Physical Solutions
If the City were to implement any of these solutions, they would be serving the public and promote a better quality of life for homeless people in Los Angeles.
Abolish Harmful Architecture
Harmful architecture includes any kind of seating, or potential seating structure is designed in a way that urges people to not lay or sit on the structure. This causes cities like Los Angeles with a large homeless problem to have people sleeping on the sidewalks, and in the case of Skid Row, a mix of this and tent encampments are the result.
Provide Cooling and Water
Due to Los Angles’ climate, homeless people must endure heat without many resources. Considering this, urban cooling stations can be set up in order to provide relief for hot homeless people.
Urban Forest Cover
Increasing the amount of urban forest cover could provide more shade for homeless people. Buildings in cities can be planned closer together to increase the amount of natural shade there is, but Skid Row requires a more temporary and practical solution. Increasing tree cover can provide shade and make homeless people more comfortable in the Summer months.
Systemic Solutions
As discussed above, there are many resources we can provide for homeless people. However, permanent change lies within systemic change. Physical solutions help homeless people, but they can be viewed as a band-aid in the grand scheme of remedying Skid Row’s conditions.
“Housing First”
The activists seeking to help homeless people in Skid Row have coined the term “Housing First.” The Skid Row Housing Trust (SRHT) received a grant that allows them to assess homeless people as candidates to live in permanent housing. Putting emphasis and importance on housing Skid Row residents is a movement of change. Through this program and others like it, it can be seen that fixing the roots of the homeless epidemic is what creates real change.
Activism and Fundraising
Groups that have helped Skid Row and came up in my research: