Homeless in Hollywood-Released From the Hospital, He Says He’s Stranded, Not Homeless

Paul is homeless in Hollywood. We met in front of the CNN building where a group of homeless people gather outside to watch TV. The TVs play audio outside and people watch the news, of course CNN. I think it’s awesome and I was happy to hear the security guards are cool.

Paul is a cancer survivor, yet now has to fight for his life living on the streets of Los Angeles. He was in the hospital for over three months, and has now been homeless for four days. Paul had been sleeping at the Greyhound Bus Station downtown, but found Hollywood Station to be a little friendlier. The hospital did send him to a mission downtown, but after visiting he didn’t want to stay on Skid Row. I can’t blame him. I made the same choice 15 years ago, and I think staying in Hollywood may have saved my life.

I can’t imagine fighting cancer and homelessness.

There is good news for Hollywood. The Hollywood Entertainment District has partnered with Common Ground’s 100,000 Homes Campaign to house the most vulnerable in the neighborhood. There are no words to express how grateful I am to see real change happening in my hometown. There is no way to know what Paul’s future will be, but at least now there is hope.