San Diego homeless woman boasts about receiving free phones, food and clothes
A homeless woman in San Diego’s neighborhood known as the Bottoms said she believes she and other vagrants are ‘spoiled’ by the city with free phones and other resources.
Marine Corps veteran Kate Monroe shared video of her talking with several homeless people in the area, one of whom, Mary, described the situation as ‘not that hard.’
‘I think we’re spoiled to be honest with you,’ the woman added while talking with Monroe. ‘My sister’s like, “Where do I sign up?”‘
According to recent estimates, San Diego has more than 2,000 individuals living on the streets in tents and encampments.
On Tuesday, the San Diego City Council was slated to vote on a proposed ‘Unsafe Camping Ordinance,’ which has been described as a homeless camping ban.
Mary, a homeless woman in San Diego’s neighborhood known as the Bottoms, said she believes she and other vagrants are ‘spoiled’ by the city with free phones and other resources
Marine Corps veteran Kate Monroe recently visited the Bottoms and spoke with homeless individuals about their experience living outside in downtown San Diego
According to recent estimates, San Diego has more than 2,000 individuals living on the streets in tents and encampments throughout the area
Monroe spoke with Fox News Digital about the situation in the area she walked through, saying she stepped around hypodermic needles to talk with locals.
Other shocking sights found at the scene included human waste.
‘I have witnessed what I think is some of the worst homelessness in the country,’ Monroe told Fox of the city she has called home for 20 years.
Despite the conditions, Mary said that she and other vagrants receive access to resources that some might view as enviable.
‘Usually we’re low income and when you’re low income, you get free phones, free food, free clothing, there’s so many resources that are just give and give and give,’ the homeless woman said.
Others who spoke with Monroe did not agree with Mary’s description, however, saying they have seen sexual assaults, robberies, and brutal beatings.
‘This ain’t easy, being out here,’ one man who talked with the Marine vet said.
Monroe, who is the CEO of a San Diego business that helps homeless veterans, said the situation is dire in the area, which is located downtown.
‘Forget that it’s in San Diego. It doesn’t look like it’s in America,’ she said. ‘There’s so much trash and human waste and garbage and just the stench of it.’
‘Usually we’re low income and when you’re low income, you get free phones, free food, free clothing, there’s so many resources that are just give and give and give,’ Mary said
‘This ain’t easy, being out here,’ one man who talked with the Marine vet said
‘I have witnessed what I think is some of the worst homelessness in the country,’ Monroe told Fox of the city she has called home for 20 years
While walking the area, Monroe said she avoided human waste and hypodermic needles
Anthony, another homeless person Dahlgren and Monroe talked to, said he had been living on and off the streets for nearly 25 years.
He blamed local politicians for failing to solve the crisis.
‘They throw money at the problem but they kinda gotta get their hands dirty to really find out what the people really need,’ Anthony said.
In April, data released by the Downtown San Diego Partnership revealed that more people were living outside this year than in the last 10 years.
Portland homeless advocate Kevin Dahlgren joined Monroe on her recent trip to the Bottoms and said he was ‘shocked by how bad it is there.’
‘A lot of these counties are simply hiding the problem and convincing people that it’s really not that bad. And it’s usually cities that rely heavily on tourism,’ he said.
Monroe said that she believes San Diego does not get enough attention for its homeless crisis and therefore do not feel the pressure to address it.
She also added that she believes city leaders have gotten away with ‘just sweeping it under the rug.’
Anthony, another homeless person Dahlgren and Monroe talked to, said he had been living on and off the streets for nearly 25 years
In April, data released by the Downtown San Diego Partnership revealed that more people were living outside this year than in the last 10 years
The Bottoms is an area located in downtown San Diego, near Petco Park
On Tuesday, the San Diego City Council was slated to vote on a proposed ‘Unsafe Camping Ordinance,’ which has been described as a homeless camping ban
The shocking video shared with FOX was released just hours before the San Diego City Council voted on a ban against tents on the streets.
The encampments would be outlawed near schools, homeless shelters, transit stations, waterways or in parks.
The plan has fostered support from San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria who has shared his belief that the city needs safer and more hygienic streets.
‘They expect to be able to walk on sidewalks unobstructed, they expect to be able to get their children to school safely, they expect to be able to use our parks in a hygienic and clean and safe way,’ Mayor Gloria said.