Tag: homelessness

Portland City Council Approves Daytime Camping Ban

The Portland City Council passed an ordinance on June 7 to ban camping during daylight hours amid struggles to address a homelessness that Mayor Ted Wheeler has called a “human catastrophe.“ Passed by a 3–1 vote, the new ordinance prohibits camping between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. in many public spaces throughout the city, including…


Dallas Among 5 Cities Tapped for New Federal Initiative Aimed at Reducing Homelessness

The city of Dallas, Texas, is one of five U.S. cities, plus the state of California, to be part of a federal initiative to reduce homelessness, the White House announced on Thursday. “My administration has taken a ‘kitchen-sink’ approach to address the challenges of homelessness,” Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson said in a statement. “We…


PM Continues Quiet Targeting of Greens As Housing Fund Stoush Continues

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has continued his quiet targeting of the Greens Party, calling out the Greens Housing spokesperson Max Chandler-Mather for failing to support the Housing Australia Future Fund, and also running petitions to block the development of more housing supply in Brisbane. “One of the things that we need to do is to make sure that…


Los Angeles Homeless Deaths Jump by 55 Percent, Fentanyl as Leading Cause

Los Angeles County homeless deaths have increased by 55 percent, mainly due to a rise in drug overdoses, a new report this month by the Los Angeles County’s Department of Health has revealed. Drug overdoses were the biggest cause, reaching 1,488 in 2021, according to the report (pdf). Additionally, the county found all deaths in the…


Local Group Helps ‘Restore Dignity’ to Those Experiencing Homelessness

People of many faiths and organizations come together weekly at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach, California, to serve those experiencing homelessness. Led entirely by volunteers, the church provides free clothing, showers, meals, a place to do laundry, and other services to those in need every Saturday morning from 7:30 a.m. to noon. Volunteers…


Truth Behind California’s Rising Homelessness | Zach Southall

“What was that shift, where there are so many more people willing to not work, willing to not try for something better, really, who are so hopeless in their thinking that they can’t succeed, that they’re there, that there’s this permanent ceiling on them? I’m seeing that with the youth.” Siyamak sits down with Zach…


Ireland, Once a Magical Place, Is Fast Becoming a Monstrous One

Commentary I was born and raised in the west of Ireland. I have fond memories of long evenings playing in the fields, weekend getaways to places such as Clare, Cork, and Donegal. I also have fond memories of watching my parents laugh with the neighbors, looking on as they engaged in some good old Irish…


Alarming Projections: LA Homelessness Crisis Could Surpass 100,000 by 2028 Olympics

Los Angeles County is grappling with a homelessness crisis unlike any other in the United States, according to a recent report by McKinsey & Company, an international consulting firm that tracks social and economic trends. The March report highlights that by the time Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Olympic Games, the number of people experiencing…


Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Unveils $1.3 Billion Homelessness Budget

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass unveiled her $13 billion budget proposal for 2023-2024 this week, the first of her tenure. The budget prioritizes the city’s sprawling homelessness problem with a record-high $1.3 billion allocated for more housing, purchasing hotels and motels, substance abuse treatment beds, and establishing a new agency of homeless solutions in her…


Former Calif. Homeless Man Explains What It’s Like to Live on the Streets | Lang Martinez

“You think prison is bad—no … prison’s got structure … the streets. There’s what they call ‘rules of engagement.’ And if you don’t abide by the rules of engagement, you die.” Siyamak sits down with Lang Martinez, a former homeless man and gang member, and now an advocate in Los Angeles. He joins us on…