Q&a: Stephan Saengpradap

A: Violence? Not usually with the chronic homeless population that we have here; they're mostly docile. But there are folks that come through or on the outskirts; they're just a little bit disturbed. I used to work nights by myself when I started this job so I would meet anyone, approach anyone to see if I could help them.

Q: Have you seen an increased first-time homeless population with the downturn in the economy?

A: A handful. If you're talking about the foreclosure, not so much. I see a lot of the chronically homeless, those that are fighting addiction, those that are coping with mental illness. I see mostly that population.

I do see a lot of seniors, though, lately. It's unfortunate that in this country, there's not a lot of options for seniors. Or the options that are presented to them, they don't want to choose.

Q: You hear how homeless people are extra concerned about their shoes so they don't lose them or have them stolen. Is that true?

A: The basics that a lot of folks take for granted. A place to sleep. A problem with being homeless that I've seen with a lot of folks is their attachment to stuff, so they have to lug all their stuff around all day long, which increases the stereotyping for themselves, which creates this attitude that people have toward them. Shoes yes, their possessions, blankets and sleeping bags — this is what really upsets them.

Q: Do you find that some of Glendale's homeless population have come from colder areas or other states even?

A: Yes, we have the snowbird phenomena. You've got folks who come from all kinds of areas, from other states, from other parts of L.A. and other parts of California during the winter season because L.A. County has a winter shelter system. And the weather's just better. And then they stick around for the summer, and they either go to the beach or the hills or anywhere else. There's no reason to seek services during the summer. It's a slower time for us.

Q: I'm sure you've encountered many different personalities.

A: There's all kinds of folks. We have former models, former TV executives, writers, inventors, people who are running from the law, somehow in the past. You've got folks who have just Jerry Springer-type backgrounds and then you've got just tragic, "I can't believe this happens to one person" type stories.