This blog is inspired by Sunday’s episode of Secret Millionaire…
I’ve grown up here in southern California my whole life. When I was young, I remember making sandwiches and taking them to downtown Santa Ana, the homeless hub of Orange County. I was always aware that homeless people lack the privileges of a toilet, clean running water, clothes, shoes, coats, beds, etc. When I would see a homeless person, I would assume they were on the streets due to the self inflicted wounds of alcohol or drug abuse. Shame on me.
Sunday night I learned that there is a huge population of homeless women and children that seek the streets for shelter from abusive relationships and unemployment. I also learned that 91,000 people call the right angle of a building and sidewalk, or the bushes, home in Los Angeles. That would fill up the Rose Bowl.
Saturday, $150k was raised for the Japanese earthquake and tsunami victims through Youth Run 4 Japan. The event was organized by Josh Duhamel, B list actor and husband to the Black Eyed Peas’ female vocalist, Fergie. The billionaire Hilton empire heiresses Paris and Nicky Hilton participated in the run. I wonder if Paris waived her $100k appearance fee?
It’s nice to see celebrities getting together to raise money to help those affected by this natural disaster. My heart does go out to the people of Japan. They probably haven’t lost this many lives since the atom bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima in 1945. What has happened across the Pacific is truly a catastrophe.
I think what our silver screen, and pop culture “role models” are not doing about homelessness in the United States is a worse catastrophe. Only 30 celebrities claim to be affiliated with homeless related charities around the world according to“Look to the Stars- The World of Celebrity Giving”.
It seems like these uber-millionaire celebrities ban together to support and raise cash for foreign country disaster relief efforts in Haiti and Japan, and ignore the homeless epidemic within their own city limits. On Skid Row in Los Angeles, at least one homeless person dies a day. One thousand people become homeless per day in the United States. Do the math for a year….
What if these celebrities united together and created businesses for homeless people to get off the streets and make a decent wage, receive a new skill set, and eventually invest in an apartment or home? Let’s rehabilitate our own citizens. Let’s rebuild America’s infrastructure to overcome our own current economic turmoil. Let’s stop throwing money at other countries’ problems.
No. That is not selfish. That is preserving and taking care of the broken, dying lives we have here within our own borders. You think any countries care about ourhomelessness disease and will send money to battle it? Heck, no! Nor should they, it’s our battle.
Helping the homeless get on their feet will likely lessen depression and disparity, thus reducing both crime and the overcrowded prison system your tax dollars pay for. Real estate values will increase and the overall quality of life in America will improve for all.
Once our own citizens are healed from our crippling economy, then let’s help those other countries. A country in debt should not be getting into deeper debt by helping every country involved with natural disasters. They happen-that’s why they are called, natural disasters. They have happened for years, and will continue to do so for years to come.
We have the power to become a prosperous nation once again. Our broke government isn’t doing enough. It starts with us. It starts with me.
