Inching Forward Isn't Enough - Letters to the Housed

"We've lost the compassion to see these as real emergencies with life-altering complications." When almost seven people die daily from the effects of street life in LA, progress isn't enough. While Hollywood Forward proves that local organizing works—housing 50% of their neighbors—our emergency response systems still fail during the hours people need help most. From broken 2-1-1 systems to the promising new ECRC that closes at 5 PM, we're inching forward when lives demand we sprint. This is an emergency for all of us, housed and unhoused. We choose to let this continue. We can choose to end it.

Homelessness, Letters to the Housed, CommunityPaul AsplundJuly 18, 2025HomelessnessIsAnEmergency, SystemicChange, CommunityOrganizing, SacrificeAndSolution, PolicyChange, EmergencyResponse, HollywoodSuccess, LocalOrganizing, ServiceProviders, SecondGraceLA, LettersToTheHoused, LTTHComment

Dear LA Times Editorial Staff re Homelessness: I have some thoughts.

Many years after recovering from homelessness and building a great life, I started working on the streets, first in SF and now in LA, bringing direct services, such as hygiene, laundry, haircuts, clothing, etc., to people who had lost their homes…