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Anorak News | Skid Row, Los Angeles: A Photo Essay

Skid Row, Los Angeles: A Photo Essay

by | 20th, October 2014

George Mendez, foreground, a 55-year-old recovering alcoholic, sits in front of a drunk woman in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles on Tuesday, July 23, 2013. The area, originally agricultural until the 1870s when railroads first entered Los Angeles, has maintained a transient nature through the years from the influxes of short-term workers, migrants fleeing economic hardship during the Great Depression, military personnel during World War II and the Vietnam conflict, and low-skilled workers with limited transportation options who need to remain close to the city's core, according to the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

George Mendez, foreground, a 55-year-old recovering alcoholic, sits in front of a drunk woman in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles on Tuesday, July 23, 2013. T

 

SKID Row, Los Angeles – a photo essay.

Skid Row was originally agricultural until the 1870s when railroads first entered Los Angeles. The are has maintained a transient nature through the years from the influxes of short-term workers, migrants fleeing economic hardship during the Great Depression, military personnel during World War II and the Vietnam conflict, and low-skilled workers with limited transportation options who need to remain close to the city’s core.

Skid Row houses the USA’s densest concentration of homeless people, mostly addicts, parolees, the mentally ill and disabled. Over 17,000 people live on the streets in  one of the world’s riches cities.

This is America’s shame:

 

 

e Hernandez, a homeless immigrant, stores material in a makeshift shelter where he sleeps, in November 2005 near downtown Los Angeles. Among the estimated 14,000 people who live in Skid Row there exists a small shadow population of homeless immigrants who bed down each nigh in parks, abandoned buildings and find refuge in camouflaged encampments under freeway overpasses and bridges. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

e Hernandez, a homeless immigrant, stores material in a makeshift shelter where he sleeps, in November 2005 near downtown Los Angeles. Among the estimated 14,000 people who live in Skid Row there exists a small shadow population of homeless immigrants who bed down each nigh in parks, abandoned buildings and find refuge in camouflaged encampments under freeway overpasses and bridges. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

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Homeless immigrant Luis Hernandez, originally from Puebla, Mexico, walks past another homeless person, as he goes to work, Sept. 14, 2005, in the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles. Among the estimated 14,000 people who live in Skid Row there exists a small shadow population of homeless immigrants who bed down each nigh in parks, abandoned buildings and find refuge in camouflaged encampments under freeway overpasses and bridges. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Homeless immigrant Luis Hernandez, originally from Puebla, Mexico, walks past another homeless person, as he goes to work, Sept. 14, 2005, in the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles. Among the estimated 14,000 people who live in Skid Row there exists a small shadow population of homeless immigrants who bed down each nigh in parks, abandoned buildings and find refuge in camouflaged encampments under freeway overpasses and bridges. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Thirty year-old Steve Davis, homeless for three months in downtown Los Angeles, Thursday, June 4, 1987, displays a banner that emphasizes his feelings about the planned sweep of the Skid Row area by the police of those illegally encamped along sidewalks. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Thirty year-old Steve Davis, homeless for three months in downtown Los Angeles, Thursday, June 4, 1987, displays a banner that emphasizes his feelings about the planned sweep of the Skid Row area by the police of those illegally encamped along sidewalks. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

elen Oliver calls this bench in Los Angeles' skid row home, May 13, 1985. Oliver, her cat and three dogs has been living on a park bench in Justiceville, a shantytown that was bulldozed by the city. (AP Photo/Wally Fong)

elen Oliver calls this bench in Los Angeles’ skid row home, May 13, 1985. Oliver, her cat and three dogs has been living on a park bench in Justiceville, a shantytown that was bulldozed by the city. (AP Photo/Wally Fong)

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Cesar Solozano, 60, left, a former homeless man and a recovering drug and alcohol addict, laughs while waiting to cross the street in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Wednesday, July 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Cesar Solozano, 60, left, a former homeless man and a recovering drug and alcohol addict, laughs while waiting to cross the street in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Wednesday, July 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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In this Thursday, June 6, 2013 photo, job seekers apply for prospect employment positions at the 12th annual Mission career fair in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles. The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 343,000 the last week of June 2013, a sign that layoffs remain low and companies are adding a modest number of jobs. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

