My husband's job is located here in Long Beach, CA. Before this location, we traveled to several different states for his job - seeing so much of the US along the way.  A much different experience for a small town southern girl who is used to being surrounded by friends and family in her little corner of the world.

​

From the first day we arrived and parked the RV, we didn't realize how busy and bustling this area is. From rumbling cars and trucks at all hours of the day to karaoke from the house next door, this is a mix of businesses and homes alike. A main road intersects with the street that our RV faces where we hear all the coming and going of life in the little slice of Long Beach - the Southern edge of LA.  After the first week of being here, I noticed something I am not accustomed to - homeless people.  They were wandering the streets, sitting on the edge of curbs next to stores and cars, sifting through trashcans from the local convenient store across the street from us.  All in the hopes of gathering enough cans and bottles to make a few dollars.  When we went for our first walk, we headed towards the LA River.  It's an enormous spillway that houses the river in a giant "V".  On the tips of the "V" and under the overpass, we could immediately see were tents, tarps, and any make-shift item that could be used to create a small space that someone decided to call home. ​

​

It was heartbreaking.  I have never seen anything like it my entire sheltered life. It's not something you see a lot of living in a small town.  I have seen what looked like abandoned RV's that line the streetways, however they aren't abandoned and people do live in them. They are just broken down, no gas to move, or no one has told them to move.

 

Since we parked our RV in Long Beach, CA for a good portion of the year, we have discovered an entire community of Homeless people. Some have addictions. Some are a victim of circumstance. Some have no family or support system. Some have absolutely nowhere to go.  Whatever their situation, we discovered they all have one thing in common - hunger. 

We have found that a majority of them don't eat daily.  From our own observation and talking with these people, we realized there's not a lot of people that possess the level of Southern Hospitality personality we are accustomed to.  There is very little compassion. No one stops to talk with them. They all keep each other company in their own little concrete space they have designated as their safe space.