There’s a saying by George Santayana that “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” No statement has rung more true regarding Los Angeles’ current homeless crisis.
In October of 1998, AHF staged a 34-hour housing vigil in front of Mayor Richard Riordan’s unoccupied Hancock Park mansion to protest his failure to act on AIDS housing. Also, to protest the issue of unspent funds to house people living with AIDS.
In 1999, the City Controller released a report confirming that Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (H.O.P.W.A.), a federally funded program that was overseen by the city of Los Angeles, mismanaged nearly $17 million in funds. Michael Weinstein stated, “I truly hope this scathing report serves as a catalyst for the long overdue overhaul of the city’s handling of HOPWA, but I won’t put away my protest signs just yet.”
 |  |
Twenty-six years later, the homeless crisis in Los Angeles has surged to ever-increasing heights. While billions of dollars have been allocated, nothing has been done to support the unhoused efficiently.
Unfortunately, we still need those signs.
Have an archival request? Fill out the form here!