On the second night of the winter storm in Los Angeles last month, a homeless man, soaked to the skin and shivering, approached my wife and asked for help.
The man, who I will call Andres, is a fixture in our neighbourhood, his small, crooked frame unmistakable as he pushes his wheelchair up steep hills or along traffic-choked boulevards. He is usually cheerful and occasionally sports a fresh shave, clean clothes and new shoes, giving the impression that someone helps him out from time to time.
But he was in pitiful condition when he appeared at our house. We agreed that he could camp out in our garage until the rain stopped. Like other Angelinos, we worry about the city’s estimated 42,000 homeless population, but feel too overwhelmed by the problem to know where to start. Here was a chance to do something, however small and temporary.
We soon learnt that there is far more to caring for a homeless person than simply providing shelter. Andres was very hungry the next morning, so I made him a big breakfast burrito and, after he asked for more, a hot egg sandwich. Then things grew more complicated. We discovered that he had a colostomy but no bag. The clothes and sleeping bag we had given him were badly soiled, and he had dragged them out to the street to air. But it started to rain again, and everything became filthy and soaked.
By now it was clear that Andres needed medical attention and other specialised care. My wife called the city’s emergency homeless hotline, and I started looking for nearby shelters. Neither of us were able to speak to a real person, despite hours on hold.
Homelessness has overwhelmed Los Angeles. Once mostly based in Skid Row downtown, homeless people now live on LA’s beaches, under its bridges, next to the river and on streets all over the city.
The number of homeless people here has nearly doubled over the past decade, and the number of unhoused families has risen 240 per cent in 15 years. In December, the city’s newly elected mayor, Karen Bass, declared a state of emergency. This granted her administration temporary special powers to bypass rules that delay the construction of affordable housing and to buy property to house people. Her team has focused on moving people from large encampments to housing.
After some prodding, Andres gave us the name of the person who sometimes gives him assistance, and my wife texted him. Once we learnt more about Andres’ history — much of it very sad — I began to wonder if any of the city’s efforts could ever reach him.
It turns out that this person helped Andres’ twin brother find a place to live — a process that he said took four years. He offered to do the same for Andres, but Andres refused. The man then presented Andres with an ultimatum: consent to receive help, or you’re on your own. He left.
Later, Andres explained his reasoning to us: homes and shelters “don’t let you leave”. He wants to stay in the neighbourhood where he grew up, he says. He does not want to be confined. And the city or state can’t force someone to accept help.
Gavin Newsom, California’s governor, has backed a controversial law that would force people with certain mental illnesses to accept court-ordered treatment. But the programme is being rolled out slowly, and in any case, it is doubtful to me that such a law would apply to someone in Andres’ situation, since his main issues appear to be related to his physical health.
Though we had agreed with Andres that he could stay until the rain stopped, he has been renegotiating the terms of the deal since the weather changed. We have done some negotiating of our own: my wife persuaded him to go to a clinic, where he received temporary help for his stomach. I gave him some change and directed him to the laundromat.
Finally, after he had spent 10 days in our garage, we drew the line. The rain had stopped but turning him away still felt terrible. We have told ourselves that we will keep working to find him somewhere where he will be cared for. But we are not certain that we can find such a place — and if we do, if he would ever be willing to surrender his freedom.