In this Thursday, June 6, 2013 photo, job seekers apply for prospect employment positions at the 12th annual Mission career fair in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles. The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 343,000 the last week of June 2013, a sign that layoffs remain low and companies are adding a modest number of jobs. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A homeless woman wears a wig while waiting for the start of a karaoke night outside a church in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A homeless woman wears a wig while waiting for the start of a karaoke night outside a church in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Pastor Tony Stallworth, top center, a former homeless drug addict himself, leads a prayer session during a karaoke night at the Central City Community Church of the Nazarene in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 15, 2013. Every Wednesday night the church is full of people from the neighborhood, where they sing, dance and laugh. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Pastor Tony Stallworth, top center, a former homeless drug addict himself, leads a prayer session during a karaoke night at the Central City Community Church of the Nazarene in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 15, 2013. Every Wednesday night the church is full of people from the neighborhood, where they sing, dance and laugh. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Trina Bohannan, a former homeless drug addict who now lives in a low-income apartment, sings along a song while ushering at a karaoke night at the Central City Community Church of the Nazarene in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Trina Bohannan, a former homeless drug addict who now lives in a low-income apartment, sings along a song while ushering at a karaoke night at the Central City Community Church of the Nazarene in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Tricia Warren, 60, who has been homeless for three weeks due to financial problems, sings a song during a karaoke night for homeless people at the Central City Community Church of the Nazarene in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 15, 2013. Every Wednesday night the church is full of people from the neighborhood where they sing, dance and laugh. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Tricia Warren, 60, who has been homeless for three weeks due to financial problems, sings a song during a karaoke night for homeless people at the Central City Community Church of the Nazarene in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 15, 2013. Every Wednesday night the church is full of people from the neighborhood where they sing, dance and laugh. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

In this Monday, May 6, 2013 file photo, a drug addict prepares a needle to inject himself with heroin in front of a church in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles. The death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman in February 2014 spotlighted the reality that heroin is no longer limited to the back alleys of American life. Once mainly a city phenomenon, the drug has spread to the country and suburbs. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

In this Monday, May 6, 2013 file photo, a drug addict prepares a needle to inject himself with heroin in front of a church in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles. The death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman in February 2014 spotlighted the reality that heroin is no longer limited to the back alleys of American life. Once mainly a city phenomenon, the drug has spread to the country and suburbs. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A 25-year-old homeless drug addict prepares a needle to inject himself with heroin in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2013. It's not a rare scene on Skid Row to spot addicts using drugs in the open, even when police patrol the area. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A 25-year-old homeless drug addict prepares a needle to inject himself with heroin in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2013. It’s not a rare scene on Skid Row to spot addicts using drugs in the open, even when police patrol the area. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

In this March 29, 2013, file photo, a homeless man pushes a shopping cart full of his belongings across an intersection in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles. Economists have long argued that rising economic inequality has held back the U.S. rebound from the Great Recession. Now, an analysis by the ratings agency Standard & Poor’s confirms it: The widening gap between the wealthiest Americans and everyone else has made the economy more prone to boom-bust cycles and held back the rebound from the Great Recession. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

In this March 29, 2013, file photo, a homeless man pushes a shopping cart full of his belongings across an intersection in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles. Economists have long argued that rising economic inequality has held back the U.S. rebound from the Great Recession. Now, an analysis by the ratings agency Standard & Poor’s confirms it: The widening gap between the wealthiest Americans and everyone else has made the economy more prone to boom-bust cycles and held back the rebound from the Great Recession. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Antoinette Theus, 45, who says she has been homeless for 30 years, drinks a can of soda in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Thursday, April 11, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Antoinette Theus, 45, who says she has been homeless for 30 years, drinks a can of soda in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Thursday, April 11, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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Shawn McGray, a 34-year-old homeless man, looks through a dumpster for anything useful in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Thursday, March 21, 2013. McGray said his goal is to save enough money to move into a small apartment with his girlfriend. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Shawn McGray, a 34-year-old homeless man, looks through a dumpster for anything useful in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Thursday, March 21, 2013. McGray said his goal is to save enough money to move into a small apartment with his girlfriend. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Jesse Raca, a 58-year-old homeless alcoholic, leans on the shutters of a closed store while trying to sleep in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Jesse Raca, a 58-year-old homeless alcoholic, leans on the shutters of a closed store while trying to sleep in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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Charles Medford, right, who says he is homeless, gets free food in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles Friday, July 20, 2012. As police and advocates urged homeless people to seek safety in shelters on Friday as news spread of an at-large serial homeless stabber, they face the challenge that many street dwellers like being alone because they feel it's less risky or simply because they can't cope with people due to mental illness.(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Charles Medford, right, who says he is homeless, gets free food in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles Friday, July 20, 2012. As police and advocates urged homeless people to seek safety in shelters on Friday as news spread of an at-large serial homeless stabber, they face the challenge that many street dwellers like being alone because they feel it’s less risky or simply because they can’t cope with people due to mental illness.(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

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Individual homeless personal belongings are stored in single storage plastic bins at the Central City East Association, CCEA, a 20,000-square-foot warehouse downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011. The 95 gallons plastic bins are renewed weekly to accommodate the high storage demand of the transient population of skid row area of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Individual homeless personal belongings are stored in single storage plastic bins at the Central City East Association, CCEA, a 20,000-square-foot warehouse downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011. The 95 gallons plastic bins are renewed weekly to accommodate the high storage demand of the transient population of skid row area of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

