Skid Row

Older Comments on Skid Row

• Posted 03/15/11 by rixmohay or mohay rix
  I also went undercover in various homeless areas by the leading of God (keep the religious flaming down please) and am being led to create some practical solutions with other like minded people with the guidance of God. Truthfully I found out that I had developed prejudices against the homeless that were revealed to me. My heart was touched and am I have learned compassion and love for this population. A new breed of homeless are emerging after the mortgage and outsourcing that led to the lack of jobs as well as disasters. My research is showing many possible solutions and it is my time to act. Of course this will involve others who care also to make an impact. I live in N. California where there are now tent cities sanctioned by the government in response to the nations highest foreclosures in any area and is a place for myself to work from but have been given some insight that could possibly work world wide. As of yet I have not been able to obtain the computer skills to set up a website. I am including an email address that I pray that the moderators of this site will allow to connect with anyone who would like to be a part of providing solutions. I have talked extensively with many homeless people and have identified their perspectives on what is not working. I am easily found through Internet search engines as I use a unique name. After being wealthy and semi famous I am just as liable to become homeless as illness struck me, having everyone turn their backs on me. I was partially healed and blessed with a comfortable disability and retirement income but could go homeless myself if my benefits are discontinued by those looking to increase their profits. I seek no personal gain or monies at this point but am seeking others to discuss possibilities at this time. All are welcome to participate by using problem solving and think tank principals (myself I will act on the leading of the God I know) and spiritual orientation is not an issue. I am aware of at least one unmentioned solution that was implimented after the release of this film and will be contacting the agencies listed in the film to glean what I can from them. Contact me at mohayrix@gmail.com using HOMELESS SOLUTIONS in the subject line and I will get back ASAP.God bless those who have been given a desire and vision to effectively help give a hand up to those who need help in a terrifying environment.
• Posted 01/27/11 by Diana
  I would like to thank Pras and the others for taking out the time to make this something that is known throughout USA.Its sad to see and its even more heart wrenching when financially it is nothing you can do to help. My prayers go out to those that are homeless, struggling with an addiction or someone who has just fell upon badluck and not yet has found his/her way. People like Pras are beautiful in every way and our world is blessed to have you.
• Posted 01/02/11 by Dani
  As the rich get richer, the poor get poorer. There has to be a balance. There has to be chorus, Of change for the better Before this place destroys us. Always keep your defense. As the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, but.. Why at so many peoples' expense?
• Posted 06/02/10 by ian
  Actually you have some incorrect information. midnight mission was not the first mission in Los Angeles. The first and Oldest is Union Rescue Mission established 1891, 22 years before midnight mission. pleas check it out for yourself. www.urm.org Also Union Rescue Mission house Men, Women & children
• Posted 04/21/10 by Ken
  I was sad because I had no shoes... Then I met a man who had no feet. This film was a reminder to me that no matter how bad off you think you are someone else is worse off.
• Posted 01/10/10 by agsdiamond
  What an amazingly informational documentary. Props to Pras and co. for doing this and informing us all that this occurs (only 8 MILES away from one of the richest places to live in the world - Beverly Hills)! I accidentally got of a bus once a bit too late and ended up in Skid Row, i was petrified! I put my cell phone in my sock, covered my polo tshirt with my arm and practically ran out of there! I know it sounds pretty prejudice but society sometimes makes you feel that way... this doc really makes you think twice about it... Worth seeing it! Very good!
• Posted 12/30/09 by Mark
  He turns down food after he tells a lady he is a vegetarian, and then goes and begs money to buy grilled chicken at a hotel restaurant. Whatever.
• Posted 12/15/09 by WHY IS GOOD WORK HIDDEN?
  ANOTHER SHINNING EXAMPLE OF THE LACK OF PRESS & PRAISE FOR ARTISTS AND FILM MAKERS WHO DELIVER ORIGINAL, SOULFUL CONTENT. SCREW THE NEXT SCARLETT JOHANSEN, BEN STILLER OR BRAD PITT MOVIE, THIS IS WHAT FILM IS REALLY ABOUT - THE HUMAN STORY.
