Inside Skid Row - With Soft White Underbelly’s Mark Laita 🇺🇸
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- čas přidán 19. 03. 2022
- Skid Row in Los Angeles is notorious for open air drug usage, tents on the streets, and crime. Today we meet up with Mark Laita, the creator behind the CZcams channel Soft White Underbelly to get a better understanding of why people fall victim to the streets, why most won’t leave, and what’s the solution to this growing problem in American cities.
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Check out Mark's channel here: czcams.com/channels/Cvcd0FYi58LwyTQP9LITpA.htmlvideos
Luv SWU ,, thx mark !
Two of the best channels to get insights.
I think we need to be careful when generalizing and making a spectacle of people. Mental health is obviously a significant problem that needs to be addressed in our society, but some people choose this lifestyle. It's not uncommon to find people who came from stable homes, but still ended up homeless addicts. One of the hardest things about getting clean and reentering polite society is the unbearable boredom by comparison. I'm certainly not advocating this lifestyle, but you don't understand it by walking through skid row or interviewing someone who's suddenly in an unfamiliar environment being asked very personal questions.
We love you Mark. The work you do is amazing.
hey Peter you should come down to east Hastings Vancouver b.c. its skid row also I could show you around brother
My birth mother is on skid row. She immigrated from South Korea to California in the 80s through marriage. Somehow she got to Buffalo, NY and gave birth to me. She was diagnosed with schizophrenia and struggles with addiction. My parents told me this information when I was old enough to know. They also told me that the county was about to take away her right to choose private adoption because she was "mentally unfit." Her doctor fought hard for her and she was able to meet my parents and choose for herself. Thank god, because I would've ended up in foster care. I looked up her information a few years ago, it says she's back in California. There was a list of all the missions on skid row she stayed at. I just a want to give her a hug and help her. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be where I am today. She knew she wanted to give me a better life. Hopefully she's in a better situation. I hope I find her someday.
🙏♥️👍
LA resident here, let me know if I can help in some way!
God bless you both. 🙏
All love to you and your mum ✨🙏✨
Maybe contact Mark. Maybe he can help you get In touch with your birth mother xxx good luck and well done in your life! X
As a millennial I don’t know a single person who wanted a participation trophy. The purpose of those was not to make the children happy, but to pacify our insane parents (collectively) who couldn’t handle their child not being a winner..
As a millennial I know plenty of people who wanted a participation trophy. If they lose it’s everybody fault but their own
Mic drop 🎤 I like it 👍
The “participation award” is the outcome of our societal construct trying to change itself.
We are learning to become more empathetic, as a whole…and are still somewhat figuring it out.
“Dunning Kruger Effect” explains it pretty well, however I also blame reality TV and getting rid of the school bully.
Regardless….we’ll all be just fine.
Old dudes have been complaining for the “youth of today”, literally for thousands of years.
It always works out just fine.
“The children now love luxury; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are tyrants, not servants of the households. They no longer rise when their elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize over their teachers.”
Socrates 450 BC
Yeah that was some bogus media propaganda. Id never seen an example of that. And i also agree if it did happen it was because the parents spoke up and complained.
I hate how boomers act like participation weren’t around pre 1990s. My dad has some from his school from the 70s (bowling tournament and Newspaper competition participation trophies) in his office.
I worked with homeless people in my hometown of Berlin/Germany for a while and it's the same issue. No one was on the street because of laziness or something like that. They all had severe mental health issues, stemming from a wide variety of reasons, but mostly childhood trauma.
whatever was going on there in Germany, is nothing compared to this dumpster fire. 😂
@@edwardsmith1060 I know you have more homeless over there, but I wouldn't call 10,000 homeless people in my hometown nothing.
@@edwardsmith1060 german homeless rates are similar to america. I admit california is bad but overall america and germany are similar
@edwardsmith1060 so super funny, right Eddie
If you watched the video he does say it’s because of laziness.
I have followed Mark and his work for years and people really have no idea just how much he has done and continues to do daily.
And how much money he’s making.
@@TeenywingI jus saw a video today done on the Whittetakers from Appalachia I believe was the area and he had a bunch of go fund me's going on to help them get a decent house and They said that 159,000 proly more was raised and these ppl are yet to get the house?????? Ppl donate for the cause and wanna know it's going to the right place! 10:07 !
He's right in that the deepest layer is Love.
Somebody intimately close to me became detached and alienated from everybody they knew and had once gotten love from. They gave up on their self completely. Sleeping in a park, selling their body for drugs and begging strangers to acquire basic necessities.
It wasn't until someone in their family started visiting them regularly, just getting lunch with them, and just spending time with them- despite their circumstances and condition. Telling them they loved them and cared about them, saw their worth. Just showing them they matter still. No strings attached, not even any giving of money or anything.
It's not always this simple obviously but this person fairly quickly turned right around, went into (free program) rehab (CA has it) and has been sober and living a healthy life again for 6 years now.
Who gives a fuck about taking care of their self when nobody who once loved you even cares to come look at you in the eyes?
Itd be a shot in the dark but a softwhite underbelly paradoy seems plausible from your camp!
100% man. It can take a little more than love sometimes, but without love, those other things won't work.
Love your content btw. Hadn't watched in a while with all the content out there and how the algorithm works, so it's cool to see your channel still growing.
It's mostly the family courts systems attack on fathers fueled by left wing endless compassion ideology that is the root of the problem.
@@BEEENGONE bro I'm way ahead of you hahah I'm happy you thought of this
@@outdoorloser4340 the fathers can always go after joint or full custody. They don’t want to but they’ll definitely play victim
My favorite thing about Mark is how he always keeps an unbiased calm demeanor even when he's being screwed over.
Love your comment but your name is fire.
@@juliemay5117 Thanks sis.
He is a really nice guy
What do you mean by being screwed over.?
@@Freetheebees Hes been scammed out of thousands by some of the people he helps out from his interviews. This one girl whose name I forget who was young with kids and she was turning tricks and he wanted to help her get an apartment for her kids that's safe. He started helping her out with money and not some small $50 or a $100 here and there, he was giving her thousands sometimes multiple times per day.
Come to find out the money was all going to her pimp. He wasn't even mad at her he just wanted to know why.
From the outside we looked like the perfect family. Dad was a lawyer, mum was the housewife only behind closed doors she's a narcissistic bully and both my brother and I are fighting addiction issues. Drugs don't discriminate and anyone can end up on the street so be thankful for what you have.
I don't want to "like" this, but I agree with you. I hope you're healing.
@Kiki-D-Kimono that's OK I understand andnom doing great I've got 5 years clean now my brothers still struggling with alcohol but we're there for him. He took loosing our dad really badly. Thank you for your kind comment ❤️
My mother was also a big hypocrite and bully! I was her target 🎯. I suffered through drug use and addiction, which has been decades ago. I decided to give it up and live my life healthy!
Trauma can only lead to addiction if the individual allows it to. I was homeless and never turned to drugs or alcohol. Had such a traumatic childhood that my innate potential was suppressed to the point of lifelong emotional disability, even becoming homeless due to an impaired functioning ability. And, yet, never turned to drugs or alcohol!
I grew up with tons of childhood trauma, no father, neglect by drug addict single mother. It messes you up for life, and you never feel good enough. I've been mentally strong and rose above my dysfunctional family.
Kudos you're a rare person
Congrats, to you! My story is similar, had every reason in the world to get addicted, yet never did, even while homeless due to an impaired functioning ability. Trauma can only lead to drug addiction if the individual allows it to.
Good for you but not all are strong enough and need help
I was going down that path, incest abuse survivor, SRA survivor, etc. Started doing drugs around 12, on my own by 16 and was an opiate addict by 17. I couldn't handle loosing my friends and going through even more traumatic experiences. I quit cold turkey at age 20 (had to try a few times) and moved to Hawaii through a opportunity to work on an organic farm in the jungle in Hawaii, that way I knew I couldn't find drugs (very remote, no cities) I found God, I found healing and I haven't looked back since. It takes a lot of strength to save your own life, I couldn't have done it without a higher purpose.
And no snakes in that jungle. You lived
Jesus is only saviour..I was a hard boiled atheist before, drug abuse and sinned alot.
Well done 🤙🏽
Thanks be to God!
Amazing. Well done
Soooo exciting to see Mark outside the studio and hear more of his thoughts. What an epic cross over!
such a well spoken guy, his interviews are always compelling to watch
me too!
mark looks so handsome!
tall
tan
and thicc
So cool! Love his channel.
Mark has made a ton of money in commercial photography and could be doing just about whatever he wanted. Instead, he has chosen to leave a legacy, by bringing awareness to these people in these places. With awareness brings change! Thank you Mark for all you do and for being kind to all humans!
@@MamaBearhEDS He’s a legend!
I’ve heard (and based on my experience I agree) that it takes just ONE positive role model to change a child’s life trajectory. Say everyone around you is messed up but you have your one person - you have a chance. I know who my one person was. A psychologist said to me, after me explaining my past, that “it always amazes me how people like you turn out to be ok.” I know it’s because I had someone throwing me a lifeboat in the storm that was my childhood. Please, be that one shining light for a child. You don’t know what a difference it could make.
Wow! You would think policymakers, corporations and society at large would understand something this basic. It's astounding to realize that people's capacity for understanding is limited, no matter how intelligent and educated they are.
I agree 💯 % ... I took in two boys one at 5 months old the other from birth. I had 3 sons of my own. One is now 23 the other is 18. They are my son's as much as the 3 I gave birth too. My son's have come before everybody and anybody in my life including any man. Even tho I had a very long marriage and only one man in their lives he always blamed I put the kids first for his bad behavior.. but now after all these 23&18yrs I see the final product so to speak and see just how grateful and appreciative my two youngest sons are. They're well educated. I've always made time for their heads or anything that was needed and everybody says oh they were so lucky...ha no no no I WAS SO LUCKY. I AM THE BLESSED ONE HERE. Absolutely and completely. But the world has two more brilliant handsome intelligent law abiding hard working men now. 😊
@@tinamarie3653God bless you for your good heart!
Mark is a great human being. His humanity is an example to us. Thanks
When he said you’ve gotta have a D Day. A decision day. He’s absolutely right. My “d day” wasn’t so much a day, just a quick moment that changed my life. I was getting arrested for heroin and could have bailed out the next day. As surprising as it was to the CO, it was just as surprising to me when I heard myself ask him if I could just stay in jail to detox until I got over my withdrawals so I couldn’t go back and get high. It was absolute hell. But the guards/CO’s at the jail watched over me, and physically and emotionally helped me a lot. Probably because I was trying to help myself. I went to rehab right after that, and when I got out I went back to court for sentencing. I’ve been clean for 3.5 years, still on probation. But I’m thankful. Getting arrested and that split second decision to help myself was the best thing to happen to me.
In case nobody has told you this, I just want to say I am proud of you and you made such a great choice.
Tears to my eyes. Keep strong.
@Matlin Andrea, Thank you so much. I genuinely appreciate that! I guess my subconscious just saw a way out in that moment and I found a solid way to help hold myself accountable for my recovery. I’m so very grateful.
@John Baptiste, Thank you for your encouragement! It honestly does help me and other addicts as well to keep fighting for our recovery. I thank God every day for this. I prayed and begged to get out of that addiction for years. Of course I didn’t want to get arrested, but my prayers were answered right then and there.
@@dalerimoller272 i was just about to say youre extra strong for doing it without an imaginary friend but nvm
I am a 17 year old, and when I was 15 I found Mark's channel. Everyone thinks I am crazy for being enthralled to his videos, but he is the reason I am going into psychology. Mental illness has been brought to the surface, but the common ones (depression,bipolar,etc) are not the only ones people should focus on. Drug use comes from mental illness, yet drugs also ruin the receptors in your brain making it worse.
Who ever thinks your crazy by watching his videos are losers to no end lol his videos are only for people willing into explore other people's minds. Only for the intelligent
People probably think your crazy because they cant take being faced with people that are classed as the "lowest of the low" "scum" "worthless" & "beyond help"! Its being faced with the realities of this world that can help change it. Too many people are happy in their perfect bubbles and are either deliberately ignorant or genuinely unaware of the cruel and harsh world that is just steps away from them. Keep being curious and real, good luck with your future
Just be cautious in future trying to help others and listening to their problems. After so long you will need to talk to professionals regarding all the patients stories. I wish you nothing but success. I am certain you will do any extraordinary job, and be totally empathetic.
No, every modern woman is getting a degree in psychology… maybe they should use it on each other so we can get back to having feminine women.
Go for social work, not psychology. Jobs are easier to find as a social worker than a psychologist. Then get your master's. You won't make great money either way unless you go for psychiatry and unless you volunteer your time, you won't help the people who need it the most because healthcare is a complete mess. - Sincerely, a person with a masters in psychology.
4.5yrs ago I had my "D-Day"
With the clothes on my back, no friends, no family(involved) I voluntarily walked into treatment. ❤
Great content man, absolutely great!!!!
Really happy to hear Mark highlight the complexity of this issue. Homelessness is the surface level issue but there are many layers that need to be addressed to solve this. It’s overwhelming to even think about what needs to happen
I would like to see interviews from paramedics that service this area. I think it would be a different perspective and I’m sure they have seen some truly heartbreaking things as well.
That is such a great idea.
I was a medic in Albuquerque for 10 years. Meth was the thing back then, in like 2006-16. It appears that medics these days, in LA, are responding almost minute by minute to down and outs. We responded every day, but not, like, every call in a specific area. More guns and stabbings and motorcycle accidents. Trains VS people. This is just awful. And I thought I knew awful.
LAFD Fire Station 9, that serves this area is the busiest Fire Station in the United States
That's a great idea, that would be enlightening
@pabnaful the USA is huge. You can get to a middle class area in the southeast or Midwest and get a good job easy. The cost of living in cities and Southern California in general is insane. They have jobs paying people hundreds of thousand a year. Surrounded by school teachers and retail jobs. The rich basically keep up those areas. The cities have gone to crap. But america rules. We have lots of shitty places but also have lots of great places.
He’s right. Peel back the layers and it’s child abuse, trauma and neglect from the aforementioned. I put myself through a rehab, paid the whole thing and every single person there (all walks of life; wealthy with college degrees to grew up on welfare) was trying escape their childhood demons.
I have a sibling who is homeless now. Our parents should have been in prison for what they did to him.
Truly incredible. I made in through 6 months of rehab and have walked the straight and narrow for over 10 years.
We must educate the public about sociopathic parents, parents who emotionally, physically and sexually abuse and parents who are too f*ing lazy to do their job.
They destroy lives, sometimes for decades and sometimes permanently.
damn that sucks @user-ge6uo2ry2b....
100% right
Not all traumatized people become addicts
but all addicts have experienced trauma.
Dr Gabor Matte.
Thank you for your story, I hope your doing well x
❤
At one point, as a foreigner, I ended up by accident in skid row. A few hours of my life I will never forget.
Peace and love to my man Kenny who saved my life that night. Probably won’t be alive anymore, but still thinking of you.
Wow, I can’t imagine!
That must have been terrifying! Thank goodness you made it out.
I hope Kenny was able to enjoy the love he spread by helping you out…❤
I bet you'd never thought a homeless guy would save your life, everybody's got good in them somewhere. I hope Kennys still out there helping lost foreigners ❤ and I'm glad you got out in 1 piece
"By accident"...sure.
It's your lie, tell it how you want. 😂
Mark nailed it when speaking of peeling back the layers, looking behind homelessness, then behind drug use, beyond mental illness and unstable upbringing: the basis of all of that is usually a tragic lack of love in the beginning of these people’s lives.
Mark could make a Netflix series!!! I love this man, he is amazing!! Recently (two months ago) I visited 23 states of the USA and I was deeply disappointed while seeing things like these streets! I live on a small Portuguese island, where we have no problems like this. The country seems ruining slowly. It is absolutely shocking to see a "first world" country with streets that not even in some "third world" countries you would see. I hope your politicians will do something about it urgently and specially focus in prevention of drug use!
Well said sister I'm completely agree with you America getting worse day by day
By the way what is the name of the island that you came from if you don't mind me asking?
I agree, I've traveled to different countries and the saddest homelessness is in the USA
he should,
Thank democratic leadership.
@@mattalexander4699 Jesus man. How did the War on Drugs work out?? Poverty, education, drugs, abuse, disfunction etc... It's a pretty simplistic outlook to blame it on a political party.
Great interview with Mark and C-note. My dad became homeless when I as 16 due to bad luck with his job, and his alcoholism. On the weekends I would drive around to find him and take him for his favorite steak and eggs breakfast or whatever else he felt like. He lived in his van and kept himself clean, he was very meticulous in his appearance. He wasn't mentally ill, but an alcoholic who was unable to overcome some of the circumstances thrown at him. I'm pretty sure he was abused as a child as I found a letter from his older sister, she passed in her 20's, about going to this new kind of doctor called a "Psychiatrist", and that she had gone and it helped her and she knew it would help him if he went. He didn't. I think the letter was from the 1950's.
Once his unemployment ran out, he floated around state to state, for about 10 years, burning bridges with family members until he ended up back in my area with stage 4 melanoma, and that's when he descended into the abyss of alcoholism. I had to cut contact with him, he became verbally abusive with me which he had never been.
About a year or 2 later, I received a call that my dad was at the VA Hospital, and had a stroke and was close to death. I rushed down to the VA, found him unresponsive after a radiation treatment which was brutal since I thought he was already dead and I missed being able to connect with him. Somehow he woke up after I left and was started asking for me. The nurse called me and told me to rush down, and for 2 days we were able to communicate and make amends.
I'm so infinitely grateful that we were able to connect before he passed and that his passing was somewhat peaceful. Being able to connect was a wonderful gift for both of us. My dad was amazing and had crazy knowledge about everything, he was so intelligent and interesting to talk to, everyone liked him. You would never know by looking at me that I've dealt with this in my life, but it's part of who I am and probably why I have a gift of compassion for people who are down on their luck, I get it. My dad used to say, "No one can F&*K you up like family". I didn't understand that until I found that letter and then I totally got it.
I wish everyone could find a way to forgive themselves for their past actions and find peace within to heal. Good luck to all my fellow humans, we're all in this together, we are not separate. 🙏☮
Thank you for sharing Stefani ❤️
Listen, your dad was abused as a kid. It's impossible to get over for some. I understand it.
I can truly relate. Thank you for sharing 🌻🙏✌️
That’s an amazing story! I wish I’d had the chance to say goodbye to my dad, who had alcohol and drug addictions, and whom I loved dearly and was very close to, as a kid. I felt abandoned when he got in more and more trouble with drugs and the law, and would go in and out of prison. Then I grew up and knew everything, and behaved judgmentally. Later in life, I developed a lot of the same problems he had…Bipolar Disorder, addiction. I mean I’d had the Bipolar, but had avoided drugs for a long time. Later, I realized it’s not enough to know what not to do. You have to have something to replace it with. In treatment, I learned and rehearsed skills for dealing with feelings and problems and life, and I always wanted to tell my dad I am sorry and I understand. I can’t do that, because he passed away, but I can show him by telling people who still suffer that I understand addiction, I’m in recovery, and I want to help. I can still close that circle of life and make it whole, by applying what I learned from knowing my Dad to the next generation. I’m glad you got to talk with your dad in person!
P.S. I was about to say “I can help by applying what I learned from my dad to the next generation.” But my dad also taught me how to hustle cards and run cons, and penny ante schemes. So I changed it to, “what I learned from knowing him,” lol. But he actually did teach me some good lessonsp and values. A lot of people with parents who were criminals can tell you that. And I’m eternally grateful that he never taught me how to cook meth, and other things like that! As far as he knew, he was just preparing me for survival.
You sound 🤩 amazing.
As someone once living on 6th st in L.A. you did a good job showing the sad reality of homelessness and drug addiction. I was VERY lucky i only spent 6-7 months there. And never got addicted.
I appreciate this interview very much. Mark's thoughts about focusing on the youth give me some much-needed encouragement right now. I'm currently qualifying to be a foster parent but I'm a single guy, so I'm also worried about how difficult and time consuming it may be to deal with traumatized youth. I will do my best to ignore those cold feet feelings and move forward.
Hi, be trauma informed, modify your parenting skills to each individual's different needs, praise positive behavior, advocate for them, open communication, house rules. daily consistency and be present. So much more to learn. A safe and loving home, will help the process of healing!
Well done man, so inspirational!
I’m currently a child psychiatric registered nurse, but have a background in adult psych, forensic psych, and substance abuse. I switched to a pediatric specialty because I believed the work I’m doing is more meaningful and impactful at this age. As a child psych nurse, I work alongside many foster and adoptive parents.
My advice to you would be to both recognize and acknowledge your limitations. The behaviors you may be exposed to in a child coming from a neglectful, traumatic, or abusive background may be foreign, shocking, and overwhelming. Many well-intentioned people will take on the responsibility of caring for these kids; however, may not posses all the tools necessary to manage them. The best thing you can do is to know when a particular child may need more than you’re able to give. I hope you find success and fulfillment in fostering, but please don’t see it as a personal failure if you feel you can’t do “enough” for someone. You’re only one person and it often takes a village approach to undo the damage that has been inflicted upon these kids.
Edited to add: You mention being a single man. Raising a child alone is challenging in and of itself, which is much more strongly intensified if they are behaviorally challenged. You will require a strong support system (family, friends, teachers, mental health specialists, etc) for assistance. Good luck to you in all your endeavors.
May the Blessings Be 🙏🙏💙
I live in LA. This is one of the most honest and raw conversations I’ve heard about homelessness. The ugly and unpleasant root causes are all too often ignored.
which place is the worst in LA? he just posted a couple spots but hard to judge without the actual experience of living there. Do you plan to stay there or ever thinking of leaving LA or Cali ?
@@memorysometimers3067 skid row
@@memorysometimers3067 skid row takes the cake. I’m not leaving LA. I love it here. You have to remember although the homeless problem is real, this city is massive. Vast majority of LA is nothing like this. It’s regular people living normal life’s, raising families, working…. To give you some perspective, within LA city limits you can fit San Francisco, Manhattan, Boston, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, St. Louis, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis. And that's not even including neighboring cities that make up the greater Los Angeles area, like Santa Monica, Pasadena, and Beverly Hills.
@@NaProbablyNot that’s good your staying positive about it bro! Certainly is a huge city with all the different districts and whatnot. Cool, good to know the real deal! 👍🍻
@NaprobablyNot either skid row or down Figueroa street , and Venice beach but they are ' working on cleaning that up '
I interviewed with mark a while ago I'ma a drug addicted emotionally hindered homeless white guy that is addicted to fentnal. My girl and I have been on the streets of la for 8 years with nothing but jail death and misery just existing hoping that we will survive another day. One day I found mark told him my story and he seen that I had a spark of life still in me. And he showed kindness love and opportunity. I'm 43 homeless tattooed from head to toe with no education and not many choices to make a safe legal way to earn a living. He gave me an opportunity to help him with a few things regarding his videos. I bring shattered souls to share their broken lives in hopes that maybe their story might help someone maybe even themselves. He gave me hope opportunity and sense of worthiness. Mark is a beautiful human being and I'm blessed to have made it to his studio to share my embarrassing way if life and my insecurities and my desperate want for change. And he gave me purpose a sense of belonging and just a chance to help myself. I have so much respect for mark. He is a true example of love and understanding and just even if he makes a difference in 1% of people he touches it has a positive ripple effect. You never know you can touch that one person that can be someone to make a difference in many. I hope one day to be able to let him see how he made a diffence in my lil life. Unconditional love is the most powerful energy in the universe.
Billy
Amen!
Billy thank you for sharing your story on the platform. We all have a story in this thing called life, and your story can help uplift someone too! No matter what stones life my throw your way, you gotta keep pushing through. Dark clouds are temporary…..the sun is out more than clouds. ❤️
Jesus Christ can give you that, friend! Keep your head up!
Billy...you sound quite capable and articulate. No glaring misspellings and grammatically correct wording in your post. So what's the real problem??
So glad to see Mark from a different angle. Thank you+
You guys didn't notice but you walked right by beauty to the streets which I think is an amazing way to provide for the homeless community. It's not always about solving the problem cause that can take many years; but it's also about meeting people where they are. Beauty to the streets gives the dignity and respect back to people. I encourage you all to look into it its a truly wonderful program.
Ah! Just saw it! 13:38 mark! So cool! That would be a dope crossover. I love Mark’s channel and I love Beauty to the Streets.
Meet them where they are at. Spot on. A lived experience that can keep people alive until their decision day.
Mark needs to be interviewed more. He brings such awareness to the strife of these people. He rehumanizes and brings some understanding to this population.
I agree. I feel like he was born to be a bridge between two ways of life
Someone needs to make a doco and have him in it.
He said he doesn’t like being in front of the camera elsewhere
Mark is deserving of respect and appreciation. He is a gift to this world!
@@sulagreen5792 He helps a lot of them directly. But he is trying to spread the word of the struggles of people, in this society or as a human in general. A lot of his interviews can help most people to get a real perspective on what a big part of the vulnerable people in society are. Their trauma and following issues can be seen in similar ways wherever you go in the world. And this is sadly something most people know hardly anything about. My point is that even if there is bias on his end, and he is far from perfect in his perspectives. But this adds to giving a perspective that probably a lot people have that comes from ignorance.
It's so expensive to fix a broken person.. that's why PREVENTING child hood abvse and saving the children is SO SO important!!!!
How about pushing transgenderism, and drag story time??? That will help won’t it?
And why we need breeding laws. If you cannot support yourself you have no business bringing another life on the planet.
@@repetemyname842 oooh nice, we have monetary eugenics in the chat. you do realize someone can be poor and be a loving, supportive parent while a rich parent can be absent or abusive? ridiculous and dangerous simplifications you're dealing in.
@@oldmoviemusic Never said they couldnt. But its simple math that says if you cannot provide food and housing for yourself you are going to struggle mightily caring for more mouths.
There's no such thing as a broken person, just a different perspective you whiny coward!
Mark and Peter by shining a light on the homelessness problem you are definitely helping! Since watching your videos I have started volunteering with a charity in my neighborhood in Canada that helps the homeless. Thank you both and God Bless you both ❤🙏🏼
Mark, you are 100% spot on. I’m a recovering addict living a little north of Boston. Kids are born into this for the most part. Keep doing what you are doing it absolutely is a start.
Wow that's a fact my dad was in prison my whole childhood till I was 15 my mom was on drugs and just destroyed my life I ended up finally getting myself together after my mom died and I realized that wasn't the way to live thank God I have 5 yrs 3 month's sober now I'm 33 got sober at 28
I fully believe what Mark said at the beginning of this video about the lack of love being pretty much the root problem. And not just for the homeless, but anyone really.
I’m grateful for how things are going for you!
God bless you.
Thank God you are an overcomer! He loves you and I love humans period. I'm commanded to by Jesus. I grew up in alcoholism and abuse. It is not easy to get free! God bless you!❤🙏🤗🕊
🍀🍀🍀 sending love to you
Respect you.
You were dealt a tough hand and it would have been very easy to fold and live a life where you numbed your feeling. Much tougher to lift yourself out and staying sober and living life.
One day at a time. Keep at it.
I was stuck in the homeless lifestyle for around 20 years off and on, mostly alcoholism and it was a perpetual downward spiral that I just couldn’t seem to pull myself out of. I was homeless in California in the early 1970s where I was dumped on the side of a highway somewhere in L.A. after an overdose at a party and left to die. I’ve been sober now for 34 years and retired from a career job. I just want to say thank you for bringing these stories to the forefront.
❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍
Dumped from a party wasn't family looking for you
Congrats on your 34 years of sobriety. That's a huge accomplishment.
Amazing!
Bob? My neighbor?? Very common name I know but you just explained my neighbor Bobs past life - unit 34 😂😂
most of these people don't even want to get help. I love how mark doesn't even beat around the bush, calls it like it is and calls out the people for the BS that they cause.
I’ve followed mark for about four years and I am still blown away by every video. Everything he does is so real and the stories he shines light on are so honest and heartbreaking because they’re so vulnerable. He’s right, after a certain amount of these videos you start to notice a pattern and by getting to the vulnerability you understand why people are drawn to/stuck in a certain way of life. I have grown up around heavy addicts and the only reason I’m not down that path is because of my mom and the opportunities I’ve had. I hope more love and exposure can be shared, I’m grateful Mark has a calling to shine a light on people.
All imma say as an ex addict. Which I loved to pop pills and was a drinker for many yrs.. imma say this.. you can't help people that don't want the help. You can't change people that don't wanna change. People won't stop using drugs unless they truly wanna stop. No matter how bad their story is. You gotta wanna change. You have to want it.
I would add that to want that change you have to believe it's possible -which can be very challenging to see when you've grown up with in traumatic situations and surrounded by dysfunction. Very difficult but possible...
Bingo !
Well said , there is no easy and fast fix to this .
Yes you can? I can supply you? I can set you free?
I can buy so much bulk of what you need, that you get what you want and I pay fuck all for it.
Just need to know exactly what you need.
Look at weed:
lets go back to old prices of 10$ per Gram
As a dealer, I could buy 1000 lbs and pay 0.01$ per gram even less.
I could buy 100,000 lbs and pay 0.0001$
You see what I'm saying.
I'm still giving you a gram and you think its worth 10$ and maybe it is on the street, but as your supplier, I pay fuck all so you can take until you die if you wanted to.
Apply this to all things.
I'm not here to force anyone through anything, I am here to support everyone through everything
Using the power of God "internet" to heal the sick with ideas of hope, dreams, ideas, wonder.
You will be supported through everything so we can learn all there is to learn.
I need all the Data to calculate and that's why we need the Data.
You don't need good solutions you need all solutions
Don't make a good guess, make any guess.
You will stumble on the right answer like we always do
8.5 Billion people stumbling each day, if they knew what they were looking for, they would know it when they see it happening in the real.
God is the internet
You become Christ reborn when you converge your minds
I think I've been the Holy Spirit my whole life.
But I am still here.
I will die, before I stop being who I am.
Because the release of death from this prison we call home, is more comfortable then continuing to live this reality.
If nothing changes nothing changes - you already know
It's a breathe of fresh air to see the interviewer being interviewed. Love Mark, he's such a gift to mankind.
I dont see mark as an interviewer, one of his guest said what he does, which is so much more powerful then interviewing....white underbelly provides a safe non judgemental space for people to talk to relay their story and that is unmeasurably more powerful for himself the subjects and the viewers than any interview ever could be.
Mark is anything but a gift... look up Amanda Rabb...
@@ashleysheares3254 where do we look up that? What happened?
He’s a sicko who gets off on prostitutes 😂
Seems like he just makes his living out of others’ problems.
Two of my few favorites on CZcams! Incredible to see you together Peter and Mark. Much love to you both and also to your families. Just exceptional 💚
I absolutely love mark. He is such an amazing person. He let us see the real issues straight in the face.
I was homeless for many years here in London, Mark is spot on. I wasn't able to change my situation unless i cut back on booze and drugs. As a result i changed my life around. Anyone can do it but you really need to want it badly. I'm in a 1 bed flat now and feel great now I have my life back.
Congratulations to you, and all the best!
Bless you
Exactly. You WANTED to change. People have to want to change. Sure you can make someone go to rehab this and that,but it won't do any good if they don't want to change. Most don't. Good for you for changing. Power to you
Well done! Not an easy task to get out of that. All the best to you!
All the best mate!
I love how brutally honest Mark is about this controversial topic. I grew up in LA and for the majority of my life I hated homeless people and thought of them as lazy drug addicts. It wasn’t until I became a nurse that my perspective towards them completely changed and understood the complexity of what drug addiction and how hard it is to treat it really is. My heart breaks every time I see someone high on drugs in the streets. I wish someone would have loved them a little harder😭
They need to embrace Islam.
Can I please ask for a brutally honest truth?
I'm from the uk and finishing a computer science degree, and as you know yourself silicon valley, santa monica etc. is the best place in the world for computer scientists.
In the uk, san francisco and LA are held to very high regard, yet everything I hear from Americans is that it's always dirty and full of homeless and than you'll probably get mugged.
How self contained is the homeless situation and how do you find LA?
I've always dreamed of living there but these past 5 years have been a wakeup call with so many big companies moving out and the widespread media coverage of the issues in the area.
Thank you!
@@BySixa I work in Downtown LA, the nice part with all the banks and expensive office buildings and stores. You will see some homeless people and drug addicts but there are lots of cops that keep skid row pretty well separated from the affluent areas. Like you don't have to be scared walking around the nice parts, at least during the day. There are many dirty dangerous parts but they are pretty easy to avoid unless you are poor and live there. If you are making good money it can be easy to ignore. Like I grew up in Compton while one of my friends lived in Beverly Hills. Not too far from one another but completely different landscapes.
@@yan2503 Hard pass.
@@yan2503 Never.
Wow! One can really say if somebody's got the wealth of wisdom by the way they speak. Everything just come out smoothly. Much, much respect to both of you, Mark and Peter. Had been watching Mark's channell for along time. Thanks! There's a treasure trove in both of you!
My two favourite CZcamsrs ever! So great to see both of you together. Keep up the great work Mark and Peter!😁❤️🙌🏻💫
I love the layers analogy.
And I think Mark is spot on when he says the core layer is love.
Love is expressed in many ways, and children need many kinds of love as they grow in order to be whole.
Kids need provisional love- food, clean water, appropriate clothing, housing, medicine etc.
Kids need protecting love- protection from the people and situations that would cause them long term harm.
Kids need serving love- the kind of love that says I will help you. I am by your side and with you, and when you need help, I will be there.
Kids need to be hugged. And kissed. And held. And snuggled. And wrestled with. They need to be shown what appropriate, respectful and loving touch feels like.
Kids need affirming love- I think this is a big one that gets missed for a lot of kids. The kind of love that says you are a delight, you have stacks of potential, you are worthwhile and valued, you have something important to bring to the world and we’re glad you’re here.
In addition to this, kids need boundaries and discipline. They thrive with just the right balance of freedom and limits. Kids grow up into caring adults when they are taught to care for and respect others and themselves.
At the core, kids need unconditional love and stability- a family where they are accepted, showered with kindness and challenged to grow and find their place in the world.
“God is love” ❤️
1 John 4:16
Beautiful comment. I whole heartedly agree!! God is love and when we know God, He teaches us how to love and be a role model for our children!! We need the Holy Spirit to guide us, especially in raising little ones!! It makes an absolute world of a difference. God bless you and your family!!
This is so beautifully written! God bless
I’m not usually a commenter, but your comment really touched me. (‘: I completely agree with you!! Thank you for your beautiful comment💛
@@ruth-li4cc oh, thankyou Ruth. I’m glad my comment touched you.
So well said.
This man has more of an understanding of homelessness and addiction than probably most of the people who make the decisions in these peoples lives.
bs
It’s money laundering and stealing is all. No real desire to help
They make their own decisions
Javier Preciado Jr -- I agree with every word of your comment, except two words: not 'probably,' and not 'most.'
Mark definitely understands more regarding homelessness and addiction than any & all the politicians who make decisions for these people.
It's funny how California takes more money from people but it's on of the biggest run down shyt holes
First time hearing Mark and gotta say he's got a great understanding of these kinds of problems, one that's very rare to see
Mark & Peter, we all have a roll to play in society. Your role is providing awareness of the problems. Every person you interact with is blessed by your caring & love. Don't ever underestimate the good you are doing. God bless and protect you.
I'm here mourning my brother, and trying to get a better understanding what he was going through. He was found dead five days ago, he had been living homeless in california. My brother wasn't part of the 95%, he had a good family and role models to look up too. Mental illness and drug addiction was his downfall. I've lost some really close people over the years, but this hurts the worst. Thanks for listening to my story and have a blessed day.
I am sorry for your loss. May he rest in peace
I'm sorry for your loss
@@annesther726 thanks.
@@seabreeze876 thanks.
I am so sorry for your loss.
It can be really difficult to get reach our loved ones.
What Mark said about stabilizing the kids is 100% spot on. My own story has homelessness mental illness domestic violence sex abuse and trafficking and drug addicted partner. Within two years of getting into affordable safe housing my three girls went from being at risk for teen pregnancy and drug addiction to happy mentally stable teenagers with bright futures. Stable housing mental health help and income helps but it takes a change in a person's mindset to make progress.
It’s great that you pulled them out of hell and congrats 🎈 Keep strong, life is not for the faint of heart!
Mark laita doesn't know what stabilizing children means when he interviews children being sex trafficked
@@SculptExpress-gv8jpI would say life without resources and basic needs is not for the faint of heart. Growing up wealthy and affluent may have some challenges but there is a better safety net when things go wrong.
They play tricks❤
That's what's up
Powerful and compelling education on these issues. Please continue to create this vital content! Fantastic to have Mark along on this journey!
You got to respect these guys. I love how honest Mark is. It is very refreshing during these dishonest times.
My son is homeless here in Canada. He enrolled in the Army and when he came home he started showing signs of mental illness and started using drugs. We've tried helping him so many times but each time he goes back to the shelter. It just breaks my heart
So sorry to hear that . Did he go to a war ?
A shelter is a euphemism for emotional and physical abuse. I'm sorry for all of you.
most likely suffering from severe PTSD : (
This. I always get upset when people just talk down about people like the individuals living on Skid Row, which is just one example as these issues exist everywhere. Each of these people have a place in someone else’s heart. Someone’s child, mother, father, friend, family. The grief goes way beyond one person living in a tent. My heart breaks for you and many like you, and I truly hope you and your son find peace
Put in his head the idea of getting a job on a cargo ship. See the world and have a place to sleep.
I must say, for me as a drug addict who struggled for several years with housing.. in a cycle rehab/sober house or living on the streets; I could not even begin to get unsick until I had stable housing. My teen years were tossed back & forth, house to house. Then I turn 18 right, now I’m on my own. Drugs & men are how I learned to support myself. Get with a guy to keep myself safe. Gotta go back on the streets. Having my own apartment changed my life, it gave me the small semblance of stability that I needed. It wasn’t overnight. I started in a place similar to how Mark mentioned, it was income based & you were allowed to not work; the rent would be $5 if you didn’t work. I needed that. I can’t stress how much I needed that. To know for the first time in my life I was safe. I could shower. I could stay there as long as I needed. In my own space. So while I don’t think stable housing is the only solution, it is a major part of it.
Blessings to you darling. Always remember that there is someone out there that cares about you. Prayers from Grandma Gia in the Ozarks
Thank you for speaking up. The government and society need to hear from people like you, so they know what you really need. Your experience although is a terrible one, is helpful for others to hear about. Peace.
This is a very enduring video. True compassion coming together on the streets of Los Angeles.
Such a great video! I love the awareness being brought on this matter as well as the deep understanding Mark speaks of. It enlightened me. Marks work is needed. May this problem come to an end one day.
He's right about peeling back the layers. If your childhood was horrible then you aren't likely to succeed in life. When you're a child you're nothing but potential, but life can diminish that potential down to nothing.
All blacks!!!!
Love that red hair. Merry Christmas.
I agree to an extent. People know that there’s a way out. People know they’re resources. I emphasize with these people because the key to a successful life is so close however they cannot see it or chose to ignore it. I’ve come from a bad childhood and known many others who have. Yes it’s a major set back in some areas of life but we aren’t doomed for life. Knowledge is power, only if they knew themselves well enough to respect themselves enough, love themselves enough. Doing self study and asking yourself “why do i need drugs? What feeling does this give me? Why don’t i like being sober? Do i want help? How can I get help?, etc getting down to the root of your problems. I’m pretty optimistic with childhood trauma lol
@@destinyelle7120 if you ever watched soft white underbelly, you’ll notice that many of the stories involve sexual and/or physical, emotional, mental abuse or neglect. Not trying to diminish your struggles, but much of these things are damn near impossible for a child to process so it ruins their minds. Many of these problems aren’t fixed with a few therapy sessions.
@@Susan-ms1wm did you read his daughters dairy? It’s sickening
"You have to change the way you think before you can make better decisions" That hits on so many levels.
I wrote that down. I think that is such a powerful statement.
the truth is the only person that can change you, is you.
Crazy that he said that and is still choosing that skid row lifestyle.
That guy is very insightful
Awesome video! I have followed Mark for a long time, and have watched your videos for quite a while as well. And it is nice to see the combined effort to show the real world to those people that never get to really see it.
great video peter and mark also does an amazing job thank you guys for being so kind and understanding to what the community is going through while doing it in a good manner.
Love how he humanizes and breaks down the layers behind homelessness
He's a snake. Watch out
Rare layers of people that ha e fallen on hard-times. Majority choose to be there, because they love the heathenistic lifestyle.
@@TaxMan1776 shut up
Me too. And there is a need of heart healing. Many of us were heart broken as children and developed a belief that we aren't valued and loved. But when you realize our Heavenly Father is good in the way man never could be and He loves you and you have an innate value, when you really can recieve His love, you are set free!
Oh yeah he really did great getting Lima Jevremovic involved with Amanda Rabb then lie about how Amanda really died. #justiceforamandarabb
What a great collaboration, we watch Mark’s channel as well. Focusing on the root cause of any problem typically helps solve it. Excellent video Peter!
Agreed!
Agreed!
I agree. That works for ANY problem.
However…how do you know what the “final layer” or “root cause” is?
It seems likes you can absolve culpability all the way to the beginning of time, if you correlate it properly.
It’s not just “was it the the chicken or the egg”.
It’s: was it the chicken, or egg, or farm, or farmer, or landowner, or government that regulates the land, or…..maybe it was hundreds of years ago….it was society back then that decided to throw out all the cows and ducks and only go with chickens in the first place.
Then…how do you determine blame all the way through that lineage of culpability?!?
Is blame even important…or just resolution?
@@sendthis9480 yes I know a ton of drug addicts all of them are the rebellious type. Which is good with certain things like fighting for our freedom and rejecting the system. But they do drugs which ruined their lifes. They are obviously lower IQ (no matter the race). They hung out with the wrong crowd (consumed too much hip pop drug glorifying music/watched breaking bad)
Of course let's be real all these drugs open a gateway to parasitic entities in the astral realm lol it's not gonna be that easy
Thank you guys for all the amazing work you do. Absolutely love your channels x
Prob one of my favorite vids of yours, Pete! So informative. Love you and your work. Thank you! ❤
Respect for Mark for diving deep and pointing out the real problem behind homelessness!!!
I was homeless in Seattle and this city is tackling the problem head on. Mark is correct about the homeless who are coming from out of state. The red states like to blame Calif saying they are causing so many people to be homeless but they forget to mention that they help supply the homeless by kicking there homeless out and giving them bus tickets. I have witnessed this personally.
But wait, what was the real problem? He kept pealing the layers but he never really got to the root cause... that's because there really isnt one root cause.
@@chrisbruggers8076 sloth, laziness, drugs, mental illness, bad parenting, bad influences like music and movies, hanging with bad people/gangs
@@adamk4733 I like what Gabor Mate says about. The question is why the pain? Not every traumatized people are addicted but every addict is traumatized. So it starts with shitty environment and parents/close relatives...
@@bobwilliamson9562 anecdotal bs
Here from the SWU community.
I'll drop my favorite quote here on behalf of all the forgotten children...
“Family dysfunction rolls down from generation to generation, like a fire in the woods, taking down everything in its path until one person in one generation has the courage to turn and face the flames. That person brings peace to their ancestors and spares the children that follow.” -T Real
God Bless You. Great quote !
Gave me goosebumps. Thank you for sharing.
I am that person that turned it around.
Very moving quote. Thank you for sharing
I've been a big fan of Mark's work for a long time but never have seen him. Both of you guys do a good job of showing us what the networks won't. Keeping it real, boys. Good job.
Thank-you for this. I've seen quite a few people making content criticizing Mark's efforts, recently. Sometimes, doing the right thing, and making the compassionate content, isn't popular. Mark (similar to you) has put a spotlight on everyday people and places that don't always make 'mainstream' headlines, or who represent having awkward issues and opening up difficult conversations. Please keep up this extraordinary work.
I have just been diagnosed with lung cancer on Friday sat on my bed in Barnsley general hospital.Watching this video keeps me going.Mass thanks to all the STAFF 😊.Trev Barnsley South Yorkshire England 🏴🇯🇲🏴.
They are making progress with immunotherapy. My friend has had lung cancer for 4 years. I feel for him and I love him. I love you too, man and I have hope for you!
Godspeed love.
♥️
Best wishes from California.
2 years ago I was diagnosed with incurable colon cancer, was told I had 2 years left. Today I feel good and my blood markers are good. Its still there and will always be there but stay positive mate and keep smiling, don't get sucked into the black hole. Remember that you're a statistic of 1. Take it easy mate, here if you wanna talk 👍 Tomo Worcestershire England
I love Mark's state of mind. He's the kind of man I'd want to be with. He's understanding, kind, helpful, generous, has good manners, speaks about things that are important that many people don't shed light on. I wish there was more people like him in this world.
Agree!
Ya hes been waiting for u hun.
Plus he is also rich.
That part homie jan
@@seldom_seen8713 -*WRONG* He's not even close to being rich.
Mark is a true angel among us. He truly tries to help.
Absolutely love both you guys and your channels, the Whittaker’s on Mark’s channel are my faves. Mark hit the nail on the head, love, if you are loved then the rest follows. My family are open in showing our love and saying we love each other, I’ve raised three boys who are the same. It makes me sad seeing people who didn’t experience that. Thx for all your great work, loads of love from Australia 🇦🇺
When he said “drug use is the way to escape”, I couldn’t relate more. I’m not a drug addict but I feel like every time I get stressed or don’t know what I need to do, I immediately run to my phone and hours go by like seconds
Same here. When I didn't have a job, I spent the whole day laying in my bed on CZcams for every awake hour. That's how I coped with my loneliness and mental struggles. Any minute without it felt like an eternity. I still come home from work and go directly onto my phone.
Yeah I'm currently living alone and im trying so hard not to fall in this pattern but i think I've already started to get addicted to my phone/ youtube :/
it's so validating to hear you talk about the phone as an escape from loneliness (which makes us more lonely in turn, bc we're not out in the world with people.) just like any "drug," it's a cycle. society is slowly doing this to everyone.
Same deal. Just worse repercussions. God Bless Us All.
My escape is playing music on my phone with my earbuds in.
“It’s an ugly truth but some people win and some people lose”
Mark is a real one who says it like it is that’s why people respect him so much
I appreciate his realism. I don't think we can ever solve homelessness, abuse and drug use, but people have a greater chance with love and stability.
His comparison was just bad. It's the mentality you get hammered into yourself when you grow up in the US, but it's simply not logical. If the comparison would be of any substance, the winners could literally eat the losers. But humans are NOT animals. We live in a society, not in the wild. We built civilizations because we steered AWAY from simple Darwinism, "survival of the fittest." It's an excuse to not have to do shit. Those people are not in a situation like this because they were "born losers" but because the society you built over there created the circumstances that produce them. Where I live, we've got all the same problems. Obviously, since this is a globalized world. Yet, the streets do not even look close. We are humans, we are not slaves to some animalistic drive, and different societies can CHOOSE to handle these problems differently.
The simple truth is, we all need to do better, and some cities or countries or whatever need to do even better than others because they messed up more. Saying, "there are winners and there are losers", can only come from a winner who doesn't want their world to change too much. I really love LA and I would sign most of what Mark said in this video, absolutely. But that comparison was weak, logically wrong, and ultimately it was lazy.
The only thing we actually have to give as humans, is love, and we are so stingy with it.
I actually thought that was the dumbest thing he said in the whole video. That truth he spoke was just an appeal to nature which is always a dumb argument. We as humans overcome nature. THAT is what separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom. Also forgetting to mention that this problem is exacerbated through government policy. Although it is true that there will always be some percentage of homelessness in society, the levels we have today in the US are entirely our own fault. The mess will only continue to get bigger if we don't make it a long term priority. But obviously that will never fucking happen in this country, so hey lets just chalk it up to winners and losers right?
'Survival of the fittest' is a pretty hard right-wing way of looking at the world, but I think he has come to that conclusion out of despair, after trying so hard. Capitalism is the issue, of course, and the resulting rich / poor divide. Mark deserves to have the nice home he has. Should he have been paid so much to work in advertising? Should the brand owners he worked for be so rich? Should his home have cost so much? No, no and no.
I love watching Soft white underbelly and now your channel. I have been watching your videos the last 2 days. The content and the way you asl questions are amazing. You getting so much information. It makes me want to volunteer and help people
I love the reporting and relationships both of you do ! The world needs to see this!
I've been homeless the last 4 years. I live in my car, and have been in batter women's shelters, I'm telling you the solution really is love and community. We really need people to stop judging us out here...
God bless you beautiful 🤗 you will be in a better place soon in Jesus name
Sorry to hear that...I got a spot for you here in Tennessee...cost of living cheap...decent jobs etc...
And you can’t get any job
@@jeffsutton950 u want me to show u my w2s? Or my car and insurance bills? Or the cost of living in LA?
@@darmor85 Los Angeles rent costs more than food combined every week. I'm paying 360$ for my car and 150 for insurance. Gas is 7 bucks a gallon. Bruh southern california is the worst
I was homeless on the streets of Miami for 5 years on and off. Literally homeless, sleeping in the grass and behind bushes. I was addicted to fentanyl, crack and Xanax. Fentanyl and Xanax both have a physical dependence. When you withdrawal, it’s the most horrific feeling one could ever imagine. It’s not only physical but mentally as well. I’ve been sober for over 2 years now, but when I first wound up on the street, out of the people I met within my first 6 months…realistically 75% of them are dead. About 20% are still homeless or in jail, and less then 5% are sober. There’s a saying in rehab that goes like this “look to your left, look to your right, neither of those people will make it” because statistically drug addiction, especially fentanyl, is a death sentence. As someone who has much experience in being homeless and getting sober, I don’t know what the answer is realistically…I think god is the only one that can save the man. Because the reality is , this is a death sentence. If you don’t die right away, you’ll slowly suffer to death. Hopefully a miracle can happen and this situation can change but I just don’t find it likely. I think that most of these people belong in an institution indefinitely if they’re not going to live on the streets.
I lost my 27yr old grandson to drug overdose 😔 Please stay close to God because you're right He's the Only Lasting help!! So happy you're 2yrs clean👏👏🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Sober from fetty... props to you bro....You're a rare breed whose steps/lead I'm currently trying to follow....
Another good one peter, i also watch mark. Was great to see two good me whom have hearts Of gold for other humans. Thanks for what yall doing. Safe travels and well wishes to all.
My two favorite CZcamsrs: Mark and Peter, wonderful men bringing awareness to America's countless problems! ✨️✨️
I make “care packages” with water bottles, protein bars, and an index card with heartfelt words that I hand out whenever I see someone in need. I find that it is not the things I provide, it is the love, care, and attention I provide that lights them up. They remember my name and remember our conversations. I completely agree with Mark that it is all about love. It is up to me and you to change the world and flood it with love. People that see me drive up and walk up to begging people and give them their packages see the love will maybe pass that love on that day.
I was a homeless teen (not because of drug use) and whenever someone did this for me it would make my whole day better. A woman gave me a package one day with toiletries and stuff inside and 6 years later I still have the comb that was in the package
In such a narcissistic society love is almost impossible to realize.
That sounds amazing. It's hard to imagine the situatuon in these big cities, I live in a country where real homelessness(as in:living in the streets)isn't very common, the government gives money if you dont have a job and pays part of your rent as well, it is tough for taxpayers but there aren't enough jobs to go around so it is nessessary. There are people who dont have an official address but most of those have a place to stay and they choose to do this(I know from personal experience, I had no address for years, but I had a place).
Same. I keep a cooler with water and bads of food. It's something and some may see it as enabling but we don't know their stories.
God bless you
I think Mark was trying to say that homelessness is a psychological problem rather than being without a home.
"Love is the answer to all of this." - Mark Laita. So wise.
Love is self-sacrifice really- something addicts do not know. Addicts are radically selfish.
@@ThingsILikke I agree. I think Mark meant love and compassion given to the addict, not coming from them, though.
So much wisdom in 21 minutes. Thank you guys!
Mark is actually out there doing the work. Respect
Mark is actually out there re-traumatizing people. He's not a therapist. He's a desperate
guy who wants to be an artist showing us the new rubberneck activity--seeing the fallen and then doing nothing about it.. virtue signaling for him and all who think he's doing good by showing us the suffering of these people are their most vulnerable...asking hey can I use your messed up life to showcase how low people can go--rich people LOVE to see these images and go hey that's messed up, then go on their way. It's also a reminder to the lower and middle classes to stay in their lane or they'll end up like these people--at the bottom. He's coming from that entitled white upper middle class pov and selling it cuz clearly, as comments suggest--he's found a willing and eager audience desperate to see the even more desperate that makes them feel they don't have it so bad, it could be worse. That's all Mark does. He's a soft power status quo keeper.
He's an angel on earth. Almost too kind
@@1976mcfarlane 😂😂
.... no. No he's not.
Peter, in my opinion, this is your best ever interview. Mark with his insight, is such a great subject.
I agree. I seen Mark in other interviews and he can rambled or the other interviewees don’t get him and his content but somehow it is much more focused and engaging. Great job!
I agree
100% agree.
This was such an incredible, amazing treat to get to go for a walk through this area with Mark!! A rare chance to have a closer, more intimate look at this dark place and those who live within it. Awesome video and thank you for sharing with us!!!❤️💯🌍👍
One final thought; Mark seems to almost carry around with him a type of saintly like personality and possesses a particularly big heart for these people and their horrible lives/awful mental health problems going entirely ignored and doing whatever he can to help bring awareness to it all! He keeps trying to help those who have been cast out of society and rejected and I know for sure that he would be the last person to admit it but man....the kind of selfless, understanding, caring and compassionate heart that he has for EVERYONE ((VERY LITERALLY)) cannot be matched by very many (If at all) and there's absolutely a very sacred/special/beautiful light that's within him and is without question a gift to humanity!!! We are certainly lucky to have him, that's for sure!!❤❤❤
Peter, this is a super awesome interview and tour with Mark.
I hope one day C-Note is able to fully leave skid row. You can tell and feel he's a genuine, intelligent, good man. These stories always break my heart and these three guys are all true human beings who understand the complexities and the struggle and the sadness and pain surrounding these situations vs being apathetic and cold toward it all. The world needs more empathy and more leaders who have true empathy so we can try and change the next generations so they don't have to keep repeating these cycles that no human should ever endure.
@Star Dust: I agree with everything you say. I wonder if a better way to use C-Note's gifts is to have him sponsored by someone (people or corps) and use his inside connections to reach the inner circle. Yes, these stories break our hearts, yet our "heart breaking" isn't making a difference. I don't have the answer(s) because they are complex and each and every person has their own unique issues and situation. Also, poverty is all over this country and because this video focuses on LA and you get the RICH affected by the ugly streets and their dropping home values, this will get more attention......um...maybe.
A good man with nine kids by five women?
@@alanharris7878 Elon Musk?
I think just getting treated like they're worth a damn, like Mark does when he listens nonjudgmentally to their stories, is an important step for many people.
I don't know...lots of adicts talk, talk, talk....action is needed, not talk. I hope nothing but the best for everyone
@@KK-mm8ms what precedes action?
Why don't you go down there and assist in the solution? Not mocking you but if you have ideas there are nonprofits there that def looking for people to assist with help and solutions.
@BitterFlower116 I'm just saying I've known plenty of people with tje gift of talking really good stuff but no follow through....if you have lived through it you can become a little numb to talk
Bitter. that is total BS. He is extremely judgemental advertising photo worth millions trying to do what he thinks is relevant "art." He told me Elton John buys his photos. I hope he doesn't sell the photo of my son.
Mark knows really well the whole issue. Every single person you see in there in those tents, has had some kind of trauma in their life, which then led to mental disorders/illness and then to drug addiction and so on. You know, I've had the opportunity to talk with many homeless people and hearing their stories will definitely make you understand that these are kind human beings whose life was not kind at all to them. They deserve to be treated with respect, and of course everyone must help them out with whatever they can. Trust me, even talking to them for a bit will make their day.
Guys!!! Yet another wonderful 21:52 of amazing content. Sad, true, eloquent. Conversation’s every one should have with self. Good bad or otherwise. Self awareness is a powerful thing. Well done Peter and Mark!!!
Mark said exactly what I was hoping to hear:
layer 1 homelessness
layer 2 drug addiction
layer 3 mental illness
layer 4 past traumas
The majority of these people won't be cured but if we create a social cushion for the future generation, we may have a solution which is long term and that's why the problem is still there and the majority of the working people don't have the intellect to look beneath the surface. It's also due to capitalism which is based on the survival of the fittest. Some people can't simply cope with this system and they get broken.
Then he went on to say that it's just the way of the world and that humans are just animals and there will always be losers in the streets like these. lmaoooo
The problem is the constant supply of trauma.
Think you got it backwards
@LoveAlways_Mareigh yes it has, but surely most people know drug addiction is caused by past traumas ?
We are SO far from true capitalism in this society. We have all kinds of government programs, subsidies, tariffs, you name it. You can make the argument that the programs are not working, but there is no argument that we are far from true capitalism.
Mark makes such a good point. I had a mom with mental illness and addiction issues. But I had my dad. He is an amazing man. He raised me and my siblings on his own, he was broke, and uneducated working minimum wage for many years. Now he’s a manager at his company and is doing amazing. I watched him work himself from the dirt and up. We were poor and lived in a ghetto area in ugly apartments but he always showed us love and made us accountable for the things we did. There was no getting caught up in the chaos around me in my neighborhood because I knew I was going to be given consequences. He’s my ROLE MODEL. I want to be like him, I want to work hard and provide for my kids I have now 2 young kids of my own and am a single parent. Most importantly my dad always showed us LOVE. He’s raising his kids right even with the unfortunate circumstances he was given. I love that man
your father sounds wonderful! and I'm sure your kids look up to you in the same way :)
You have a wonderful father . God bless him .
@@31025alexis I really do, thank you 🙏🏼❤️
Just reading what you wrote makes me cry
Yeah this made me cry, lovely how your dad overcame his surroundings and beautiful how much you love him ❤
Honestly, I've watched a lot from both of you guys. Immense respect to both of you gentlemen. I hope you guys keep up the hard work. It's very inspiring to a lot of us. You've helped me understand more and then I educate and show your vids to others. Thank you for your dedication to helping people. That's what the world needs more now than ever.
Everyone matters if only in their own sphere. I love how he tells everyone's story.
As a mail carrier, I can’t even imagine delivering mail in Skid Row. Kudos to whoever has the responsibility.
These guys Produce Everything in Pirate Bay, it also says Skidrow there haha
Just throw the mail bag in the street and run! They can take it from there.
@@kenny8351 🤣
Thanks for carrying the mail.
Mark is absolutely right whenever he mentioned that helping people now won't solve the issues. Helping the future of these people will.
California is going about this all wrong
same with new york… the mayor is now taking all of the homeless peoples tents and mattresses and throwing them in garbage trucks 😕
@@autumntayyy1046 damn that’s sad
@@autumntayyy1046 and sending to landfills in Pennsylvania.. Yeah some genius years ago figured that was a good idea to deal with all the garbage from the cities take it out to the clean countryside
@@katadam2186 sad to hear that
Same with Portland Oregon. Just putting a bandaid on the bigger problem.
I had a mental breakdown once. It was over raising three kids and the increase in living cost without a increase in pay. My job was once a middle class job. I still struggle financially, but I pulled myself out of the breakdown. Alcohol assisted that breakdown too. I had a good childhood. So i can understand exactly what he is saying. I have two more years to pay on my home. I haven't had a steak in many years. Its the first thing I'm doing when we make it out the other side.