Brianna
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness
Brianna is a 24 year old woman. For the past 12 days, she has lived with her dog in a small RV community in a Wal-Mart parking lot. I connected with Brianna via social media; she started to follow me on Twitter and I began reading her blog regularly (I highly recommend you check it out).
Brianna’s strength and determination encouraged me, but having experienced homelessness myself, I knew deep down she was scared. The day before I was there she found a job, yet still has a long battle to go. Saving money while living without a home is nearly impossible. Plus, working homeless sometimes have to live two lives out of fear their employer or co-workers will find out about their situation.
Brianna is an amazing woman and I am in awe of her courage and her openness to talk about how her own homelessness has changed her.
March 16th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Wow Mark, this is a heavy one. I can hear it in your voice that you can feel her pain. Judging by your tweets about your situation, I am sure you can :/. Praying and keeping an eye out for any openings for you bro. Take care.
March 16th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
[...] impact without a lot of capital investment. The below video addresses just that and was inspired by invisiblepeople.tv and @tGGtH on twitter. I’ve worked at an organization that deals with the homeless and my [...]
March 16th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
[...] video link “Brianna is a 24 year old woman. For the past 12 days, she has lived with her dog in a small RV community in a Wal-Mart parking lot…” — Bri, from invisiblepeople.tv [...]
March 17th, 2009 at 7:53 am
Good to hear some of the positive stories. Thanks for linking to the blog.
March 18th, 2009 at 10:00 am
I FEEL homeless… Im technically not at the moment, but the handwriting is on the wall- Im staying with my closest friend, he gives me a heated room, and food, and internet is here- so Im not homeless, right? But the goodwill there could run out at any moment (he’s found a new girlfriend, to whom he just got engaged, so the handwriting seems like its being put up as I write this)…
I want to be able to expand the definition of homeless- or shift the conversation some, to “those who have nothing, and where there is no backup” – that would fit me- I have no money, no prospects, and no backup is available (that I know of) if this situation falls through… I want to see the conversation move to “why do we all not have any backup?” – what prevents someone from opening ones doors to give a homeless person a room and a meal- ANY homeless person- why do we do this for “blood relatives” (or very close friends) and not for anyone else? (and even then, only sometimes)… it didnt used to be like this for most of history, did it? (or are we slaves to what is written as “western” history- “the victors get to write the history” as it were)… our dear “middle” class, and its “protections”…
Im so very taken, and pleased to watch this wonderful conversation with Brianna- but too, a might saddened that the “goal” of the homeless is to return to that which created this situation in the first place… to return to a life that does little to honor this notion of “backup”– of having someplace to go, where one is safe, and valued for what they bring just as they are, rather than “what can you do for me?”… without this, its really the whole world that is homeless…
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:23 pm
I was once a young women living in my car. I know the fears she has. Society was much different though 20 years ago when I did it.
Keeping her in my prayers.
March 31st, 2009 at 8:09 pm
[...] 2009 | Author: ~B~ Well, the video interview with Mark Horvath of Hardly Normal is live here, as of [...]
October 29th, 2009 at 7:56 am
[...] Marie is not the first person experiencing homelessness to find me via social media. As the face of homelessness changes, and social media continues to expand, I believe we will see [...]
January 26th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
Brianna, I hope you get this message. Concentrate on YOU and getting yourself a job. A home and a then the rest will fall into place for you. Good Luck to you. Yes Walmart does have that policy but they only allow RV's traveling to park I think they would frown on extended living in a parking lot. I wish they would open some area for RV's to stay in a homeless situation it would help so many living in cars etc.
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:40 am
i bet her life is full of great adventures…
July 31st, 2010 at 11:47 am
very inspirational video… way to go girl… sad story as well to hear about your family background.. you're a very hard working person…
Blogging for Newbies
August 27th, 2010 at 10:12 am
I’m so very taken, and pleased to watch this wonderful conversation