by Andrew Alonzo

After Claremont City Council allocated $60,867 to Pomona’s Hope for Home Homeless Services Center Tuesday, the Courier asked current and former homeless people who attended the meeting how the city might better serve the population.

A man who provided his first name only, David, said the city could make better use of its abandoned spaces and turn them into shelters.

“I mean you don’t have to build us the Ritz-Carlton. Just something basic,” he said, “just small and simple.”

Claremont resident Cameron speaks during Tuesday’s Claremont City Council meeting. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

Twenty-one-year-old advocate Ash Shah, who was briefly homeless in spring of 2024, said the city needs to do a better job at publicizing available services.

David said the homeless community are often looked on in a negative light, and challenged those who want to help.

“If you really want to know, if you want to write something in the paper, stay out here for a week with us, with no money, a phone that barely works, and just hang out with us for a week,” he said. “Then you’ll know how shitty it is and how we’re just trying to survive and just get through the next day, the next meal. You know what I mean?”