“A dark history of racism, genocide, and systemic discrimination make American Indians more likely to experience poverty and homelessness,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn, who co-authored the motion with Supervisor Hilda Solis. View the motion here.
“We need a better understanding of how many members of these communities are experiencing homelessness and we need to put in place culturally-inclusive services to help lift them off the streets and into homes.”
Solis said the communities in question often mistrust government agencies.
“Homelessness among American Indians and Alaska Natives in L.A. County has its roots in centuries of discrimination. Today, L.A. County will initiate systemic changes to right this wrong,” Solis said. “In order to accomplish this, we must recognize Native Americans and Alaska Natives often do not trust government agencies due to years of marginalization and mistreatment.”
The county is home to the largest population of American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States, according to Hahn.
A history of systemic racism and genocide mean that this population endures disproportionate symptoms of intergenerational trauma such as mental health issues, chronic disease, substance use, and economic hardship that put individuals at greater risk for homelessness, Hahn said.
However, relevant statistics have proven hard to track.
In addition for calling for an evaluation of the population and its specific needs, the board directed staffers to identify properties that could be used for culturally inclusive permanent supportive housing.
A member of the Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission said the number of homeless individuals in that community was rising dramatically.
“This population experienced a 68% increase in homelessness last year,” Pat Lopez said. “As the economy has improved in general, it has not translated to Indian country. It is still in dire economic straits.”
Native Americans come to LA County seeking jobs and services, as well as a native community organized around traditional ceremonies and prayer circles, Lopez said.
“They become homeless in the process, being far from home,” she added.
And sometimes they go uncounted or unaided by government programs.
“For too long our American Indian and Alaska Native community has been invisible in the eyes of the systems meant to serve our most under- resourced communities, particularly those experiencing homelessness,” said Andrea Garcia, another member of the commission.
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Withheld says
Ten thousand years of science, technology and education separated even the most advanced of the native tribes from the least advanced of the colonists. Nearly 600 tribes are currently recognized as North American Native and not a single one of them had progressed beyond the Stone Age at the time they were encountered.
I’m getting rather tired of hearing ‘systemic racism’ arguments from political figures who slept through History.
Laughing says
If you have ‘cities’ with different zones, aqueducts, and homes made of wood timbers with battlements I would think that is more progress than the Stone Age. Perhaps some people should go beyond grade school history and research more.
Part of progress is a ‘need’ for it. In a land of plenty with decent weather and ok political systems there probably did not seem to be a need for progress. A simple life.
Tom says
This is BS the reason they are fingering out Native Americans is because the Native Americans have their own health care system free too all Native Americans in California. La County is just going to bus them to Barstow which is the closes Native nation medical center and they will still be homeless out there.
Alby says
Invisible in the eyes of the system? [removed], they’re everywhere and it seems that they’re doin fine. Does America let genocides happen nowadays??? Where is this pitty party going? Is there beer?
Ron says
Alot of them now are just a bunch of lazy drunks.
Formerly Homeless says
Some of them may be lazy drunks. But none of them in Lancaster are presenting a problem of robbing people and committing violent crimes as Rex suggests. Nor do should residents carry around loaded guns to shoot homeless if they rob you as Rex suggests. Homeless is a problem that won’t be 100 % solved by government, but when it is treated the way Rex and his ilk treat it, and when money for a homeless shelter is either lost or diverted to a pet project for a campaign contributor, and when homeless are marginalized as criminals, it doesn’t help.
Now that Rex’s pal is going for another $11 million for Kensington, the total money now equals what we could have done on Ave. I, where we would have had seven times more beds and helped ten times as many people.
Rex isn’t interested in helping the homeless. He’s interested in helping himself.
DNA Analysis says
“Native Americans” originated in Asia. They migrated to the North American continent anywhere from ten to thirty-thousand years ago. The crossed a land bridge (Beringia) that connected Siberia and Alaska.
Tim Scott says
More and more evidence is accumulating that points towards coastal migration predating the last exposure of Beringia. Not that it changes your main point (or lack thereof), but if you are going to toss random and irrelevant science into the discussion you should probably keep up on the science.
By the way, why didn’t you also point out that these people who came from Asia apparently didn’t “originate” there either?