HOMELESS SHELTER IN NEED OF A HOME DOCUMENTARY OFFERS GLIMPSE INTO PROBLEM.Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - Between rows of immaculate homes and shopping centers, a solitary homeless woman collected her worldly belongings Noun 1. worldly belongings - all the property that someone possess; "he left all his worldly possessions to his daughter" worldly goods, worldly possessions - just a tent full of clothes and blankets - and stuffed them into a metal cart. The opening montage to the 30-minute documentary ``One Paycheck Away'' attempts to bring Santa Clarita Valley The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the 48,612-acre (19,672. homelessness into sharp focus. Filmmaker Carole Lutness shot most of the video in 2003, and took nearly three years to edit the footage on a home computer. A county Department of Mental Health caseworker, she has defended the Santa Clarita temporary winter homeless shelter Homeless shelters are temporary residences for homeless people. Usually located in urban neighborhoods, they are similar to emergency shelters. The primary difference is that homeless shelters are usually open to anyone, without regard to the reason for need. before local officials and critics. ``I was just getting sick and tired of going to City Council'' to defend the shelter, she said. ``We have a responsibility to take care of our own.'' The 40-bed shelter organized for the last nine winters by the Santa Clarita Community Development Corp. lacks a permanent site and has to deflect local critics whenever it lands in a neighborhood. This year, it's staged at a county Public Works public works pl.n. Construction projects, such as highways or dams, financed by public funds and constructed by a government for the benefit or use of the general public. Noun 1. equipment yard on Centre Pointe pointe n. In ballet, dancing that is performed on the tips of the toes. [From French pointe (des pieds), point (of the feet), tiptoe; see point.] Parkway, serving up to 35 people on some nights. There's no official word where the facility will be next winter. ``We want to use (the documentary) to increase support and finally lay this homeless shelter's homelessness to rest,'' Lutness said. Most opponents cited fears of their neighborhoods turning into something akin to Los Angeles' Skid Row skid row a run-down area frequented by alcoholics. [Am. Culture: Misc.] See : Alcoholism Skid Row district of down-and-outs and bums. [Am. Usage: Brewer Dictionary, 1008] See : Failure . Though some homeless are battling alcoholism or mental illnesses such as depression, many more are just going through tough times, Lutness said. ``Mostly, you got folks who are down on their luck,'' she said. ``It was just the on-the-edge kind of living that minimum-wage workers get.'' Lutness turned her camera on Gail, a woman in her mid-40s who stayed at the emergency shelter Emergency shelters are places for people to live temporarily when they can't live in their previous residence, similar to homeless shelters. The main difference is that an emergency shelter typically specializes in people fleeing a specific type of situation, such as battered in 2003. Gail said she had worked as an au pair until her employer lost her job and could not afford her services. With little savings and no family, Gail slipped into homelessness and depression, living out of her car until arriving at the shelter in the winter of 2003. ``You just have to go on,'' Gail told the camera. ``But sometimes you wish you didn't have to.'' Spliced between her story - accounts of her life on the street and lighter moments with her shelter dorm-mates - are interviews with local clergy, mental health and community service providers, who argued for the need to secure the winter shelter program. ``I think people are less apt to jump over your wall and steal things if they have a place to sleep and a warm meal - and some hope,'' the Rev. Lynn Jay of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church St. Stephen's Episcopal Church can refer to:
``We're self-contained,'' Lutness said. ``Our homeless are by and large local folks. ... Each community has a duty of taking care of those who are most vulnerable, not pass the buck Pass the Buck may refer to:
Lutness has been making short videos on various social issues since 1985. She believes in the moving image's power to connect with the audience, and is now working on a short documentary on the Santa Clara River Santa Clara River may refer to:
``Each time I filmed (Gail), you can see she's deteriorated,'' she said. ``(There is power in) being the objective observer.'' Gail is still struggling with homelessness, though she occasionally stays with friends, Lutness said. She receives about $800 a month in federal assistance - barely enough to rent a room in Santa Clarita. ``It feels like there is no way out of it,'' Gail said. ``It feels lonely. ... You lose your job, you're just one paycheck from being homeless.'' Eugene Tong, (661) 257-5253 eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Carol Lutness, a county Department of Mental Health caseworker, made a film she hopes will dispel some of the disparaging dis·par·age tr.v. dis·par·aged, dis·par·ag·ing, dis·par·ag·es 1. To speak of in a slighting or disrespectful way; belittle. See Synonyms at decry. 2. To reduce in esteem or rank. myths about the homeless. (2) Carol Lutness hopes her film about the local homeless shelter will increase understanding and ultimately lead to the building of a permanent facility. David Crane/Staff Photographer |
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