Douglas is a disabled veteran living on the streets of Hollywood. He sleeps on the sidewalk every night. Douglas says wherever he lays his head is home.
There is a big push in this country to end veteran homelessness, and there should be. Douglas is disabled and confined to a wheelchair. He is missing one leg. Clearly, there is something wrong if Douglas is calling a sidewalk home.
Service providers have offered Douglas a bed in a shelter, but he finds the streets to be safer. During my Los Angeles trip, I ran into a few people who should not be homeless on Hollywood Blvd, and they were also only offered shelter, yet returned to the streets. I know the folks in Hollywood working to end homelessness and they are giving their all, but obviously, they are not being provided the tools or housing needed to help these people. All of the folks I met received disability income and qualify for housing, but of course, there has to be housing available.
Douglas says he loves our country, but he feels our government sucks. Knowing Douglas slept outside the night of this interview, I have to agree with him.
What do you think?
