LOS ANGELES – Relaxing for Kimberly Langford is sitting on a crate against a brick wall; she has been living on the streets for over 25 years.
“I got out of prison. I didn’t have a place to stay. I was at the mission. I got tired of staying at the mission with a bunch of different women. So, I’ve been on the streets,” Langford said.
It was on Skid Row where Langford says she became a victim of domestic violence.
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“It happened a couple of years when I first got to L.A. I broke up with guy and I’ve been on my own ever since,” Langford said.
Mayor Eric Garcetti says 91 percent of women on Skid Row have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault. On Wednesday morning, he announced a plan to provide housing and services for 100 homeless women who will receive care for trauma.
“Which is the right way to help them heal,” Garcetti said. “And because of what we know about the community on Skid Row, this will have a significant and disproportionate impact, positive impact on black women who are experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles.”
For Langford, living in the reality of the mayor’s words, the idea of helping those like her is good. Though, her concern is for everybody in the Skid Row community.
“I think there’s also people who don’t have those kinds of problems that need help getting off the street also as well,” Langford said.
Homelessness is an epidemic the city of Los Angeles won’t be walking away from anytime soon.