Archive for the ‘road trip’ Category
Pearl
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
I saw Pearl sleeping in front of a shelter in St. Paul, Minnesota. She lives in fear of those she lives among. She laments those among the homeless that are strange, scary, and cold-hearted. It’s not all of them, and she knows some are “really kind.” She spends her days on the lawn in front [...]
Darryl
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
Before winter hit in St. Paul, Minnesota, I met Darryl. He’s been without a home since October, and he’s recently run into a new round of problems as his son needs assistance as well and he goes through a divorce from his wife. He’s tried to return to live with his family a few times, [...]
Jim
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
Jim is experiencing homelessness as he waits on an identification card so he can find work before the cold hits in St. Paul, Minnesota. His tax returns from the previous years or (non-working) credit cards won’t suffice, so he has to find another way. He isn’t looking to get rich or amass a fortune; his [...]
Reggie
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
There was so much noise on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue Bridge I didn’t notice Reggie was asleep. I felt bad. I should have remembered when I was homeless. Sleep came when I felt safe, or when I was so exhausted I collapsed. Rarely did sleep happen at night. Rarely did I rest away from people where [...]
Sandra
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
Sandra is a young girl homeless on the streets of Chicago. She lost her job and place to stay. Sandra really is invisible. Hundreds of people walk past as she tries to panhandle enough for a nights hotel stay. And because she sleeps in a hotel, government agencies do not count her as being homeless. [...]
Mark
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
I met Mark in the suburbs–another victim of the Detroit economy. With a checkered past, Mark is unable to find employment, and he spends most of his time looking to shelter himself from the weather, from snow to sun. Asked why he stays in Michigan, he explains that it’s because “it’s where he was born.” [...]
Karen
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
Karen is waiting for a Section 8 inspection to move into a new residence. Unfortunately, in the mean time, she’s staying on the streets. And it’s been three weeks so far. She’s feeling the pain and frustration of living amongst drug-users and drug-dealers as she tries to enter into a new phase of her life. [...]
James
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
From $90,000 a year to the streets, James is a story of American heartbreak. Working in the auto industry and as an electrician, he seemed on top of the world. He accepted an early buyout, took the chance to go back to college, and graduated to find no opportunities. Shelters and abandoned buildings became home [...]
Dawn and Ryle
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
The first time I ever heard the term “families downsizing” was this past July during an interview with the Nevada Partnership Of Homeless Youth (watch the interview here). Larry Lovelett, Homeless Youth Transition Specialist, said this was currently their biggest challenge. He explained that since Nevada has been hit hard by the failing economy, families [...]
Leon
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
Leon is a Vietnam veteran who has been homeless for six years. After serving “the greatest country in the world,” he is lost somewhere in the pile of Veteran’s Administration disability claims. While he waits for assistance from the VA, he is not receiving veterans benefits or assistance. He is on his own. Leon is [...]
