Spoken by the people on Skid Row. Edited and published by Dare to Struggle. Distributed by Skid Row Stands Up.
Issue #1, November 2024
Dare to Struggle showed a man on Skid Row our flyer and asked him what he thought.
SKID ROW STANDS UP – POINTS OF UNITY 2
We can’t look to the system to fix the crisis of homelessness. Charities, non-profits, and “progressive” politicians schemes of reforms don’t make it better and often make it worse. Most shelters and “housing” for the homeless are dangerous and unlivable. The people need
real solutions, not empty promises.”
This is what he said:
[These “solutions” are] just suggested excuses, that’s what I call them. Because they suggest and give the idea that there is a solution, when they make the problems worse than they are already. Politics! We got all these new buildings. I will say that there has been a higher percentage of correction and getting people off the street. That will get the mayor another election. But it won’t help the poor people in the streets.
And that’s just the facts about it. They do what they have to, and dance around and have parties and celebrations, and then we’re the last to receive anything. And then, they get to pick and choose who they want to receive these gifts. So it’s preferential treatment.
So when I look at them, the ones that are in the position to help, they can only suggest things to the government that’s gonna throw it out when it gets close to anywhere where they can actually get some funding. It looks good in a race, but at the end of the race, we’re in the same place. And [there’s been] a whole decade of it. I am tired of even hearing of it.
There’s a lot of things we have to fight in the courts, and not resolve anything! They just keep on continuing, because it’s good things to have on your list when you’re running for an office, but after you get there, you don’t do shit. If your activity doesn’t match what you say, in the street we call it “if your activity doesn’t match you mactivity”, meaning what you say, if you don’t walk like you talk – you’re full of shit, you’re an impostor! And I’ve seen many impostors, many.
Dare to Struggle interviewer: “So you think it’s a big scam or something?”
It’s the biggest. They throw a big party every year: “Hey guys, we’re gonna give out t-shirts over here! And put stickers on ’em! Only for a couple of hours.” And they go on about their business…
“We’re the last to get anything”
I’ve been right here on this street for ten years. What has stayed the same is, we’re the last to get anything done. The homeless is a bad issue. They put it on TV, blow it up and say “Hey, send your money right here!” And they get all the donations, and when they get all the money and count it up, “fuck that [Black] guy!” And then it just goes away. And we’re still left in poverty.
…Slavery is profitable. You know what a profit margin is? It’s a large profit margin. And if we can get a lot of people to think that we’re helping somebody – just get ’em to think it – just imagine what we can do if we get a dollar from each one of those!
“I’m not even on the list”
They let you think that because you’re in a tent, you’re some bum with no education. I’m a hard-working, retired vet. I retired after 21 years and I’m here in a tent. But I’m here primarily because of finances. You know, you’re married, you have children, you send them to college, you have wife needs, all that. Your family comes first. On my list of priorities, I’m not even on the fucking list. And now, I have grandchildren. And so, I’d live in ten tents if I could get my houses paid off and all that stuff. I accomplished that. So if this is the end result, then it’s acceptable to me, because I think I did what I’m supposed to do as a man, I took care of my baby.
But as far as getting help from anyone, I don’t get any help, I don’t get any government checks, I don’t get none of that. They give you GR here, they cut that off three or four months ago. I don’t get any money. I get food stamps, that helps. But that’s it. You have to resubmit [GR] every year. Once you’re on there, they should know… They just cut it off, and now I’m having hell just getting someone to talk to. You go to the welfare office, and you’re there three, four hours in the madhouse… It’s filled with insane people.
“Gateway to hell”
This is the largest open air asylum in the whole world, with more penitentiaries than the whole world combined, this state alone… But even having a good sense of humor disappears, and it turns into tears and fears. This is the gateway to hell right here. This is one of the worst skid row areas in the world. This just happens to be a wonderful street out where I am. So, if there’s some peace here, I’ve found my little peace right here, in a 12 by 10 tent. So I don’t do very many interviews, I don’t talk to very many people. They don’t wanna hear that shit. All they wanna do is, “You want a free meal? You want a dirty T-shirt I wore ten years ago? How ’bout this old pair of shoes that got a hole in ’em?” “Thank you very much.”
Dare to Struggle Interviewer: “Have you been swept off this street?”
Yeah. All my shit taken. I lost about ten thousand dollars worth of antiques and stuff that I had from family. When my parents died, I inherited things, I tried to keep ’em. I had a Bible that was in my family for many many years, when the cops here, and ripped it apart in the middle of the street. I was outgunned. I wish they woulda took me to jail then. But, it wasn’t meant to be… [I have a] sense of humor, but my realities are raw. I apologize for my speech, and for cussing and stuff, but it angers me, and I know that if I didn’t have a sense of humor, I would just wanna die.
Print and take out this issue!
SKID ROW STANDS UP
Sick of being talked down to? It’s time to speak up!
Your neighbors need to hear your, stories, your problems, your solutions.The bosses and landlords put us on the street. The politicians and charities keep us here. We have to be the way out!
There are many ways you can contribute:
- Submit your words for publication
- Spread WORD ON THE STREET
- Come to meetings every Saturday at 2 p.m. in Gladys Park
- Help us interview your neighbors
Dare to Struggle 