• Posted 12/05/09 by boredwell
  Pras, lead singer of the Fugees, spends 10 "daze" living as a homeless person in downtown LA, an area populated with 11,000 people who live on the streets. The statistics stagger the mind: an estimated 88-91,000 people are homeless in America's 2nd largest city, the 6th wealthiest city on the planet! This doc is difficult to watch let alone comprehend. As Pras says summing up his visceral experience - educate yourself, the issues are complex but something's got to be done to alleviate this human tragedy. A policeman whose beat is skid row advises us not to judge, try to understand and above all be compassionate.
• Posted 11/28/09 by randy
  I have been homeless myself, mostly because of my own choices. The kind of help I needed could not be solved with anything physical. I just made bad choices. What we really have is a mental health problem, not a homeless problem.
• Posted 11/17/09 by shaaronie
  I stopped watching after Pras complained about not being able to use one of his many cell phones. I realized I didn't need to watch these people experience poverty to realize that it is a shameful commentary on our society as a whole. Homelessness and poverty are caused by greed, selfishness and the unwillingness to share. I watched a documentary yesterday called "Meet the Natives" about a tribe of Islanders who come to England to document how we live in the West. They didn't understand homelessness and poverty. Their philosophy was that human life was valuable before all things. Here we value our things before human life. Even our pets are treated better than other humans. It was a real eye opener.
• Posted 11/08/09 by recovered
  I spent time on Skid Row in my addiction. A college educated heath care professional turned Skid Row drug addict turned woman in recovery. It is brutal out there under the 6th street bridge ... the Midnight Mission is a great place but a mess. This guy know NOTHING of what it is like. I should have made this film
• Posted 11/05/09 by ANGELICQUE
  Just shows you how "invisible" this situation is to those who could actually make a difference. Needs to be done by someone who actually has a phone to make calls for possible change. I say WOW... Takes a lot of heart to trade a five star hotel for a street and a tent... Just to bring awareness? Wow
• Posted 11/01/09 by William
  This guy, Pras, has nothing of substance to say here. He shares nothing with the viewer. He pretends that's he's homeless, says it's rough, then goes back to his own life. There were a few parts that I had to watch twice, because I couldn't believe someone could say something so stupid. What made him most upset during his "homelessness" was not having a phone and not being able to contact his agent. This is a celebrity vanity project. Don't waste your time. I wish I hadn't.
• Posted 11/01/09 by William
  This guy, Pras, has nothing of substance to say here. He shares nothing with the viewer. He pretends that's he's homeless, says it's rough, then goes back to his own life. There were a few parts that I had to watch twice, because I couldn't believe someone could say something so stupid. What made him most upset during his "homelessness" was not having a phone and not being able to contact his agent. This is a celebrity vanity project. Don't waste your time. I wish I hadn't.
• Posted 10/11/09 by Shine
  To: Rameses, Great job! 18 months is nothing to sneeze at and I wish you further success. Keep going strong, I know you can make it... keep up the faith and keep believing in yourself! ~Shine~
• Posted 09/10/09 by Joe Bennett
  There's a skid row in every major city in the united states this is not only a urban problem it's a people problem ,that cross every racial background.People with no hope or direction will fail. No home, no health care, no jobs our goveremnet need to step in and do more to help the downtrodden when we fail the least of us we fail everyone. The law of nature is to survive at any cost so the have nots will do what it take by any means necessary. The cycle will only repeat itself until hope is restored to the souls that are lost. The population of the city I reside is 83,000 you could not fit every homeless person in LA county into my city and that in it self is sad a whole city of homeless people. When you have people living in home with marbles floors and gold plated faucets.Wake up people we have our priority in the wrong places.TOGETHER WE STAND DIVIDE WE FALL
• Posted 08/31/09 by Rameses
  This is the most accurate portrayal of homelessness/drug life on the street that I have ever seen. I would recomend it to anyone going into the human services fields. The film pulls no punches. The experts interviewed REALLY know their fields. This film gives it to you STRAIGHT, with no bull. I needed to watch this film because it reminded me how bad things got. After spending four years addicted to crack cocaine I ended up homeless on the streets of Phoenix. I have seen man's inhumanity to man and want to forget it. I've been clean for 18 months thanks to rehab and a 12 step program. Thank you Pras Michel for this accurate portrayal of homelessness. I needed to be reminded how bad it gets so I won't let it get that way again.