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Tanika Smith, right, braids Donald Reese's hair in the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2010. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Tanika Smith, right, braids Donald Reese’s hair in the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2010. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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Sheila Nichols, 55, has her temperature checked by a nurse at a clinic in Los Angeles, Monday, July 19, 2010. After two decades living on the streets of Skid Row, Nichols was dying. Her body had wasted away to 61 pounds, ravaged by a heavy-duty crack cocaine addiction, hepatitis, HIV, and late-stage syphilis. Nichols was rescued by Project 50, a pilot program to get the 50 people most likely to die if they remained homeless into housing, medical care and social services. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Sheila Nichols, 55, has her temperature checked by a nurse at a clinic in Los Angeles, Monday, July 19, 2010. After two decades living on the streets of Skid Row, Nichols was dying. Her body had wasted away to 61 pounds, ravaged by a heavy-duty crack cocaine addiction, hepatitis, HIV, and late-stage syphilis. Nichols was rescued by Project 50, a pilot program to get the 50 people most likely to die if they remained homeless into housing, medical care and social services. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Edward Merida, a 71-year-old Project 50 participant, gets dressed for dinner in his room at the Charles Cobb Apartments, a home for Project 50 participants, in Los Angeles, Thursday, July 15, 2010. The Project 50 is a pilot program to get the 50 people most likely to die if they remained homeless into housing, medical care and social services. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Edward Merida, a 71-year-old Project 50 participant, gets dressed for dinner in his room at the Charles Cobb Apartments, a home for Project 50 participants, in Los Angeles, Thursday, July 15, 2010. The Project 50 is a pilot program to get the 50 people most likely to die if they remained homeless into housing, medical care and social services. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Sheila Nichols, center, chats with her friends in the lobby of the Charles Cobb Apartments in Los Angeles, Thursday, July 15, 2010. After two decades living on the streets of Skid Row, Nichols was dying. Her body had wasted away to 61 pounds, ravaged by a heavy-duty crack cocaine addiction, hepatitis, HIV, and late-stage syphilis. Nichols was rescued by Project 50, a pilot program to get the 50 people most likely to die if they remained homeless into housing, medical care and social services. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Sheila Nichols, center, chats with her friends in the lobby of the Charles Cobb Apartments in Los Angeles, Thursday, July 15, 2010. After two decades living on the streets of Skid Row, Nichols was dying. Her body had wasted away to 61 pounds, ravaged by a heavy-duty crack cocaine addiction, hepatitis, HIV, and late-stage syphilis. Nichols was rescued by Project 50, a pilot program to get the 50 people most likely to die if they remained homeless into housing, medical care and social services. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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Sonya Martinez, 38, who says she has been homeless for 10 years off-and-on, sits in San Julian Park while waiting for her husband in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013. In the last week of January 2013, The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority counted 1,020 homeless people on the street and 2,443 in an emergency shelter or in transitional housing. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Sonya Martinez, 38, who says she has been homeless for 10 years off-and-on, sits in San Julian Park while waiting for her husband in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013. In the last week of January 2013, The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority counted 1,020 homeless people on the street and 2,443 in an emergency shelter or in transitional housing. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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Homeless people attend a daily Bible study class at the Emmanuel Baptist Rescue Mission in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles on Thursday, July 18, 2013. The church doubles as a shelter for homeless men and the Bible study attendance is required in order to get a bed assignment. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Homeless people attend a daily Bible study class at the Emmanuel Baptist Rescue Mission in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles on Thursday, July 18, 2013. The church doubles as a shelter for homeless men and the Bible study attendance is required in order to get a bed assignment. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

People form a line to get a free hotdog from a charity organization in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles on Tuesday, July 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

People form a line to get a free hotdog from a charity organization in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles on Tuesday, July 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A man talks with a homeless woman in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles on Thursday, July 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A man talks with a homeless woman in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles on Thursday, July 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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Young volunteers from the Dream Center, a Christian church mission, look at homeless people from inside their bus in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles on Thursday, July 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Young volunteers from the Dream Center, a Christian church mission, look at homeless people from inside their bus in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles on Thursday, July 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Passion Guzman, 11, center, throws a snow ball during the annual Christmas in July event at the Union Rescue Mission in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Wednesday, July 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Passion Guzman, 11, center, throws a snow ball during the annual Christmas in July event at the Union Rescue Mission in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Wednesday, July 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Young volunteers from the Dream Center, a Christian church mission, look at homeless people from inside their bus in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles on Thursday, July 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Young volunteers from the Dream Center, a Christian church mission, look at homeless people from inside their bus in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles on Thursday, July 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Torrance Moore, 46, right, prepares cardboard for bedding while setting up a tent on the sidewalk in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Friday, March 29, 2013. Homeless people are allowed to pitch their tents between 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. in this particular section. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Torrance Moore, 46, right, prepares cardboard for bedding while setting up a tent on the sidewalk in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, Friday, March 29, 2013. Homeless people are allowed to pitch their tents between 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. in this particular section. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

 

 



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