Building a Considerate City: Advocating for Mental Health and Homeless Solutions in Los Angeles nevaeh gutierrez

The notion of family in my Latino community is one that is extremely fluid, with the expectation that we treat others with respect. Albert, my “neighbor,” has occupied the bush in front of my house for over two years and has become a part of my extended family. “Hi Albert, how are you doing?” I asked as I walked through the gate, leaving my house. “Good morning Nevy, have a great day at school, mija,” he replies with a smile. Albert has become my constant reminder of the crisis that plagues my city. His poverty, along with so many others, has been neglected.

In poor communities, the homeless population becomes easily recognizable. However, it seems as if we have become desensitized towards the homeless people who now cement our streets. The streets of Los Angeles are lined with tattered tents and filled with people trudging and pushing their carts with their valuables. Additionally, there is a significant amount of those who suffer from mental illnesses that escalates the increasing rate of the destitute. I thought to myself, “How can I begin to alleviate this crisis?” Intuitively, education and prevention immediately came to mind.

Even at the microcosmic level, I became cognizant of the lack of mental health education and...