Just About The Saddest Thing I Have Ever Seen

[DemocratSinceBirth]

I was riding the 150 from Sepulveda to Universal City Station in Los Angeles ( L A DUERS will now what I'm talking about) and this homeless woman got on the bus.She could barely move, had two garbage bags full of who knows what, and didn't smell very good.I could see the skin on her feet peeling way and it was a brownish color. My mom, God bless her, was in better shape the day she passed away at ninety. I almost cried and my first thought was where was God. The woman next to me covered her face with her shirt and moved away. I asked myself what Jesus would have done but I knew he wouldn't move to another seat so I just stayed put until the bus arrived at Universal City Station.


I asked the woman near me how could there not be services to take care of this woman.

[tawadi]

1. Reminds me of this song

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[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. The Homeless Problem In Los Angeles Is Acute

I am from Orlando. There are homeless there too as there are everywhere, but not as many and not nearly in as much apparent distress...

[handmade34]

12. and this...

"Another Day in Paradise"

[tawadi]

18. Yes

Brings back memories.

[pnwmom]

3. This woman may be mentally ill -- a good fraction of homeless people are -- and the law

allows them to refuse services. So it might not just be a matter of help being unavailable.

A friend of mine almost lost her schizophrenic mother to the streets for this reason.

[liberalmuse]

4. I'm so not religious, BUT...

always remember some scripture that says, "Be careful how you treat a person. They could be an angel in disguise.", or something like that. She is a human being. Who knows what stories she could tell you? Does anyone even ask? I've spoken with street people, and they have stories that will really make you weep. I've never liked the saying, "But for the grace of god go I.", because it has been so abused, but it's true.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. "Never Treat A Brother Like A Passing Stranger Because It Might Be The Prince Of Peace Returning.

That's from Leon Russell's "Prince Of Peace".

I was on the same bus today and was talking to this homeless man who told me he has been homeless for the better part of twenty years. He said he was on SSI but felt bad. I told him he paid into it. But he was alert and oriented. He said he forgot the last time he ate so I gave him what little money I could spare.

Earlier in the day I had to choose between a regular burger for $1.29 at Carls and a turkey burger for $3.49. I told my gf I am happy I went for the less expensive burger. I had a spare two dollars. That way we both had food in our stomach.

I am not a deeply spiritual person but I consider myself an acts oriented Christian and ask myself what Jesus would do in certain situations. I believe in the divine Jesus but even if I believed in the historical Jesus it wouldn't make a difference.

[jwirr]

7. Your verse is correctly interpreted. Angels unawares. As to the person who asked "where is God"

I once heard a sermon on the radio that said God sends us to help others - it really had an impact on me because at the time I was driving with my severely disabled daughter setting next to me. The preacher said if you want to know who you are sent to help look down at the end of your elbow. My elbow was resting on my daughter's knee.

Also if she is mentally ill she can refuse services but family can sign petitions to have her taken to court so that she can be placed in a safer place. The problem with that is that these places are mostly so full they have waiting lists.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. She Was In Extraordinarily Bad Shape

I'm not God but I'd measure her life expectancy in weeks and months and not years.

[jwirr]

11. From your discription it sounds like it. Poor lady.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. I Was On The Subway And Saw A One Hundred Year Old Woman With Her Granddaughter

She looked old but well cared for. You don't reach that age without it.

[truedelphi]

16. one sadthing is that by the time you are one hundred -

You may have lost your children and your grandchildren. I became aware of that when taking care of the elderly - as often the nicest person would be so lonely.

I'd get all opinionated about it - why isn't the family visiting and all? and then come to learn of the person's age. And that their husband had died in his fifties and so had the kids. By the time you are a hundred, there might not be any family left, and friends are all gone too.

[Flaxbee]

5. My father was a psychiatrist in Southern California for five decades, and I have never seen him so

angry or appalled as when Reagan defunded / closed down mental hospitals. Grief for his patients, and concern over the general public because some of the people being released had no damn business being in a position of needing to take care of themselves, and because some of them were truly dangerous to others.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. I Was Thinking Of Telling The Bus Driver Or Calling 911 But I Didn't Know What To Say

.