• Posted 08/29/09 by Brandon
  Touching...
• Posted 08/26/09 by reed
  Something that this film didn't touch on but would have ended up devoting a whole other film to is mental disease in the homeless. It's so closely tied in to the drugs and the family problems that it would be hard to sort out though so i understand why he kept tight on his mission. I am at a loss when people say why doesn't this person or that person just get a job? It's not so easy if you suffer from schizophrenia or any other disorder that can put you out of touch with reality. The diseases of drugs, abuse, and mental disorders are so deep, how can you just walk in some place and get work - and even if you got lucky how blessed would you have to be to get an employer who would understand your background and do what he could to help? Also just to put this out there: there is a drug called ibogaine (very illegal here) that is used in Africa for ritual purposes and it is reported to have astonishing effects of curing heroin addiction. Canadian hospitals are starting to use it for addicts - people report being able to wake up the next day not feeling sick and not needing a fix for the first time. - it takes their own volition to not go back, but the drug seems to have many success stories.
• Posted 08/23/09 by ChuckDadddy
  WOW! We are so blessed and we take so many things for granted but the truth is many of us are only 2 or three pay checks away from being on skid row. I thank God that it's not me and prayerfully it never will be. We all as a society do have some level of responsibility to help the homeless in some way shape or form because it could be us on the other end of the spectrum and we would want someone to help us. I'm impressed by Pras's willingness to be the eyes to expose this. Most people wouldn't last one hour, never mind nine days
• Posted 08/23/09 by GUy
  wow irishman, can you be anymore of a caveman? the guy expressed his opinion in an intelligent way you're just a complete fool
• Posted 08/22/09 by irishman
  Very sad film. Could happen to anyone. To the first poster tim, I would punch you in your face for such an ignorant world view.
• Posted 08/11/09 by Tim
  The land of opportunities. Sigh. Today, a black homeless man (nothing against the black people; I would to the same to a white man too). He asked me to spare some change and that he could buy a sandwich. I told him, "This is America". I came here as a immigrant; 2nd generation. Somehow we made it to the better future we wished for many years ago. A well rounded life; a good education; most of all a better future. I know there is prejudice in this country, especially towards minorities, but if I could make it why couldn't people who are just as capable as me or other immigrant make it. Of course i understand that there are different aspects of it (mental illness, family and society influence), but if on a equal scale if people who are homeless could not make it, I'm not willing to give out money. If he asked me differently, could you help me buy this book or could help me buy some cloth for job interview; I would gladly help him. I know there are factors of the society too. Instead of just serving food, why not put more money into rehabilitation or skill or even education programs. Maybe it could much more helpful. Tim : life is a beautiful struggle.
