Archive for August, 2009
John
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
John lives in a small grassy area right in the middle of Downtown Atlanta. He had a rough childhood and never learned to read, which has proven to be a real roadblock in finding a job.
For the past six years, John has been in and out of homelessness. Although he has family, he says he [...]
Drew
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
I don’t know if anything can prepare you for Drew’s story. Drew lost his job, then he lost his wife and daughter to a drunk driver. He is an educated man, but today he lives on leftover food he finds in dumpsters.
There’s nothing you can add to a story like this, except that homelessness can [...]
Rea
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
I met Rea and her husband while they were waiting in line at a mobile medical clinic in Tampa, Florida. Each night, they sleep outside on the streets of Miami. Rea hates to feel dirty, so she uses public fountains to wash up.
Rea and her husband are not homeless because of alcohol or drugs. Rea [...]
Darryl
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
In 2007, police in St. Petersburg, Florida slashed tents as their former occupants watched in horror. In response to this horrible incident, a government-approved tent city called Pinellas Hope was created.
Although the regulation of tent cities is a strategy often supported by homeless advocates, the approach is not immune to challenges. Pinellas Hope Tent City’s [...]
Juan
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
Since 2007, the City of St Petersburg has passed a number of ordinances that specifically target homeless people, including laws that outlaw panhandling , prevent sleeping on the streets in certain parts of town, and limit the number of belongings people can store on public property. Needless to say, St. Petersburg, Florida holds the dubious [...]
Sandra
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
I have to warn you that this video is hard to watch. Sometimes people just ‘give up’ and stop fighting. I believe that may be the case with Sandra. It’s called ‘learned helplessness’ and I see it in all walks of life. But under this bridge in New Orleans my heart broke.
Sandra has lived here [...]
Steven
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
Imagine living under a busy freeway in New Orleans. Now imagine you have to sleep in a group, because the threat of violence is never far.
When you live outside, without a door to lock or a roof over your head, you are constantly vulnerable to violence. For Steven, the fear of violence never completely goes [...]
Elvin
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
Elvin is a seasoned healthcare professional. He has worked as a nurse for over 20 years and also holds a degree in political science. He has been married for 25 years and has three children.
Elvin sounds like someone you’d meet at a baseball game or a coffee shop, but I met Elvin in a parking [...]
Tracy and her children
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
You can have a roof over your head and still be considered homeless.
These days, a growing number of families are turning to ‘weekly rate’ hotels as a way to stay off the streets. But don’t let the roof fool you, many of these motels-turned-homes are shoddy, small, and unkempt. Hardly ideal living conditions for any [...]
Kathy
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
Miserable. That’s how Kathy of Austin, Texas describes the experience of being homeless. I can’t say that I blame her for feeling that way. The night before this interview, Kathy slept on a bus bench. She hasn’t been able to find a job because she does not have a permanent address and because of a [...]
