The Soloist - Homeless on the Streets of LA

Los Angeles has a large homeless population.  One of those individuals was Nathaniel Ayers when, in early 2005, Steve Lopez first met him.  This scene, in downtown Skid Row, depicts the sleeping location of someone, before dawn.  Rules now in effect govern where, and when, someone can find rest for the evening.  According to DayLife.com:

Los Angeles city officials settled a 2003 lawsuit brought by advocates for homeless skid row residents who complained of being arrested for sleeping on sidewalks, despite having nowhere else to go. Under the new deal, people can sleep on Los Angeles sidewalks between 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. as long as they do not block doorways or driveways, or completely block the sidewalk. Los Angeles is often referred to as the homeless capital of the nation because of its estimated 40,144 people living on city streets and 73,000 homeless spread across the county, according to recent figures attributed to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, The 73,000 homeless include 10,000 minors, 24,505 people suffering from a mental illness, 8,453 military veterans, and nearly 7,200 victims of domestic abuse.

Credits

Image online, courtesy DayLife.com