How Skid Row Formed
Housing, race, and political issues that tie the two together transformed Skid Row over the years. During different times, different people passed through Los Angeles, California and sought refuge. With this, distinct groups of people resided in an area in Los Angeles named Skid Row. The very beginning of Skid Row dates to railroads being introduced during the late 1800’s. Some forty years later, the Great Depression brought in many alcoholics who needed a place to reside. After the Vietnam War, veterans experienced racist treatment upon their return. During the 1970’s, many people lived in single rooms in Skid Row, and it was considered a dangerous area with drugs and addiction. Skid Row was expanding, and meanwhile the City Council were developing documents that would contain the growing population on Skid Row. The Blue Book Plan was replaced by the Silver Book plan, however they both had the same message that homeless people would prefer to live with “people of their type.” These formalized ideas of homeless people being too impaired to make decisions and also justified the making of decisions for them. The 1980’s Cocaine Epidemic and the War on Drugs caused a political uprising because of the increased amount of crime and addiction. Once again, Skid Row evolved into a predominantly African American male dominated area. Housing remained a problem because these black males were pushed to live on the streetside when Single Room Occupancies (SRO’s) were too expensive in Los Angeles. During the 1990’s, the Skid Row Housing Trust made many efforts to build houses and apartments, form trusts, and support the homeless people in Skid Row. As the 2000’s progressed toward today, the population shifted towards more white and Asian people, however it is still predominantly black. Many activist and non-profit groups work with Skid Row to help people stay clean, fed, healthy, and recognized. As time moves on, Skid Row is a rest stop for traveling people who come from adverse circumstances. Heroin, Cocaine, and Methamphetamine addicts have been reported to pass through Skid Row often. Currently the economy in Skid Row depends on the sale of drugs
A Note on Naming
Different names can facilitate positive or negative connotations that cause different public perception. Therefore, a negative name can perpetuate negative circumstances of an area because people have the mental barrier that the place is somewhere dangerous and unpleasant to be. “Skid Row” as a name uses diction that can lead one to believe crime and danger resides here, as it is commonly used across the United States for densely homeless areas. It is described as a run-down part of town that is better to be avoided by the public. One of the names dubbed to Skid Row is an “asylum without walls.” This name, along with others, gives the impression that this is an area that isn’t desirable for visiting, tourism, or public use. The name calling of homeless people includes homeless, beggars, derelicts, down-and-outs, drifters, itinerants, migrants, tramps, transients and vagabonds, according to WordHippo.com and are probably terms that have been heard before. As I will allude to, Skid Row is a political game piece that the City of Los Angeles uses and masks and using this slang to describe the area supports themes of environmental justice.
Moving on to Discuss Skid Row Today
Zoning laws are impeding on Skid Row because of the desire to use land in Los Angeles to its fullest potential which would bring the city income. If the areas that are populated by homeless people are rezoned and repurposed, they will be forced further out of the city and therefore be more displaced and marginalized. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority put forth a report that directly asserts reasons black people are perpetually experiencing homelessness. There are many articles by legal bodies and academics being published about homelessness in Skid Row and how race and politics are hindering the remediation of the area. Further discussion of environmental justice and the health and well-being concerns of homeless people will expand on these ideas. Departments in Los Angeles that have been formed and continually help include the Los Angeles Poverty Department, Center for Community Health Downtown Los Angeles,