I didn't sleep last night because I was watching every video on this site. I'm 53 years old, have survived what I thought were tragedies (total loss house fire, lay-offs, illness…) Then I saw these videos and realized that I have never truly experienced the desperation of homelessness, so I can count myself lucky.

I knew, after watching these videos that I needed to connect with the homeless and tell them that I'm sorry for ignoring them. I realized just how much we are the same and I felt terrible for not knowing how to communicate with my fellow human beings.

Today, I went shopping for warm clothes to share because it is supposed to snow here in San Antonio – something it rarely does. For the first time, I really looked at the homeless men, women and teens who I've ignored in the past. After a few bumbling attempts to say, “Hello” and offering my purchases, I met two younger men who I asked permission to talk to. They laughed and said, “Sure!”

I apologized for not knowing exactly how to approach them and told them I wanted to know about homelessness. I asked them what they need. I asked them not to be offended by my questions or my offering of what I thought they might want. They were not offended and they were happy to receive gift certificates from Wendy's and from the grocery store. They accepted the gloves, the jackets and the cigarettes (but declined the scarves.) They even accepted my prayers – although both said they don't believe in God. We talked and laughed and talked and I realized that they are exactly like me. I enjoyed their company and I finally had to leave after about three hours. I learned so much about their lifestyle, their hope, their day-to-day, their struggle and about my own need to connect.

Your videos made it possible for me to get beyond stereotypes so that I could make friends. My new friends taught me how I can help in a small way. I gained as much as I gave and I know where to find Nelson and Jeff now so we'll all be a little bit less lonely.

Thank you and Merry Christmas, Mary

Way to go Mary!!!

I love the fact that you have done this. I started working with the homeless during my senior year in college through an internship. I am now working with the homeless with mental illnesses and I'm planning on making it my career. The general population doesn't realize what happens on these streets at night. They don't realize the people on the corners and in the alleys have a story. And the most important thing that they do not realize is that most American families are a paycheck away from homelessness.

Many life events have led me to where I am in my career. As a child my mother was homeless due to drug addictions and various other issues. I did not have a site such as this to increase my understanding of my mother's struggle. I feel what you are doing is monumental for society. It's real and honest and it's going to change the way many people view homelessness and hopefully it will lead to change.

Blessings and light to guide your way. Continue the good fight!

Its really sad how clueless you are Dave. I really dont mean that as a putdown or anything but c'mon…you want to know WHY they were in prison?? Well thats none of your buisness, frankly, because they have seved the time givin to them by the state in which the crime was committed. period. And as far as addiction is concerned, well, last time I checked it is considered a MEDICAL desease (with rehabilitation covered under even the most BASIC health insurance plans. As for mental illness…most psychotic people dont know they are psychotic and if there is no family to help them get treatment they are on their own. Alot of mentally unstable people take medication for awhile and feel normal so they think they can stop taking their meds. After a few weeks they start acting bizaar and next thing you know they are wandering around aimlessly. I'm not saying some people dont wanna work but you cant be judgemental like that. Since you know the bible you must also know how Jesus said “what you have done to the least of these you have also done to me”. How can you have anything to say when you have obviously never walked a day in their shoes

I SEE THEM!

I am not a stranger to being homeless. Your site tells it like it is and that is what the world needs to see more of. Many times I have been homeless in my life and many times I have only been one paycheck away from the streets. Keep up the good work, I applaude you.

G”o,o”D Blessings upon “INVISIBLE PEOPLE TV” and this NEW notion of reality TV that is authentic ~ vulnerable & dignified! Listening to our stories is a beginning in the experiencial process of losing self importance ~ guilt ~ arrogance & aggression in social relations. WE US & I R 1 not 2! Witness how the poor ~ homeless & suffering meek shall inherit the earth and bring forth a new earth and heaven today.

This is a beautiful social networking site operating organically that is offering us (all the creative global ethical citizenry in our world) to cut all the bullshit and embrace the real great work at hand ~ radical evolutionary change in individuated human realization! Great teachers in these video clips that are spilling the truth and reality of our human condition and situation!

Last summer I visited San Francisco downtown, early in the morning, and as I was about to enter a Starbucks for a coffee there was a homeless person sitting outside on the sidewalk. I said hello and squatting down had a conversation with him about how he is doing? He shared his story like a lifelong friend and trusted my listening. When I was about to stand up and continue on my way he asked me to buy him a breakfast sandwich? He qualified his request by saying “I am not asking for any money, I have money for breakfast, it's just I am crippled and can't get into Starbucks.” He gave me four dollars and told me what to order and bring out to him. What a miracle and wonder it was for me? I moved to tears of just how cruel and inhumane our modern culture of power ~ exclusion ~ appropriation in a casino of predatory chaos has become.

THANKS FOR BRING THE MESSAGE HOME TO OUR WORLD ~ ROCK ON BRO!

I want to share my writing, the UnderBridgers series from the two years I've spent putting sleeping bags, coats, food, shoes, socks out into the streets from the back of my truck on the way to my job. The police have now driven out the people, but no new beds announced in this city. I left that job and moved to a low-paid, unproductive commute viz the gestures of the heart. My people, where did they go? You are right: everyone has a story. Looking forward to communications with you — THIS is the goods.

Michael
You mak us all “pause” and think “but for the grace of God someday that could be me in that video…”
We need money to fund your work and I have an easy way to raise it. How do I contact you ?

