Salvage

The homeless of Skid Row in Los Angeles live in the shadows of skyscrapers occupied by millionaires and billionaires. Filmmaker Stev Elam's documentary centers on various homeless women in the community—victims of a variety of unfortunate circumstances—who share several constants. Many of the interviewees suffered physical and sexual abuse that has taken a psychological toll, leaving them feeling demeaned and worthless. The Union Rescue Mission—a major resource for assisting homeless people in L.A.—runs a transitional housing facility for women and their children that is a comparative paradise, set on attractive, well-guarded grounds, with nice apartments and furniture, as well as various services ranging from childcare to job training and education (even so, the Mission struggles to remain solvent). Some of the insights shared by the women speak to complications that homeless men typically don't face, such as making an impossible choice to care for one's kids vs. caring for oneself. Salvage features grim scenes but also happy ones, offering an honest summary of how much and how little society is doing to deal with the expanding homeless crisis. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)