01:29:07,520 Speaker 1: tried to get people to speak up because there's some resources, 1441 01:29:08,000 --> 01:29:12,080 Speaker 1: some resource centers that have gone around, you know, making 1442 01:29:12,160 --> 01:29:16,679 Speaker 1: some really shitty laws city rules. Because of the laws 1443 01:29:16,720 --> 01:29:19,840 Speaker 1: that are around. As I have been trying to get 1444 01:29:19,840 --> 01:29:24,040 Speaker 1: people to speak up, a lot of y'all think that 1445 01:29:24,439 --> 01:29:29,840 Speaker 1: we don't have a voice. But honestly, when you really 1446 01:29:29,880 --> 01:29:35,120 Speaker 1: think about it, if we group together, if we connect together, 1447 01:29:35,760 --> 01:29:43,920 Speaker 1: stand together as a homeless community, do you realize that 1448 01:29:45,960 --> 01:29:53,120 Speaker 1: the homeless community overruns the housed population. Let that sink 1449 01:29:53,200 --> 01:29:56,960 Speaker 1: in for a minute. Just let that sink in for 1450 01:29:57,000 --> 01:30:02,760 Speaker 1: a minute. There are more homeless citizens here in America, 1451 01:30:03,160 --> 01:30:08,720 Speaker 1: and there are citizens that own their own house. I 1452 01:30:08,560 --> 01:30:13,479 Speaker 1: imagine as well if those house citizens manned together and 1453 01:30:13,600 --> 01:30:16,679 Speaker 1: had it became a very strong political voice and put 1454 01:30:16,720 --> 01:30:19,920 Speaker 1: in the walking papers of the business Improvement District. And 1455 01:30:20,040 --> 01:30:26,799 Speaker 1: these small but vocal, outcryer outliers are finding a voice 1456 01:30:26,920 --> 01:30:31,439 Speaker 1: or a fighting audience in council members office, mayor's office, 1457 01:30:31,760 --> 01:30:35,160 Speaker 1: and I ultimately the city attorneys who's creating these draconian 1458 01:30:35,240 --> 01:30:40,240 Speaker 1: laws and knowing that they are not have any concern 1459 01:30:40,280 --> 01:30:42,360 Speaker 1: about unhouse people at all. They just want the money 1460 01:30:42,640 --> 01:30:45,160 Speaker 1: and more buildings. So black Wolf. Let me ask you 1461 01:30:45,200 --> 01:30:49,559 Speaker 1: a question. If you had a billboard and you were 1462 01:30:49,680 --> 01:30:52,760 Speaker 1: taxed to educate the populace about big on House, what 1463 01:30:52,800 --> 01:30:58,000 Speaker 1: would your billboard be? Stand up for us right and 1464 01:30:58,479 --> 01:31:19,120 Speaker 1: united to stand strong into common enemy. Thank you for 1465 01:31:19,160 --> 01:31:23,080 Speaker 1: listening to this episode of Mental Health. We're going to 1466 01:31:23,120 --> 01:31:25,720 Speaker 1: be doing the five part series, but I wanted to 1467 01:31:25,720 --> 01:31:28,400 Speaker 1: touch base and recap on some things that is very 1468 01:31:28,400 --> 01:31:33,200 Speaker 1: interesting to note. Unhoused or housed, we all say a 1469 01:31:33,400 --> 01:31:36,960 Speaker 1: share a common garment of destiny. We are connected. But 1470 01:31:37,080 --> 01:31:39,200 Speaker 1: when it's a full time job, when you're in house 1471 01:31:39,520 --> 01:31:42,880 Speaker 1: and you're constantly harassed by supposedly the people that are 1472 01:31:42,880 --> 01:31:45,200 Speaker 1: supposed to have your interest as well as house members, 1473 01:31:45,560 --> 01:31:49,280 Speaker 1: when it's unfair and unbalanced. It happens to put your 1474 01:31:49,320 --> 01:31:53,720 Speaker 1: body through some neurochemical stresses, the fight or fight response, 1475 01:31:54,120 --> 01:31:57,200 Speaker 1: and it causes mental health issues. Whether you want to 1476 01:31:57,280 --> 01:32:00,760 Speaker 1: or not, it causes trauma. Our is episode explore this 1477 01:32:01,200 --> 01:32:05,360 Speaker 1: with mental health advocate Tondukuduka as whereas Maridiv as well 1478 01:32:05,400 --> 01:32:07,919 Speaker 1: as some of the incidents that some of our gueststeps 1479 01:32:07,960 --> 01:32:10,400 Speaker 1: talked about. The lack of care and the lack of 1480 01:32:10,400 --> 01:32:14,280 Speaker 1: indifference our community has too often we have been painted 1481 01:32:14,320 --> 01:32:18,040 Speaker 1: by the physical unhoused. We see the unhoused that are 1482 01:32:18,120 --> 01:32:22,680 Speaker 1: talking to themselves or having a moment of disruption and realities, 1483 01:32:23,080 --> 01:32:27,800 Speaker 1: and then they are basically having a breakdown. Due to 1484 01:32:28,439 --> 01:32:32,920 Speaker 1: our society