San Diego Documentary Movie

Hello Forum members and readers,

I am currently living in my hometown of San Diego and have a unique perspective on the "homeless situation". Displacement happens, yes this is true.

What is amazing is the transfer of a non-existent industry that cater to give economic power to the "homeless".

Figure out how much homelessness currently is costing the city and translate that to the jobs that they can create. Local industries that serve the specific locale. Consider the downtown SD scene - "craft beer", "farm-to-table", indie hand-sewn etsy-like cute things, and organic anything... this is isn't exclusive to the downtown scene... but the overwhelming cluster of homeless people are.

Specfically, what I envision, is that city leaders create jobs for "art directors" and a small but versatile team to coordinate programs for homeless people depending on their interests and skills.

The truth of the matter is that most people do not care enough to dive down deep into the psyche of the homeless complex to be able to solve the problem. It is much easier to give a dollar and feel better (band-aid approach). The truth of the matter is also that money talks... yes this is a capitalistic society.

If this is mostly a downtown SD problem, it will serve as the perfect pilot program. Gather the planning committee, business associations, district representatives, and open up the discussion as to how businesses can support the homeless people by giving them a chance to participate in the economy.

Have local hotels by the flowers that are grown by the homeless, cafes that use the veggies and fruit grown by the homeless, local bars and restaurants hire a homeless musician/band (true talent needed, of course!), have homeless people be able to produce art or create instruments out of found objects, have them be able to put on a show (sans permit fees) and receive donations, have a system in which homeless people can guard one another's belongings while attending to other matters... a locker room attendant...

Have an industry for homeless people to care for one another... clean up after one another and keep each other accountable for representing the face of homelessness and fighting social stigma

Encourage each other to have hope and be a part of the change that is taking place.

Gardening - organic, CSA-style... vegetables, flowers, fruit orchards, hemp (ha!), etc.

Recycling - learning how to make crafts/sculptures/art/functional pieces out of upcycled parts (from the community)

Cleaning the streets - sweeping the streets

Planting trees - urban forestry helpers, identifying and ridding of invasive, harmful species, planting native plants for local pollinators

Painting murals - "buffing" tags, fixing up storefronts, community service

Have homeless people compile a book of collective experiences... and have it rival the bible