LA city budget deficit threatens future of free showers program for homeless
Homeless in Los Angeles for the better part of 20 years, Anthony Rodabaudh may not have a roof over his head, but he still has a lot of pride.
Three times a week, he goes to a mobile shower in the Westlake District.
"I don't want to offend people," Rodabaudh said.
Eight trailers similar to the one Rodabaudh uses serve a part of the city with a large homeless population. Shower of Hope is funded through the LA Sanitation Department, but with City Hall dealing with an $800 million budget deficit, the service's future is in jeopardy.
"If this went away, everybody would smell pretty bad," Rodabaudh said.
Mel Tillekeratne, the executive director of the 5-year-old program, said personal hygiene is essential for public health.
"In the last two weeks, the City of LA has had two hepatitis and one typhus outbreak," Tillekeratne said.
The showers and bathrooms are sanitized between each use. The staff, which consists of former gang members and convicts trying to turn their lives around, also offers free hygiene products.
"It's very prideful for me because I get to help out people in the way I was helped before, when I was in the street," mobile manager Estefani Bandala said.
Last week, Council Hugo Soto-Martinez introduced a motion to locate funding to restore the program that people often use before they go to work.
"Nobody is going to hire you if you don't show up clean," Tillekeratne said. "Nobody wants you at work if you're not clean, and you're not going to feel comfortable if you're not clean."
Rodabaudh echoed Tillekeratne's message.
"It's better to be dressed well and presentable," he said. "People give you a shot at a career and whatnot. If you look like crap, they won't."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
21 minutes ago
- CBS News
Pennsylvania food banks worry about SNAP cuts in federal government's proposed budget bill
Food banks fear that if the budget bill heading to the U.S. Senate gets passed, thousands of people in Pennsylvania will go hungry. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program helps nearly 2 million Pennsylvanians put food on the table. "For every meal the food bank provides, SNAP provides nine meals," said Jennifer Miller, CEO of the Westmoreland Food Bank. Leaders from the Westmoreland Food Bank and Feed Pennsylvania came together with the secretaries of the Pennsylvania Departments of Human Services and Agriculture to discuss how proposed federal changes would impact the most vulnerable in the state. They said the House-passed reconciliation bill would cut nearly $300 billion from the SNAP program through 2034. "We have existing work requirements in SNAP, but this bill would make them more strict. And as a result, we believe at least 140,000 Pennsylvanians could lose access to food assistance that helps people be healthy enough to go to work in the first place," Pennsylvania Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh said. Food banks fear they will see substantially more people lining up for food. "We are not equipped to absorb the massive demand that would result from reduced access to federal nutrition programs. Food banks cannot replace the scale, the reach and the stability of the SNAP program," Miller said. "If enacted, these cuts would eliminate more meals per year distributed by the entire charitable food network in this country," said Julie Bancroft, CEO of Feeding Pennsylvania. State Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said losing SNAP dollars would also hit farm families. "Roughly 25 cents of every grocery dollar spent goes straight back to the farm, 25 cents for every dollar for food purchased at the grocery store," Redding said. Arkoosh said the proposed cuts would cost the state over $1 billion more annually. "The result would be devastating for Pennsylvania families and for our economy," Arkoosh said. Many believe the fight is not over, though. "You all have a role in contacting your senators, your congressperson, letting them know how this impacts our commnity, our neighbors, our friends," Westmoreland County Commissioner Ted Kopas said.
CNN
24 minutes ago
- CNN
Three attacks in two months: Why American Jews are on edge
CNN's Bianna Golodryga breaks down the three high-profile recent attacks on Jewish elected officials, diplomats and community events that are putting American Jews and government officials on edge.
Associated Press
26 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Versatile Jerar Encarnación returns to Giants after March surgery on his broken left hand
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bob Melvin has been waiting for the chance to write Jerar Encarnación's name into San Francisco's lineup. The versatile Encarnación came off the 60-day injured list Monday and was available for the opener of a four-game series with the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park, though not yet in the starting lineup. Melvin hopes that he could start Tuesday — whether that's at first base or in right field. Encarnación underwent surgery in March on his broken left hand after he was injured trying to make a diving catch during spring training. He batted .302 with two home runs and 14 RBIs in Cactus League play after hitting .248 with five home runs and 19 RBIs in 113 at-bats last year. 'We know he can give us some power and he's got power to all fields,' Melvin said. 'We saw it at the end of last year, we saw it in spring training. When we were about to leave spring training there were going to be a lot of at-bats for him.' The Giants could use a big boost at the plate, and Encarnación hopes to deliver. 'I'm just going to do what I'm able to do to contribute to the team,' said Encarnación, a Dominican Republic native who made his major league debut with Miami in 2022 and joined the Giants as a free agent last May. The Giants optioned outfielder Luis Matos to Triple-A Sacramento so he can further develop and play regularly. San Francisco returned home having dropped five of nine games on its road trip to Washington, Detroit and Miami. The Giants entered Monday having scored only 30 runs over their last 14 games — the club's fewest in such a stretch since being limited to 28 runs from June 20-July 5, 2013. 'That's the good thing about him is he can play multiple positions, he can pinch hit,' Melvin said. 'It's nice to have him back. Spring training we were talking about how impactful he was going to be. He was having a great spring and next thing you know he's out for a while. He feels good at the plate, he hit some home runs the last couple days, he's ready to go.' Encarnación has been eager to rejoin the Giants, but embraced his faith and that it took the time it did for him to fully recover and come back. He missed the first 59 games, then made seven rehab appearances with Triple-A Sacramento last week, playing three games at first base, starting two as designated hitter and two more in right field. 'I'm so happy and content that I'm here,' he said, before adding with a smile a few minutes later that he's 'great, muy bueno.' ___ AP MLB:
