Community Corner

Pauline: Homeless in Sherman Oaks

Calling the streets of Sherman Oaks her home, Pauline refuses to move to L.A.'s Skid Row. 'That area is dangerous,' she says.

Nobody has actually counted the number of homeless people living on the streets of Sherman Oaks. Most of them are men, but several women also appear to be living on sidewalks and in the alleys around the busy intersection of Ventura and Van Nuys boulevards.

One of those homeless women is 49-year-old Pauline. She declined to provide her last name.

"I usually sleep in the Citibank doorway, or inside the dry cleaning storefront," said Pauline, who was sitting in the walkway in front of the CVS Pharmacy on Ventura Boulevard.

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"But it depends on the weather. Being a woman, I need to be safe and seen. I don't sleep inside buildings or alleys or any place where somebody can get at me without me being able to get out."

On windy days, Pauline is dressed in a mustard-colored army jacket, over a sweatshirt with sweatpants that are loose-fitting.

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Pauline has been homeless for the past five years, she said. She moved to Sherman Oaks about a year ago.

"They don't have any shelters or food pantries in Sherman Oaks, which makes it harder," said Pauline.

Some people going in and out of the busy pharmacy seem to acknowledge her. Some nod hello and give her money.

Why doesn't Pauline move to the downtown area of Los Angeles where there are a number of full-service shelters that provide two meals a day and a bed indoors at night?

"That area is dangerous. A lot of drugs and violence in the Skid Row area. I don't want any part of that," she said, waving her hand.

Pauline's major possession is a green bycycle which she had chained to a post in front of the store.

"I also have a blanket and sleeping bag that I have hidden. At night I go get them and find a place to sleep, usually at the bank or by Best Buy."

Some Sherman Oaks residents have complained about a number of homeless people sleeping in the three-story garage next to the Best Buy store on Van Nuys Boulevard.

LAPD Senior Lead Officer George Aguilar said he has received a large number of complaints about a transient man with many shopping carts who has been hovering near the corner of Van Nuys Boulevard and Moorpark Street, across from the Best Buy.

"The man is well-known to police; he has rejected all social service referrals," Aguilar said. "He has been a fixture in the Van Nuys Division for several years and we are working on the situation," he added.

Still there have been no complaints about Pauline, who said she wants to create an entity in Sherman Oaks that would care for the homeless.

"I want to call it 'Not A Shame.' It means it's not a shame what you've done or where you've been. We need to have a food pantry here," she said.

"I've done drugs and I'm not ashamed to admit it."

Pauline said she was born and raised in the Midwest, she is still married and occasionally sees her husband, who is also homeless. They have no children.

The homeless woman has come to be regarded as part of the neighborhood.

"I'm not the only person hurting here," said Pauline, getting up from the concrete and walking toward her bike.

"There's a lot of people in those big houses in the hills who need help, they shouldn't be too proud to ask for it," added Pauline, walking away.


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