• Posted 07/11/09 by tara
    I lived in a homeless shelter for women and children for three years.  I was white--30 years old pregnant and a battered woman with sever depression.  My family threw me away when I wouldnt marry the investment banker who was abusing me. I had a family history of mental illness and addiction.  I was severely beaten as a child and mentally abused.  I was raped at 17 and never developed any relationships.........  The women I saw were also mentally ill--or abused or basically the women society cant stand--they  are the women that make othe womens skin crawl--the ones the trophy wives of Westchater New York secretly fear becoming--they walk the streets of White Plains New York every day and night--doing drugs--hustling out of craigslist--prostitution,etc.  It wasnt until my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer did she see the fatality of my disease--- that she realized the world doesnt want the weak--that there was no magic wand or fairytale ending to mental illness--she left a two bedroom apartment to me--but being homeless, sleeping in my car made me feel more alive--an adreniline rush to jump my depression.  The stigmitazion of the mentally ill is appalling.  These people will never live intact with out management.  Society would rather pay for drugs and drug treatments than mental illness services.  When my neighbors found out I had been hospitalized they shunned me--even thought today I live in a beautiful two bedroom coop aparmtent--shop at Ann Taylor and date men who take me to four star restaurants.................they dont know I was homeless and if I tell them they will leave me.......Its the fear of those other people that untreated people cant stand.And oddly sometimes.......even thought I am symptom free and independant due to time, therapy and postive environment...I still wish I could hang out on a park bench all night and drink even when I am in a nice restaurant.  I still miss the independence of sleeping in my car.  The feeling that the world belonged to me--the safety of being homless sometimes feels better than the danger at home.
• Posted 06/25/09 by Elizabeth
  Excellent wake up call to everyone! another good insight into skid row is thru the Chatholic Agitator, they are right there providing as much as poss. for the people on skid.
• Posted 06/22/09 by Jenny
  Love one another, thus saith the Savior. People obey the Father's blessed command. Love one another, thus saith the Savior. People obey the blessed command.
• Posted 04/23/09 by Hazel
  I am so moved after watching this film. I have so much respect for Pras for putting his life on the line to make this documentary. I live 20 minutes away from Skid Row and never even thought much about it until I watched this. I am dumbfounded as to why we let this occur each day. I feel so bad for the homeless and mad at myself for choosing to ignore this problem.
• Posted 04/19/09 by LM
  This documentary was moving, educational, inspiring, and so raw.....Words can't express how my heart hurt after seeing and hearing what I saw in this documentary....Its refreshing to know that a celebrity could humble himself to do what Pras did....Any celebrity with the proper training could play this part in a movie....But it takes so much more heart and selfless pride to go to Skid Row....Knowing that some people wont watch it becuse its to real....But Pras still did it knowing that he wouldnt get money for this....Its sad to say but sum celebrities only do things (that we look at as humbling and helpful) because of the money or things that they may get out of it...How many celbrities have you seen bring awareness to issues that either paid them to be their spokeperson? Much love and respect to Pras and the team that helped in this project....
• Posted 04/17/09 by Jess
  I just want to say that this documentary has totally changed my entire perspective of the homeless population. I cannot believe how rough the streets of LA are. I am so glad that I took the time to learn about this place. I found it interesting that even though Pras knew he had the hope of getting out of Skid Row soon, you could still see him begin to despair after being in that environment. I feel like he is really brave to do something like that. It was pretty effed up that the crew wouldn't switch the van for some other vehicle for a while so they didn't compromise him. I hope that celebrities that are so concerned with other countries and getting babies from them will take a second to realize what is happening right under their noses in the very same county.
• Posted 04/09/09 by Thomas
  Lived and drank wine in LA skidrow back in early 70's.
• Posted 04/08/09 by Gary
  I try to download and all I get are the commercials??
• Posted 03/12/09 by Victoria
  This was a very powerfull documentary.I think after you watch this you will see these people could be your family or neighbors.Very sad yet very educational
• Posted 03/01/09 by blah
  and just how much are you doing about it desaree? The idea is change is within us all and if you do your bit, then something can be done.
• Posted 02/13/09 by anthony
  skid row
• Posted 11/28/08 by matthew
  thought it to be very informative until of course it stopped 10 minutes in and started over..... that was frustrating!
• Posted 11/02/08 by desaree
  Barack and McCain could care less about this or anything one or thing outside of "their" world... Specially McCain. This wont change nothing will change it nobody will change it!! It will grow but not change!! Big Props to Paus and crew for laying it on the line like this!
• Posted 10/31/08 by chris
  please watch this video it 95mins but worth every min .
