Homelessness Kills: Again and Again

We know that persons experiencing homelessness are at substantially higher risk of violence and death than their housed counterparts.  We know as well that living in the homeless community comes with its own dangers and form of "self-policing" that utilizes street code justice to solve disputes and settle differences.  We know too that there are some fecal smears masquarading as humans who prey on the homeless population, getting their kicks, their jollies, from beating defenseless, often mentally ill individuals who have done nothing more than to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The bottom line here is that regardless of how it comes about, the end result is the same, homelessness kills. 

Housing is a basic human right and it's first on the list of a human being's need-based priorities.  We're not talking here about the desire for luxuries that abound in today's society.  We're not even talking about getting a place to live in an area desirous to our senses.  We're talking about the primitive "reptilian brain's" drive to find safety for the inhabitant of its body; to insulate it from the unpredictability of environmental conditions while protecting it from the predators and danger that exist all around.
When a person lives without that safety, they are immediately at an extremely increased risk for injury, illness and death.  Period. 

And we see this truth played out over and over, day after day, human being after human being....

Homeless man dies after Venice beating; another transient arrested

July 13, 2011 | 10:04 am

A 52-year-old homeless man beaten on the streets of Venice has died from his injuries and another transient is now facing murder charges, police said Wednesday.

Los Angeles police detectives said the victim was initially believed to have fallen, but witnesses came forward saying his head injuries were the result of an attack.

Paramedics initially picked up the homeless man last week in the 600 block of Rose Avenue. The next day a person contacted the department claiming they saw the victim being punched and severely injured when he fell to the ground and hit his head, detectives said.

Investigators said they were able to identify another Venice transient, 50-year-old Frank Smith, as a suspect in the attack. He was arrested last week and charged with murder when the victim died Sunday of his injuries.

Detectives have yet to release the name of the victim because they have been unable contact his relatives. Investigators are requesting anyone who may have witnessed the assault to call them at (310) 482-6372 or (310) 482-6373.