Phillip Brown
To Solve Homelessness, Hope Less
After moving to LA it seemed that the homeless situation was an insurmountable hopeless issue, one that people simply had to accept and move on. Walking past person after person on sidewalks or street intersections continued to gnaw at me, but I felt uncertain of what I could do to provide any meaningful impact during my years of residency. I volunteered at shelters like the West LA Armory Winter Shelter, but this was a limited opportunity. When the pandemic hit this truly shined a light on the vulnerability of our unhoused population. I joined my colleagues in going to various temporary shelters in the rec centers that were set up by the city of Los Angeles and providing medical care. This truly opened my eyes to the dizzyingly immense need facing this community.
Due to all of this, I jumped at the chance to join UCLA’s Homeless Healthcare Collaborative when it was founded in 2022. In addition to having nurses, physicians, and social workers on the team, one truly instrumental and unique position is that of the community health worker. This individual is critical in so many facets of patient care including verifying/establishing insurance, setting up appointments, planning out what patients the medical team will see for the day, etc. What also makes this position unique is that our department seeks out people for this position with lived experiences in the areas we are serving, which gives us a more nuanced understanding of the people we serve. As Ayanna Pressley once said, “those closest to the pain should be closest to the power”.
According to the 2023 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, “more than 75,000 people are homeless in LA County on any given night”. These statistics can feel very defeating but any action we do is important. As Mark Twain once said “The secret of getting ahead is getting started”. There have been several bills passed recently to improve housing in Los Angeles including Measure H, AB 2011, AB 1991, and Proposition HHH, as well as SB 679 which created the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA). Between 2016 and 2021, over 26,000 new affordable units were added. In 2019, AB 1482 was approved, putting a limit on rent increases statewide for the first time in California history. The law also prevents unjust no-fault evictions.
The aforementioned improvements are a strong start, but so much more is needed. Which brings us to you, dear reader, and what you can do. Consider volunteering with any of the homeless initiatives in your area or created by your clinic/hospital. Monetary donations are another option, as these help to keep these organizations afloat. Become aware of bills and policies that you can vote on in order to expand rental protections and housing subsidy programs, including rental assistance for people at risk of eviction, housing vouchers, and broader financial support for people experiencing homelessness who are transitioning into housing. Additionally, we need to continue to offer services like job training programs, life skills training, and child care.
We should also be screening patients more frequently for food/housing insecurities. Refer to social workers to assist with various resources for those at risk of homelessness while also being aware ourselves of various resources. Lastly, you can consider creating a street outreach team at your own institution. In learning of ways to create and collaborate, you can consider attending the monthly Clinician Learning Circle CA Street Medicine Collaborative where they conduct monthly sessions that include hearing from speakers across the state on various topics related to those experiencing homelessness.
In summary, to end homelessness we must hope less and do more.