disdain for poor and people that are in poverty, 1485 01:32:33,160 --> 01:32:35,559 Speaker 1: it is up to us to embrace new ways in 1486 01:32:35,680 --> 01:32:38,240 Speaker 1: order to help. Film criminalization is not a new way. 1487 01:32:38,400 --> 01:32:40,439 Speaker 1: It has been here since the eighteen hundreds and it 1488 01:32:40,479 --> 01:32:43,160 Speaker 1: hasn't done anything then and it will not do anything now. 1489 01:32:43,320 --> 01:32:48,080 Speaker 1: We must embrace new ideas, just as we do with science, technology, 1490 01:32:48,439 --> 01:32:51,559 Speaker 1: and anything that deals with the arts. We must embrace 1491 01:32:51,880 --> 01:32:55,880 Speaker 1: somethings such as trauma informed care, how we as communities 1492 01:32:55,920 --> 01:32:59,000 Speaker 1: deal with people with trauma issues, and how we deal 1493 01:32:59,120 --> 01:33:02,600 Speaker 1: with on a legal method of how to deal with 1494 01:33:02,760 --> 01:33:06,599 Speaker 1: unhoused people that have these challenges. What is humane is 1495 01:33:06,880 --> 01:33:09,240 Speaker 1: saying we're all in this together and we're going to 1496 01:33:09,280 --> 01:33:12,599 Speaker 1: do something about it. What is inhumane is talking about 1497 01:33:12,600 --> 01:33:16,519 Speaker 1: that you're going to force compliant enforcement behaviors, thinking that 1498 01:33:16,600 --> 01:33:19,519 Speaker 1: it's going to solve the problem because you're afraid to 1499 01:33:19,640 --> 01:33:22,880 Speaker 1: confront the people that are harassing unhouse people because you're 1500 01:33:22,880 --> 01:33:25,439 Speaker 1: one of the harassers. If you really want to change 1501 01:33:25,439 --> 01:33:28,680 Speaker 1: things to make unhouse people's lives a little more with 1502 01:33:28,760 --> 01:33:32,840 Speaker 1: dignity and care and humanis. You will seek out at 1503 01:33:32,880 --> 01:33:37,360 Speaker 1: every turn to reach for trauma informed care. You will 1504 01:33:37,439 --> 01:33:40,479 Speaker 1: also reach out and create the housing and places for 1505 01:33:40,600 --> 01:33:44,640 Speaker 1: them to be instead of forcing them into positions like 1506 01:33:44,720 --> 01:33:48,200 Speaker 1: where it is going Desert internment camps is not the answer, 1507 01:33:48,520 --> 01:33:51,280 Speaker 1: and that is the answer where Donald Trump is leading to. 1508 01:33:51,920 --> 01:33:55,080 Speaker 1: Mark Eric here said, it is leading to as well 1509 01:33:55,120 --> 01:33:58,559 Speaker 1: as the council member that disdain unhouse people. So if 1510 01:33:58,600 --> 01:34:01,200 Speaker 1: we were to do something, we need to be able 1511 01:34:01,240 --> 01:34:06,080 Speaker 1: to re examine our biases again, our ways, our resources 1512 01:34:06,439 --> 01:34:10,120 Speaker 1: and start to make budget cuts against the police officers 1513 01:34:10,160 --> 01:34:13,160 Speaker 1: and council members and put them into the appropriate places. 1514 01:34:13,439 --> 01:34:19,479 Speaker 1: And that is for mental health, housing, affordable housing, and 1515 01:34:19,520 --> 01:34:23,439 Speaker 1: making steps to make sure that when someone made me 1516 01:34:23,400 --> 01:34:27,200 Speaker 1: become a chronic unhoused person, that we have the ladder 1517 01:34:27,280 --> 01:34:30,360 Speaker 1: to hold on so they can hold on and maybe 1518 01:34:30,600 --> 01:34:34,280 Speaker 1: we could change the dynamic of what is unhoused. We 1519 01:34:34,320 --> 01:34:37,320 Speaker 1: need an education platform. Every time I look around, I 1520 01:34:37,400 --> 01:34:41,519 Speaker 1: look into schools and I see the most ridiculous things. 1521 01:34:41,760 --> 01:34:45,240 Speaker 1: We see police officers on Christmas and Thanksgiving running around 1522 01:34:45,640 --> 01:34:49,879 Speaker 1: for presenting themselves as officer friendly. We have boot liquors 1523 01:34:50,000 --> 01:34:52,639 Speaker 1: that run around and says that not all police officers 1524 01:34:52,640 --> 01:34:55,599 Speaker 1: are bad. But the problem is we're not talking about individuals. 1525 01:34:55,640 --> 01:34:58,519 Speaker 1: We're talking about a system, a system that allows police 1526 01:34:58,520 --> 01:35:01,800 Speaker 1: officers to break the law, harassed unhouse people because they 1527 01:35:01,840 --> 01:35:04,759 Speaker 1: know that they are defenseless and they cannot do anything. 