The Real Homeless

"Homeless homicides bring needs to light" - Our Letter to the Editor of the Orange County Register

Printed in today’s paper, Jim Palmer, President of the Orange County Rescue Mission writes: 

The murder of three homeless individuals in the past few weeks has sent shockwaves throughout the homeless community. The disgusting acts perpetrated upon some of the weakest and most vulnerable in our society are beyond comprehension and in stark contrast to the outpouring of love, kindness and service many of them experienced during the holiday season.

As details of the homicides emerged, we learned the names and ages of the victims: James McGillivray, 53; Lloyd Middaugh, 42; and Paulus Cornelius Smit, 57. We learned that Smit’s nickname was “Dutch.” We learned that Middaugh lived under a bridge, and that McGillivray regularly slept near the same shuttered business in Placentia. The more we learn of their daily routines and their habits and their histories, the more we are reminded of their humanity.

Homelessness is not new to Orange County, but because of the substance abuse, mental disorders and criminal pasts of some of those sleeping on our streets; it’s easy for us to forget that these individuals are human beings. They are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers. They are lost and sometimes deeply broken people.

In November, we called on residents of Orange County to donate urgently needed blankets, jackets and umbrellas for us to distribute to the homeless so we could prepare them for the cold and inclement weather. The response was overwhelming – not just from Orange County residents, but from businesses as well. We were able to fill two pickup trucks with the items to hand out at the Santa Ana Civic Center and we talked to many of the homeless who were helped. Their responses are always the same. Week after week, outreach after outreach, they are so thankful. They are thankful for the smiles they receive. They’re thankful that we know their names. They’re thankful that they matter to someone.

During that outreach we interviewed Michele, a homeless lady sleeping on the streets of Santa Ana. Her jacket and other possessions were stolen that very day. She would not have had a jacket, blanket or scarf to keep her warm that night if we had not been there to help. Her video interview can be viewed at www.realhomeless.com.

Hundreds of organizations throughout Orange County serve the homeless. The economy’s challenges have stretched all of our resources thin. Last year, the Orange County Rescue Mission experienced a 21 percent increase in the services we provided over the previous year and the need continues to grow. One of the Rescue Mission’s New Year’s resolutions is to reach the least, the last, and the lost, “who are currently beyond our reach.” The murders of Middaugh, McGillivray and Smit make this resolution more urgent.

We can’t do it alone. Call upon your city council members and your mayors to work with nonprofits to open homeless shelters. Ask your local elected leaders to commit to helping the least in our communities, and don’t just take their word for it, hold them accountable for their actions. The homeless need our help. Yes, some of them, sadly, are beyond our reach, or won’t accept our help. But not all of them. We can and should do more to shelter and protect our homeless neighbors. To get involved, you can reach the Orange County Rescue Mission at (714) 247-4300 or www.rescuemission.org.

You can make a donation to support Homeless Outreach and our Homeless Safety Kits, which include a whistle and a flashlight, by clicking DONATE NOW.