Lisa Biagiotti contact reporter for the web series “On the Streets” tackles the subject of danger and homelessness in her newly published episode called “Murder in the Park.” She reunites with her homeless friends at Sycamore Grove Park to see if any changes have been made to their housing situation since October. As she speaks with Patricia, Hope, and Jesus, she learns that the park that they have been sleeping in was the same park where 19-year-old Kaelyn Tarin was shot dead. The three homeless citizens were promised housing by January, but nearing February they were told it would be highly unlikely. In the atmosphere that surrounds them, gaining housing would be life changing and remove them from their life threatening “home” in the park. I encourage all who read this post to watch the video series posted in the LA Times – link below. Biagiotti speaks with and for her friends when addressing the cyclical non-progressive actions that have to be taken in order to receive housing as a low-income, homeless member of society.

One aspect of her video I especially want to touch upon is the fact that even when homeless people receive their Section 8 vouchers allotted for housing, there are few places that even accept them in their city due to high rent costs. Even the social worker at the homeless shelter Hope, Patricia, and Jesus were staying in, says she can hardly afford her rent and she is a working citizen. This just highlights the concerns for the widening gap between the upper class, and the middle and lower class. How are social services supposed to help provide shelter and food for the low-income or homeless people if they can barely provide enough for themselves?

http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-biagiotti-onthestreets-20151118-htmlstory.html