I’m ​a ​librarian ​with the LA County ​Library. ​I ​do ​not ​live ​in the 2nd ​District, ​but ​I ​work ​in the 2nd ​District. ​I ​was ​the ​manager ​of ​the ​Woodcrest ​Library ​and ​now ​I’m ​the ​Black ​Resource ​center ​librarian. ​And ​I’ve ​noticed ​that ​individuals ​who ​are ​unhoused ​are ​treated ​unfairly ​or differently ​because ​unfortunately, ​their ​circumstances.

We ​have ​several ​individuals ​that ​come ​into ​the ​library ​and ​​people ​sometimes ​turn ​up ​their ​nose ​or ​they ​may ​make comments ​​that ​are ​not ​as ​polite. ​And ​there ​have ​been ​times ​where ​I’ve ​had ​to ​tell ​people ​that ​you ​cannot ​speak ​to ​them ​in ​that ​way. ​They ​are ​using ​county ​services. ​They ​come ​in, ​they ​check ​out ​books, ​they ​use ​the ​Wi-​Fi, they ​use ​what ​the ​library ​has ​to ​offer. ​​And ​the ​person ​was ​like, ​but ​you ​can’t ​put ​them ​out? No, ​they’re ​using ​resources ​appropriately. ​But ​I ​can ​remove ​you ​for ​talking ​to ​them ​that ​way.

​I ​want ​people ​to ​learn ​from ​this, ​is ​that ​all ​of ​us ​are ​one ​paycheck ​away ​from ​being ​unhoused ​and ​that ​we ​shouldn’t ​treat ​someone ​unfairly ​because ​of ​something ​that ​is ​out ​of ​their ​control. ​​And ​these ​are ​our ​neighbors. ​​Let’s ​help ​them. ​Let’s ​figure ​out ​ways ​to ​make ​living ​in ​LA ​more ​affordable, ​but ​also ​so ​that ​everyone ​is ​able ​to ​use ​the ​resources ​that ​we ​have. ​