Update: Arien Is No Longer Homeless in Los Angeles

Invisible People | by Mark Horvath | December 8, 2019

Arien joined me today as I walked around Hollywood handing out socks to new homeless friends. While we were talking to a group of homeless men in a tent, a man drives by and slows down after recognizing Arien from YouTube.

Arien has recorded four Invisible People videos while living homeless on the streets of Los Angeles. Four videos of the same homeless person over a few years’ time is a benchmark I never imagined we’d hit. It also shows how broken homeless services are. If Los Angeles County could not get this young woman off the streets in three years’ time something is seriously wrong.

Here is a playlist of Arien’s four videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list…

Around nine months ago, I scheduled a fifth video with Arien but she canceled. The night before Arien was sexually assaulted and understandably didn’t want to record an interview. I am so glad and excited to share that Arien’s fifth Invisible People video is to announce that she is no longer homeless.

When I heard Arien was off the streets and working I messaged her right away. She confirmed what I heard was true and even suggested we record an update video.

Arien is an amazing young woman with a bright future who is very lucky. Someone allowed Arien to stay at their apartment long enough for her to find a job and a place to stay that is more stable. I cannot stress how important this is. Without help, people cannot go from homelessness to employment and housing. Many people think that all homeless people need is to get a job but without a safe place to sleep, food, a shower, and some stability it’s impossible to get a job or remain employed.

Lots of horrible things can happen to a homeless person in a very short amount of time. Arien made it because someone gave her a chance. I understand we all can’t just open our doors to a homeless person but all of us can speak up to help create more affordable housing and fix a broken homeless services system.

Your voice can help end homelessness. If we do not fix the affordable housing crisis, homelessness will continue to get worse. Click here https://invisiblepeople.tv/getinvolved to tweet, email, call, or Facebook your federal and state legislators to tell them ending homelessness and creating more affordable housing is a priority to you.