Beverly Hills Gives Homeless a Break... But There's a Catch

by Shannon Moriarty · 2009-12-03 09:09:00 UTC
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People on the brink of homelessness in Beverly Hills are getting a break. The City Council voted this week to create a "forgiveness program" for unpaid parking tickets, likely to be the first program of its kind in LA County. But there's a catch - to get the deal, individuals must commit to completing a 90-day rehabilitation program that will pave the way out of homelessness.

The ticket forgiveness program is designed to remove a huge hurdle that is preventing down-on-their-luck individuals from getting back on their feet, according to the LA Times. Often, accumulated parking citations can mean impounded vehicles and other limitations to finding or maintaining work. Any kind of debt forgiveness is critical when one is struggling to make ends meet. The forgiveness program must go before city council for one more vote before it is adopted, although city counselors appear to be extremely supportive of the program.

This program succeeds on two fronts: it provides an incentive for an individual to combat the root cause of their homeless while simultaneously removing a huge barrier to employment and housing.That's a win-win for both the City and the people poised to benefit from the program.

Speaking of the people who will benefit from this program, that's the most interesting part of this story, in my opinion. At the last point-in-time count, Beverly Hills counted 42 homeless people. That's right, 42 people - not a huge number compared to nearby cities. It would be easy for the Beverly Hills City Council to do nothing; 42 is nothing compared to the 42,694 homeless people counted in LA.

But a smaller count does not exempt city officials from developing solutions and innovations to help every single one of those individuals in need. We must work to end homelessness until the number on the streets is zero.

Image: Sean Dreilenger

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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