West Side Homeless Outreach, Inc.

West Side Homeless Outreach’s

TEN-POINT COMMITMENT TO HOMELESS PEOPLE

By Loren Franck, President and Executive Director

1. We commit to furnish west Los Angeles County homeless people with nutritious food, healthy beverages, durable clothing, warm bedding, appropriate personal-hygiene products and other well-maintained life-sustaining items. We don’t provide “sloppy seconds.”

2. We commit to serve all homeless people we encounter, not be served. We don’t care about kudos.

3. We commit to help the homeless regardless of their age, appearance, ethnicity, gender and all other irrelevant criteria. Recipients must simply be homeless.

4. We commit to demonstrate compassion with all homeless people we assist. We’re here to help, not condemn.

5. We commit to action, not words. It’s meaningless to decry homelessness but do nothing about it.

6. We commit to provide our services patiently. Homeless people are immersed in desperation, distrust, fear and hopelessness, so we proceed accordingly.

7. We commit to assist in a generous, nonthreatening manner. Our only agenda is to improve the lives of people we serve.

8. We commit to serve homeless people in west L.A. County when and how it’s convenient for them. We don’t require visits to a facility to receive our help, and we’re available 24/7.

9. We commit to cooperate with local communities, appropriate government agencies as well as diverse political and religious organizations. We endorse all who truly desire to help the homeless.

10. We commit to use resources prudently. We greatly appreciate all donated items and every donated dollar. So do the homeless people we serve.

Homeless men, women and children throughout west Los Angeles County urgently need a hand up. The depressed global economy has hit them hard—but you can help. Click on donate; or send checks and money orders to West Side Homeless Outreach, Inc., PO Box 5761, Playa del Rey, CA 90296-5761.

BLOG UPDATE

Our frequently updated blog shares little-known facts about homeless-ness everyone should know. Click here to visit.

Unfortunately, most west L.A. County homeless people are forced to wait many hours for basic services. Long lines, overcrowded waiting rooms and less-than-cordial social-service workers are the norm, not the exception. Relying on its Ten-point Commitment to Homeless People, West Side Homeless Outreach earnestly strives to treat homeless individuals effectively, efficiently and with compassion.