By Amy Golod
Daily Bruin Contributor
Every Wednesday at noon for the past six weeks, a homeless man
with a child has come to the Chabad House on Gayley Avenue to
receive a $3 handout from a rabbi.
In addition to money the rabbi offered donated clothing and toys
this week, and this homeless child now has a new play gun.
“We are all about people helping people,” said
Boruch Bordoff, a rabbi in training.
While the homeless may benefit from the program, some in
Westwood said they do not appreciate the large gatherings.
The weekly giveaway began six months ago to avoid random visits
by homeless individuals into the building. They can now be helped
all at once, said Rabbi Yrachmiel Stillman.
When Chabad started the event, about 30 people arrived and now
nearly 100 come. Many of the people return each week, he added.
Most of the individuals who take advantage of the service heard
about the donations by word of mouth.
Chabad may offer only temporary reprieve for the homeless in
Westwood and some surrounding areas.
There are multiple ways for people to help the homeless, in
addition to directly handing them money. Donating food and offering
information about facilities with showers and storage space are
some examples.
“There are better ways than to give them cash, but not to
give anything is wrong as well,” said Richard Mintz, vice
president of development at People Assisting the Homeless.
Organizations such as People Assisting the Homeless offer
alternative means of helping transients.
But, not all homeless are aware of this available help.
Recently, a transient was arrested for masturbating at a bus
stop in the Village. The man attempted to hit the officers when
they tried to approach him, said Mike Wang, senior lead officer
with the LAPD.
In January, a transient man was found dead in front of the
building formerly occupied by Macy’s.
It’s more than these incidents that spur complaints from
some merchants.
UCPD officer Ricardo Bolanos said he has received complaints
from merchants and the Westwood Business Improvement District, a
board of landowners and merchants working to revitalize the
Village.
“Working with complaints is a multi-faceted problem
because there is no one solution,” he added.
Janet Mahram, owner of Ultimate Beauty Center, said that
homeless individuals fight in front of her business and leave trash
in front of it.
“I have never witnessed this problem in any other part of
town except Westwood Village,” she said.
Customers are hesitant to enter the shop when there are groups
of homeless individuals in front of it, she added.
Other merchants, however, are not bothered by their
presence.
“People are indifferent to the homeless, so they are
ignored,” said Bill Mauzerall of the newsstand on Westwood
Boulevard.
Some merchants believe that Westwood is attractive for
transients.
“Westwood offers a safe environment, shelter at night,
food and money to the homeless,” said Robbie Schwartz, owner
of Baskin Robbins.
Some property owners have made building changes that have
reduced the number of homeless who congregate there.
The Westwood BID moved a collection of benches in front of the
Rite Aid on Westwood Boulevard to other streets in the Village.
Up to 10 homeless people would congregate in front of the store
at one time prior to the March relocation of the benches, Mauzerall
said.
But since then, the gatherings have decreased.
Christina Development Corporation, a Westwood property owning
group, added a remote controlled gate to its underground parking
structure.
Transients would sleep and sometimes urinate in the garage, said
Dave Whitehead, a partner in the corporation.
“The homeless do not leave the Village because they find
shelter there, so we wanted to remove their shelter,” he
added.
Although they cannot be arrested for being homeless, transients
can be arrested for committing offenses.
“Unless the homeless commit a crime, then they have the
same rights as any other visitor,” Bolanos said.
Crimes include aggressive panhandling, blocking pedestrians from
the sidewalk and urinating in public places, Wang said.
Educating people about shelters and food banks would help reduce
the problem, Wang said.
Organizations such as PATH help the homeless find housing and
employment.
“Giving the homeless money does not foster
self-sufficiency. To get real results, we need to empower the
homeless to improve their situation,” Mintz said.