Skid Row Development Corporation

(inhales deeply… then clutches frantically for his inhaler).
Hugh…
Everything about this place depresses me to the ump’teenth power and then some. Nothing screams depression like hundreds, make that THOUSANDS of transients wandering around aimlessly, panhandling, urinating in public and sauntering around while publicly intoxicated…
While I haven’t fact-​checked this theory (very unlike me), I heard word a number of years ago, that this entire location originated simply by way of a psychiatric ward of some sort. Evidently they couldn’t secure funding enough to carry on and were forced to close their doors compelling their multitude of patients to fend for themselves.
This depresses me.
Fellow Unilocalers, I give to you SKID ROW _​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​
Of course, I couldn’t dare submit a review of this place without providing a story of some sort.
Segway: About a decade ago my family reunion took place in Los Angeles. For some peculiar reason I was selected to be on the «planning committee» and while I elected we show out-of-towner’s the best of what the City of Angels has to offer (beaches, Beverly Hills, shopping, etc.) well… I was overruled by a few family mongoloids (we’ve all got them) who’d have much rather given our family something other than a souvenir, to take back home.
The result was our renting 3 Charter buses and beginning the tour of LA near LAX. The itinerary progressed from there… through Inglewood and directly onto the Watts Tower (s). Things spiraled completely downhill once the bus reached DTLA and circled around «Skid Row» finally making its way through K-​Town into Hollywood.
Don’t even get me on how one of the buses broke down on San Pedro and 5^th («Central Skid Row») completely mortifying our «guests»…
Most of them won’t even send post cards our direction any longer.
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Fast forward a few years and while within the past few years I found myself previously employed both off of Los Angeles Street and 5^th within the industry of City Planning and/​or just 2 blocks west of the aforementioned working on 5^th and Spring overseeing a community of high-​rises, the stories I could tell… babbby, …they would likely traumatize you all.
If anything, my office window took on a new role and was reminiscent of a high definition flatscreen television… displaying panoramic «Breaking News» updates by the second!!! This has without hesitation served as the # 1 reason why I’m somewhat apprehensive and hesitant in donating to multiple charities if not, other countries.
— — — Until we help our own, how can we offer assistance to anyone else?
Furthermore, I haven’t begun to fathom just how and why rents in DTLA are so high bearing in mind the high notion that the door to your «luxury» domicile can be closed for hours yet… you’re still left with the befitting stench of nearby defecation from the vagrant that evacuated his home affront your doorstep just hours before.
My office is now in West Hollywood and well… the result is my still having to pass through «Skid Row» by traversing down 5^th Street simply to bypass Los Angeles traffic as I travel to work… and/​or down 6^th Street traveling east in the afternoons when headed back home.
No need to try convincing me.
As I see it, LAPD, «Skid Row Housing Trust», Obama-​care, and Oprah Winfrey herself couldn’t bring this place to an above par status. The homeless within this area are noticeably being evacuated further and further east yet when push comes to shove, this is all to no avail.
These people possess mental issues let alone various other disabilities and my inevitable conclusion is HOMELESSNESS to be an absolute (and unfortunate) way of life.
By no means do I arrogantly let alone condescendingly look down on this place. If anything, …it’s my DAILY reality check to work all the more harder and value life itself as sadly… we’re all just a paycheck or 2 away from being here ourselves—

YEAH THIS IS HOME SWEET HOME! Away from the foolishness that people bring! Yup do you.

Story: I came here to volunteer to provide clothing and food to the community. One of our students was conducting an interview so we walked the streets of Skid Row passing out food and talking to them. I will give this a high rating to bring awareness to this community. So we went in about groups of 10 handing out old clothing, bottled water, and PB&J sandwiches. People there are generally friendly and respectful. It is just a matter of being respectful to one another. Obviously this isn’t the cleanest or happiest place to be but this definitely help me put things to perspective of how fortunate I am and how important it is for me to give back and pay it forward to the community.