[handmade34]

14. so difficult...

I was riding my bike in Miami the other day and passed an obviously homeless woman sleeping on a bench... when I came back thru she was still there and something tugged at me... I had a twenty with me and turned around and asked if I could give it to her... we talked for a long time and then I went my way wishing I could do more and do it for all the people less fortunate than me... my life is not great (no real home but at least I know I have a place to sleep most nights)... we, collectively, should be very ashamed of ourselves!

I silently cry often in my travels...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

15. I Lived In Fort Lauderdale The Summer Of 010

My gf and I have had dozens of residences since The Great Recession began but we always had a little money. We sold everything we owned including gifts we bought one another.


Back to Ft. Lauderdale. The homeless problem was bad there but not as bad as L A.

[handmade34]

17. the things I see...

I travel for a living and have seen, talked to and helped when I could the homeless in most areas of the United States... on steet corners, small tents under overpasses, sewers, blankets in doorways, plastic tents over benches in the rain, on the beach and in the forest... I will never forget any of them and I know there are many thousands more that I don't see. The West Coast appears to have many more people without homes (especially Portland, OR) and I struggle with my emotions whenever I consider the problems...

[jwirr]

10. Your father was right but there were also a lot of people who had been locked in who did not need to

be. Back in the day all it took to put someone into an institution was ten people signing a petition saying the person was mentally ill and dangerous. No court hearing - nothing. In my family my aunt's husband did this because he wanted to get rid of her. Women often ended up in an institution because they objected to being abused or to their children being abused.

The system needed to be changed but it needed more than just opened doors and a boot in the butt. The second step of making sure that there were services in the community never came for the mentally ill. In my state it is just now getting a start - but too late with all the cuts.

[Faygo Kid]

19. My grandmother (1895-1974) was a cook at a home, and she took care of folks.

She would never let that happen. Hell, anyone at the time of the Depression would not let that happen. We can't allow that to happen. I'm not saying homes are the answer (no Nurse Ratched!), but still, a clean and safe environment is what we owe them.

But then there are the Kochs. . .

[ErikJ]

20. I have 2 homeless living in my backyard

One in a tent inside a big shed and the other on and off in a small shed. The one in the insulated tent has been there almost 4 years now. He gets free electricity for heat and gets free cable TV and works for me a bit sometimes to earn food.

When I met him he was in pretty bad shape, paying up to $40 a night on motel rooms when he could afford it with his sign business which was very difficult with no vehicle.

But we do have a deal that he/they NEVER come in the house ( small house), because that can be a slippery slope and I like my privacy as he does too. I think that rule is what help keeps it working

He seems very happy with his dog and cable TV and barbeque and covered patio. He gets takeouts from Wholefoods every day too.

[renate]

21. have you ever read Alan Bennett's "The Lady in the Van"?

He had a similar situation, and like yours, maintaining boundaries was an essential part of it. It's very nice of you to give him electricity and cable and a safe place to live--what a difference you've made in his life! The fact that you respect his privacy means that you don't get the full use of your own backyard, so you're doing a real kindness.

[ErikJ]

23. Thanks. Actually I have no problem using the yard.

We're hardly ever at home the same times. So it works out well that way. And its a big yard which helps some too. Never read the book. Looks interesting though. THis fellow is somewhat of an eccentric too but he's a mild germophobe AND seems to be quite messy at the same time. Go figure.

[U4ikLefty]

22. Occupy LA camps out with the folks in Skid Row every Friday night. I was there last night.

Come on down and give a hug, share food & good conversation. You don't have to stay the whole night.

Every Angeleno should do this at least once.

http://occupylosangeles.org/?q=node/9043

[U4ikLefty]

24. I'd like to repeat. Please come to Skid Row on Fridays after OLA's General Assembly.

If you live in the L.A. area you would do yourself good to be part of this.

It happens every Friday night after the Occupy LA's GA. We march to Skid Row (it kicks ass!!!) and we Occupy Skid Row in Solidarity with our brothers & sisters on Skid Row. They are under attack because of forces trying to eliminate them from downtown. I've got stories that would curl your hair about how the homeless are treated in "the City of Angels."

Please consider doing this.