First of two parts
In the week of the biennial count of the homeless in Los Angeles County, Ira Diamond, podiatrist, stands at the nexus of one of the most inspiring stories to emerge in these homeless-centric days.
Many may think first of shelter or food when images of the homeless hover into their lives – but the focus is different for Dr. Diamond.
He comes naturally by his powerful commitment to the homeless, both through his podiatry practice and his No. 1 pastime, volunteering.
A founder of Shoes for the Homeless (www.shoesforthehomeless.net) – collecting footwear for the homeless — Dr. Diamond was a volunteer attending at L.A. County USC Medical Center for 15 years when he stood face-to-face with the neediest of the homeless.
Their downtrodden plight thunderingly resonated with a dedicated man who has made this the centerpiece of his life’s work.
“In my practice, I also had interacted with homeless patients,” he was saying this afternoon.
“A lot of them had foot problems that actually took them from being independent on the street – where at least they are free and independent – to being in a skilled nursing facility or a hospital.
“And so, to prevent that from happening, all they need,” Dr. Diamond said, making it sound obvious, “is a simple pair of shoes.
“I am very focused on the homeless. And then to be on the (Culver City) Committee on Homelessness – it was an honor to be involved in a different capacity.”
What is the origin of foot troubles for the homeless – too much walking? Or lack of professional care?
“It originates,” said Dr. Diamond, “from the fact you have people whose only mode of transportation is walking. They are always on their feet. “Often the soles are coming off the shoes on their feet, and there are holes on the top. You see people wearing shoes without shoelaces.
“They have exposed skin on hard surfaces, and they develop many kinds of foot problems,” Dr. Diamond said.
(To be continued)
