States Of Emergency Over Homeless Crisis
Some major US cities are struggling to manage rising homeless populations which have spread beyond the areas known as Skid Row.
00:46, UK, Sunday 27 December 2015
A growing number of American cities are declaring states of emergency in the fight to cure a spreading epidemic of homelessness.
The city of Los Angeles stopped just short of declaring its own state of emergency but campaigners say what is happening there is "the worst manmade disaster in the US".
The 50-block area of downtown LA known as Skid Row has been a national emblem of homelessness for more than 100 years.
But the shambolic shanty town of tents and cardboard boxes is growing. The official figures show homelessness in LA has increased by 12% but experts believe the rise is much greater.
He told Sky News: "I don't care what anyone says homelessness is an epidemic across the United States.
"Skid Row is an absolute disaster. In fact it is the worst manmade disaster in the US.
"The violence, the chaos has greatly increased. It is startling. Most of all we need a change of heart about these precious people who are dying on our streets."
He describes a $100m pledge by the city of LA to help Skid Row as "a start", but says a whole array of public services need to be overhauled to tackle a huge and complex issue.
Plenty on Skid Row doubt the problem will ever be solved.
"People come from all over the world come to Los Angeles, California and Skid Row to be homeless. From what I see it can't be solved, unless you drop an atom bomb on it. That would solve it."
He arrived from Tennessee a few days ago. He says he has seen "people taking dope, having sex, everything you can imagine" on the streets. "It is a zoo here," he says.
President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama have highlighted the problem of homelessness amongst military veterans but it remains stubbornly high.
Christopher Catarusa, who has just turned 33, saw action with the US Marines in Iraq. He now lives in a makeshift shelter a few blocks from Beverly Hills. He says the country he served is failing him.
"It was never an issue when I was serving because then I thought as soon as I got out it would be job city," he said. "It was like that until I ran into problems.
"The government doesn't even take care of the people let alone the veterans."