• Posted 10/15/08 by Asia
  I viewed a screening for this on my college campus and it was the realest and best documentary that anyone has put out there. It's about time that a celebrity was this active in putting a face on homelessness. Pras deserves his props for this as well as the producer, Rob. Both of them came to my school and spoke after the screening and it was nice to see that they didn't sugar coat their lives. Pras was honest about what happened before, during, and after the documentary.
• Posted 09/19/08 by Phillip
  Let Barack and McCain see this. Maybe they then can fully understand the reality of what needs to be done
• Posted 08/27/08 by Linda Nelson
  This is a quote from the blog of one of the people who saw this film in Denver Sunday night: "The film was incredible- heart breaking, gut-wrenching, sickening, overwhelming, and hopeless. Pras’s mission wasn’t to tell us how to fix the problem, but bring it to our attention. I give it 5+/5 stars. Not only did Pras have the balls to go out and document this, it was beautifully done." Read the whole blog at: http://mntnlover77.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/movie-review-skid-row/ This film needs to be seen by everyone, before they vote.
• Posted 08/27/08 by Malestrom
  http://nourf.homestead.com/
• Posted 08/27/08 by Malestrom
  I lived on Skid Row in 1981 for a night. I couldn't deal with it so I moved towards the beachs like Santa Monica and Venice. I lived in a subterranean parking garage behind an industrial size grass catcher sleeping on Styrofoam on Wilshire Boulevard near the Ambassador Hotel and the Old Brown Derby. I had a job catering lunches to office buildings. I met the actor Lawrence Fishburne on the streets of LA and took him in to meet my boss so he could get a job with me. I would get eaten by sand fleas and bugs all night and eat every day at McDonalds till I got a room mate. I slept under bridges and in elevator shafts. In abandoned cars and in dirt pits. I didn't do drugs and worked till I hitch hiked home back to Washington DC. I also worked on the Show Case for Capitol Records at the Debut of The Fugees and Wycliffe Jean while living homeless in Washington DC, when they debuted at BET TV. I just got a home in October 2007 after spending 5 years of the last 10 on the street due to a work related accident and my fiancee leaving me. I have been poor all my life so I know what it's like.
• Posted 08/27/08 by Malestrom
  I lived on Skid Row in 1981 for a night. I couldn't deal with it so I moved towards the beachs like Santa Monica and Venice. I lived in a subterranean parking garage behind an industrial size grass catcher sleeping on Styrofoam on Wilshire Boulevard near the Ambassador Hotel and the Old Brown Derby. I had a job catering lunches to office buildings. I met the actor Lawrence Fishburne on the streets of LA and took him in to meet my boss so he could get a job with me. I would get eaten by sand fleas and bugs all night and eat every day at McDonalds till I got a room mate. I slept under bridges and in elevator shafts. In abandoned cars and in dirt pits. I didn't do drugs and worked till I hitch hiked home back to Washington DC.
• Posted 08/26/08 by Bob Alexander
  SKID ROW played at the Harkins Theater in Denver near the DNC convention site on Sunday afternoon, just before yesterday's Convention opening. The President of the Harkins Theater chain, Jim Harkins, welcomed over 100 attendees to the screening, which was followed by a half hour Q&A;with Pras. Subsequently, we all went to a reception at the restaurant next door. The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and the LA Homeless Shelter were co-organizers and sponsors of the event, along with IndiePix, the Harkins Theaters, and Nelson-Madison Films. While Universal Home Video has the bricks-and-mortar distribution rights, Nelson-Madison Films and IndiePix Films are handling the on-line, activist and educational market release on DVD. The Activist Edition, which gives those who are inspired to do something about homelessness a screening license and materials to support a fundraiser, is available from Jason@indiepix.net.
• Posted 07/17/08 by Linda Nelson
  If you see any social documentary this year, see this film. Homelessness is a growing crisis and we can all make an impact. Snag the film, spread the word and if you really want to do something, host a screening at your home, school, church or community group. It's easy - go to BRAVE NEW THEATER and find out how easy it is. Everything you need is there. Their site is: http://skidrow.bravenewtheaters.com