Los Angeles Tent City keeps growing, despite attempts to limit it - 14-Mar-08 - Generational Dynamics

Generational Dynamics Web Log for 14-Mar-08

Los Angeles Tent City keeps growing, despite attempts to limit it

A Tent City for 20 people that was formed last summer in Ontario, California, just east of Los Angeles, has now grown to hundreds of residents, including families with children.

Tent City in Ontario, California, has grown to hundreds of homeless people. <font face=Arial size=-2>(Source: BBC)</font>

Tent City in Ontario, California, has grown to hundreds of homeless people. (Source: BBC)

"It just dumb-founded me to see how many people were out here with nowhere to live, and they have nothing and they're trying to get on their feet," said Linda Parker. "I thought I was as low as I could go, but they're showing me I can go lower by taking what we have left."

The residents are getting help from volunteers. A nearby church is providing food, and other necessities are being provided by relief agencies.

Ontario city officials are now taking steps to limit and reduce the size of the tent city. Specifically, they're going to require that anyone living there must have a connection to the city, such as having lived there before.

Homeless Tent City resident points out the home where he and his family used to live, before he lost his home to foreclosure. <font face=Arial size=-2>(Source: BBC)</font>

Homeless Tent City resident points out the home where he and his family used to live, before he lost his home to foreclosure. (Source: BBC)

On Thursday, the Mayor told a crowd of homeless providers and volunteers that those who have ties to Ontario may stay at the camp, but all others must leave by March 24.

Wristbands will be issued to those permitted to stay, so that they can be identified.

After the exodus of out-of-towners, perimeter fencing will go up, a food service area and fire pits will be created, and rules will be enforced.

The city will issue a maximum of 170 permits to the remaining local homeless adults, and the area will be subject to new rules, including no pets, no one under 18, assigned spaces and no entry from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

In a related story, hundreds of people in Boca Raton, Florida, mostly mothers with children, stood in line for up to eight hours, hoping to get a housing voucher application. When there weren't enough vouchers, the police tried to disperse the crowd, but the crowd surged forward. People fell down and some were trampled. Two people were arrested and six to eight people hospitalized for exhaustion.

These two stories are rare enough now, but with foreclosures surging across the country, they won't be rare much longer.

Cities and towns need to start planning for this problem in advance. For more information, see "Cities and towns need to start helping themselves." (14-Mar-08) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 14-Mar-08 Los Angeles Tent City keeps growing, despite attempts to limit it

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 14-Mar-08
Los Angeles Tent City keeps growing, despite attempts to limit it