Donna

Donna is a single mother of five children. She has been homeless for about a year, choosing to live in a tent by the river instead of staying in a shelter. Although she has encountered unthinkable dangers while living outside- vandalism, assault- she still prefers this over staying in a shelter. This may seem counter-intuitive to those who have never been homeless. But remember that shelters have increasingly become overcrowded, so the lines for a bed, food, and showers have become longer and longer. Besides, Donna says she doesnt feel safe anywhere.

I met Donna at the Prado Day Center. She caught my attention because she was there both as a client and as a volunteer. She was doing laundry for other homeless people using the day center. She mentions that she has gone weeks without clean clothes, so she appreciates what clean clothes will mean to other folks at the center.

My heart breaks for Donna and all of the other women I see living alone on the streets. Nobody wants to imagine their mother or grandmother living in a vulnerable situation. But the sad reality of homelessness today is that many ladies living without a home look just like my grandmother.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• mark
• horvath
• homeless
• economy
• poverty
• recession
• LAist
• invisible
• people
• invisiblepeople.tv

[all4u100]

SHAME SHAME SHAMEEEEEE on her kids ...especially the one who's the engineer.... their mom spent her whole life, every penny , to take care of them n HOW CAN DEY SLEEP AT NIGHT KNOWING THIER MOm's ON THE STREETS......its a shame shame shame....

[ihaveNegativeIQ]

I'd rather be dirt poor in America than broke in a third world country.

[sarabower1]

@ihaveNegativeIQ its all relative

[attemptingtobehumble]

This country is full of shit.

[XdirtyjerseyX]

It breaks my heart, and brings tears to my eyes, that this woman has sent two of her 5 children, to fight for a country that would let her sleep on the streets. Its pathetic. Its disgusting. Its one of the very few things that I loathe about my country. We should all take a real hard look at who are, and what we have become ?

[BrokenRRT]

2 sons serving our country and off at war and she is homeless... welcome to the USA! Disgusting!

[patsaxon]

Sadly, family members should help her in her time of need. My mother has let me move back in after getting laid off from my job. It is most difficult for her to get a job due to age discrimination. HIgher education is the way out of poverty.

[LorrettaW]

@ihaveNegativeIQ Make no mistake the homelessness makes me sick. Absolutely sick.. Also when you watch Donna's video, it is the baby boomers, aged, and disabled who are getting hit so hard by this. I also don't like seeing homelessness in any country. These are definately frightening times.

[ihaveNegativeIQ]

@LorrettaW Can't argue with that, but there is a clear disparity from America to any other 3rd world country. There is always welfare,non-profits,programs and people out there to help. Now compare this to a place like flooded Buenos Aires, where access is limited. Homelessness is nothing to be over-looked. These people have my sympathy and support,definitely. shit rough anywhere.

[Engineer245]

This very same thing is happening in Japan. In Japan they alwasy took care of their parents in their old age but for the last couple decades they have began to abandon them on the streets. This is the result of the Western Worlds Money is my GOD mind set which is driven by the love of capitalism and money over all else. EVIL !

[LorrettaW]

@ihaveNegativeIQ I hate to tell you bud, you are now living in a third world nation. That came straight from a professors mouth at a public college in 2003.. Clearly you are not dirt poor to have made a statement like this. Consider taking a Sociology Class.. It will open your eyes.. Homelessness is homelessness no matter what nation you are in..

[msDiana125]

Wish her the best(: