Re: “How to Help the Culver City Homeless”

The ubiquity of homelessness is a modern phenomenon, isn’t it?

When Culver City officially counts its homeless population – after volunteers gather at 8 this evening at the Senior Center – it will be an act of admirable contemporary compassion.

This is an elaborate apparatus that is engineered and operated by the third-year chair of the Culver City Homelessness Committee.

There is a temptation – not a dimunition – to say that contemporarily, never have so many done for so few.

When Dr. Ira Diamond’s 70 volunteers conclude their searching and counting around midnight, the total figures to be in the three dozen range.

A pittance, one might say, when contrasted with the humiliating killing fields of Chicago where City Hall serves murders for lunch.

The Homeless Count helps City Hall here apportion appropriate support services — both for those who are willingly homeless and those reluctantly, embarrassedly homeless.

Dr. Diamond has plunged into his task with a committed, natural-born vigor that is a model for community members.

After two previous flings at this responsibility, how does he feel going into tonight?

“It’s a very eye-opening experience,” he said, “to see homeless individuals, how they live, the daily conditions for them.”

Rather than feeling sad, Dr. Diamond said “it makes me feel good that we are helping.  The Count is a very positive thing to do because it brings precious resources and raises awareness.

“It also is hard to see the way that many people love.”

Those eloquent words draw a memorable portrait of why tonight is crucial for the community.