Hello Mark,
Greetings from Detroit, Michigan. You're work has captured the hearts of many wonderful people in America. Thank you for your hard work and efforts. I have grown up in Detroit for my entire life and I've seen a lot of homelessness. I think that it would be good for the city and the state if you brought yourself to Detroit and reached out to those who live on the streets, under the overpasses, in shelters and in their cars. Detroit has forever been seen as a scary city because of the number of homeless and increased crime. I think that if you shed some light on the truly beautiful and wonderful people who have made the streets of Detroit their home, more people would reach out and volunteer to make all life in Detroit worth living. I also think that the crime rate and shootings would decrease, thus creating a safer living environment for those who live on the streets.

Awesome. The work you are doing is a gift to all that are on the streets.
Rock ON!

the statistic is from a 2007 report by National Coalition of Homelessness. HUD reported in 2008 2 parent family homelessness in rural communities increased 56%. the fastest growing demographic of homelessness is young children under the age of 15. go up to video #1 on this page and watch it

I would just like to thank everyone who is involved in this invisible people project. These videos have truly opened my eyes, mind, and heart. Keep up the awesome work!

My husband and I had a ministry to the homeless veterans in downtown Dallas and Ft. Worth, Texas. We also were foster parents to many children. Some of the mothers didn't want to live in an apartment…they preferred living on the streets along with their little children. The veterans were mostly addicted to drugs or had varied mental illnesses which could have been caused by their military experiences. We were always blessed by the men and women we tried to help. I bought socks and underwear and gave them all a homemade afghan every Christmas. We had dinners for them and baked all sorts of homemade items. They always appreciated our efforts and most of them thanked us. One lady actually came back the next year and found me and gave me a plaque with a beautiful verse on it. Our ministry had made a difference in her life.

It is heartbreaking to see all the homeless people who would love to have a home and family. I believe most of them would prefer this over the minority who like being homeless. However, we did encounter those who would try to steal from us and would take the clothes and shoes we gave them and sell them on the street for drug money. We had to be careful, but I still believe the majority of homeless people are not like that. They appreciate any help we give them. Thank you so much for telling us about these people.

wow thats powerful stuff. thatnks for opening my eyes

Thank you Franklin Arburtha for showing us the other side. Is heart rending to see so many people suffering. If I had a million dollars, I would give much of it away just to help these people find housing, get food, jobs, try to restore the hope thats been lost. No one! No one living in one of the richest countries in the world should be homeless, sleeping on streets. This is the real America, a country who turns its back on their own people. A country imbred with racism, prejudice and bigotry. When I look at the lady blogger here who talked about having a ministry and how some people like drug addicts, alcoholics etc don’t deserve to be helped. Lady, it is people like you who makes America what it is today, a country built on hypocrisy, the hypocrisy of a people who say they are Christian people, but who in reality ignore the very same people living in their own back yards, the less fortunate, the needy, the hungry, the downtrodden, the sick, and the homeless! To the Lady with the Ministry, my only advice to you is that its people like you who should never have a Ministry. Take a minute Lady and come down from your God-like Judgemental throne, step down from your high horse and maybe read your bible, something that obviously owning a Ministry must have absolved you from doing. When your “Jesus” as you people insist on calling him walked the earth, he prayed for the sinners as well as the non sinners, he didn’t come to judge, he healed the good as well as the bad, he helped the poor, he fed the masses, who the hell are you then to be so judgemental about those you profess to help! Who the hell made you judge, jury and persecutioner, something you people have perfected over the decades! Before you rise to high on your royal horse and judge these homeless people, look at your own dirty history in America, and what was done to the Indians and the horrific atrocities committed against Blacks. Because whether or not you read your Scriptures and profess yourself to be so rightous that you have the right to judge others, let me remind you that it is written “You Shall Be Judged Even up Til the 5th Generation” So unless you are in some unimagineable way not related to your ancestors from generations ago who committed such atrocious crimes againsts people of color, then if my math is on point, it is you who will be judged along with your ancestors, most likely in the same way you seem to judge others. Let me say this, it is not for me, you or anyone else who gives to the homesless to judge what they might do with the help they are given. If they abuse or misuse whatever help they are given, then that is for God to judge, as long as you know in your heart you did the right thing in trying to help them! Then be at peace with yourself and go on your way. I cannot imagine what mental horrors these homeless people have had to endure, or what circumstances led them up to their present condition, but make no mistake, they all need some type of help whether its mental, emotional, physical, medical or otherwise, they need our help not our moral judgemental condemnation.

Lady blogger with the Ministry, maybe you should take heed that you don’t find yourself in the same condition as those people you’ve been so apt to judge! I applaud this young Black teenager, Franklin Arburtha, for giving us all a wake up call and filming the reality of what goes on in America! One of the richest countries in the world that has failed to feed, clothe and shelter their own, yet has no qualms about spending millions sending rockets to the moon or spending millions to find out the mating habits of sea creatures and the likes. I applaud this young man Franklin Arburtha for not falling prey to his present circumstances and environment, I applaud him for have the balls to call attention to the world about what exist right in their very own back yards. I applaud this young man for having the stamina and fortitude of not falling through the cracks as so many others have, yet having the inner character to not forget those who have fallen and may need our helping hand! But rather than just say thank you Franklin Arburtha, keep of the good work, I would rather make a pledge to get involved today and see what I myself can do to help the growing number of homeless people rising in America!

Although I have little money and hardly a home with my children, I was inspired to do something after watching your video. I wrote a letter to the mayor of LA and an email to my pastor to see if we can do something. I live in San Diego county so we will be focusing our efforts in this area mostly, but I pray that God will use you and this website to help these poor poor people. Thank you for bring to my attention the severity of the problem. God bless you.

Felicia

Oh, and one more thing. Which of us has managed to walk into any place advertising a job and get hired right on the spot with no phone # and address. How are they gonna get a call for an interview without a phone? Think people!!!

Felicia

How nice you have all this free time and are independently wealthy to do so.

quite amazing that we are the richest country and still cannot provide evereything

Awesome vids!!