1528 01:35:05,120 --> 01:35:08,439 Speaker 1: We're talking about an education system and overhaul that teaches 1529 01:35:08,520 --> 01:35:12,240 Speaker 1: the school, the staff as well as the kids how 1530 01:35:12,320 --> 01:35:14,960 Speaker 1: to be able to interact with the unhoused people, because 1531 01:35:14,960 --> 01:35:17,200 Speaker 1: there are in our schools. The kids are there now. 1532 01:35:17,439 --> 01:35:21,519 Speaker 1: And if you have nimbis yelling and spouting and evil things, 1533 01:35:21,560 --> 01:35:26,240 Speaker 1: and police officers giving our feci sandwiches, or unhoused residents 1534 01:35:26,320 --> 01:35:30,320 Speaker 1: or neighborhood business council throwing explosive devices at unhoused people, 1535 01:35:30,600 --> 01:35:34,800 Speaker 1: then we are the criminals, not the unhoused. We need 1536 01:35:34,840 --> 01:35:39,040 Speaker 1: to step back, re examine ourselves, check ourselves, and understand 1537 01:35:39,040 --> 01:35:41,960 Speaker 1: that there are consequences for our actions as well, and 1538 01:35:42,040 --> 01:35:46,080 Speaker 1: we must really strive for a peaceable, humane solution with 1539 01:35:46,120 --> 01:35:50,360 Speaker 1: the unhoused people, which is supportive housing, the scarding of criminalization, 1540 01:35:50,920 --> 01:35:54,080 Speaker 1: as well as an open dialogue with unhoused people, not 1541 01:35:54,240 --> 01:35:58,320 Speaker 1: news media not someone finger wagging about what the unhoused 1542 01:35:58,360 --> 01:36:04,519 Speaker 1: situation is. Have shown many unhoused people that have showed 1543 01:36:04,520 --> 01:36:07,320 Speaker 1: that they are not mentally ill in the respect that 1544 01:36:07,320 --> 01:36:10,960 Speaker 1: they are danger to society, drug addicted and they're walking 1545 01:36:10,960 --> 01:36:14,520 Speaker 1: around with a Fece's bag and are causing the chaos. 1546 01:36:14,720 --> 01:36:17,519 Speaker 1: There are different types of issues going on with unhoused people, 1547 01:36:18,000 --> 01:36:20,760 Speaker 1: and these ones are being ignored because we are so 1548 01:36:21,080 --> 01:36:25,559 Speaker 1: harping on the visible how unhoused. I truly hope that 1549 01:36:25,600 --> 01:36:28,240 Speaker 1: when you're listening to these things that you're walking away 1550 01:36:28,479 --> 01:36:33,160 Speaker 1: with a truer understanding of what unhoused mean in Los 1551 01:36:33,200 --> 01:36:36,599 Speaker 1: Angeles and around the world. This podcast so far has 1552 01:36:36,640 --> 01:36:41,280 Speaker 1: been traveled from Germany, Romania, Glasgow, Scotland, and it is 1553 01:36:41,400 --> 01:36:45,720 Speaker 1: growing because of the fact that, for once we are 1554 01:36:45,760 --> 01:36:49,280 Speaker 1: listening to unhoused people, we're not blaming them. We're not 1555 01:36:49,320 --> 01:36:52,200 Speaker 1: saying this a personal choice. They chose an agency. All 1556 01:36:52,200 --> 01:36:55,160 Speaker 1: that nonsense that I've heard some reporters do, or some 1557 01:36:55,240 --> 01:36:57,720 Speaker 1: people trying to finger wag. They're thinking that they are 1558 01:36:57,760 --> 01:36:59,880 Speaker 1: being tough with people. It is not going to work. 1559 01:37:00,920 --> 01:37:03,080 Speaker 1: We want to hear from them, let the house speak, 1560 01:37:03,760 --> 01:37:07,240 Speaker 1: and we just close our mouths and listen. Thank you 1561 01:37:07,280 --> 01:37:09,959 Speaker 1: for listening and may we again meeting a night or understanding. 1562 01:37:26,040 --> 01:37:28,280 Speaker 1: This is a very big thank you for the people 1563 01:37:28,280 --> 01:37:31,080 Speaker 1: that have supported and helped me throughout, from Craig Wong 1564 01:37:31,200 --> 01:37:35,519 Speaker 1: of CCD and a Shan from CCD, Amy John Trong, 1565 01:37:36,320 --> 01:37:41,120 Speaker 1: Taiji Zan and Mario Carlos needed to He stepped in 1566 01:37:41,160 --> 01:37:43,400 Speaker 1: when we needed and edited the most. He has been 1567 01:37:43,479 --> 01:37:47,000 Speaker 1: very diligent, hard working and patient. And all of our 1568 01:37:47,040 --> 01:37:50,400 Speaker 1: guests are that have came on our podcast. They took 1569 01:37:50,439 --> 01:37:53,120 Speaker 1: their time, They share their stories in their heart in 1570 01:37:53,200 --> 01:37:56,120 Speaker 1: order for the world to be educated on our voices 1571 01:37:56,160 --> 01:37:58,880 Speaker 1: instead of people telling us what our house people feel. 1572 01:37:59,600 --> 01:38:12,680 Speaker 1: Thank you, elished and e finished and aishished