Dave
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness
As I was walking up to the area in New Orleans where Dave and around a dozen other homeless people were sitting on a sidewalk the local police were making them move. At first I thought how rude. It was over 100 degrees and they were trying to find shade by a local church. But then on another street the officer was nicely talking to the homeless people and telling them an alternative location. Turns out the church does not want homeless people on their sidewalk. Well, that’s an easy fix. Open the door and allow them to cool off inside. But that’s another story.
Dave says life on the streets is “hot, dirty, grimy”. He talks about the local rescue mission charging $5 per night. There has been lots of controversy about this. On my last night in NOLA I was told by someone in the know that the reasoning behind this is because of budget concerns. The mission is out of money and had to make this change to stay open. Still seems kind of off to me. Especially if you charge people $5 to attend a church service.
Dave has a part time job but that is not nearly enough to afford an apartment. I found it interesting that many of the homeless people I met that day had jobs. Unfortunately Katrina destroyed so much housing that the cost of living has skyrocketed.
I love Dave’s 3 wishes.
Gus
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip 2010
Gus lives in San Antonio’s only homeless shelter. He is what the place calls a “prospect”. He is allowed to sleep on the ground in a large courtyard area.
Gus would rather camp than live in Haven for Hope, but the police keep raiding the camps giving people the choice between jail of Haven For Hope
Haven For Hope is a newly opened shelter in town. I only spent a little time there. Although the facility is impressive their solution seems more like institutionalizing homelessness.
Please note that I never asked anyone to speak about this shelter, yet in every interview that was the topic. Street talk about services is not always honest, but in this situation, and from my own tour of Haven of Hope, I have to agree that this is not a way to treat people. Even for my interview they only allowed me to talk to the Head of Secretary.
The ‘airport security’ and giving people the title of “prospects” and “members” gave me the creeps. But my concern is that homeless people in San Antonio are no longer given the freedom of choice.
Mama D
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness
Mama D lost her apartment in San Antonio, Texas. She has cancer and is out in the streets. But now the city only has one homeless services so she’d rather sleep outside then be in ‘prison’
Haven For Hope is a newly opened shelter in town. I only spent a little time there. Although the facility is impressive their solution seems more like institutionalizing homelessness.
Please note that I never asked anyone to speak about this shelter, yet in every interview that was the topic. Street talk about services is not always honest, but in this situation, and from my own tour of Haven of Hope, I have to agree that this is not a way to treat people. Even for my interview they only allowed me to talk to the Head of Secretary.
The ‘airport security’ and giving people the title of “prospects” and “members” gave me the creeps. But my concern is that homeless people in San Antonio are no longer given the freedom of choice.
David
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip 2010
David is on the streets in San Antonio, Texas. He works day labor jobs to survive.
Haven For Hope is a newly opened shelter in town. I only spent a little time there. Although the facility is impressive their solution seems more like institutionalizing homelessness.
Please note that I never asked anyone to speak about this shelter, yet in every interview that was the topic. Street talk about services is not always honest, but in this situation, and from my own tour of Haven of Hope, I have to agree that this is not a way to treat people. Even for my interview they only allowed me to talk to the Head of Secretary.
The ‘airport security’ and giving people the title of “prospects” and “members” gave me the creeps. But my concern is that homeless people in San Antonio are no longer given the freedom of choice.
Ken
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip 2010
Ken went through a bad divorce, lost everything he had, and moved to Austin, Texas, to start over. As luck would have it due to health reasons he cannot work.
Jeffrey
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness
I met Jeffrey in Austin, Texas. He is a glass artist and he wants to start a nonprofit that makes artificial eyes for families that cannot afford them.
It also just so happens that Alan Graham from Mobile Loaves & Fishes was wish me that day. Please support Alan’s work so there is an RV for everyone that needs one.
John
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip 2010
Unfortunately, a severe personal crisis as the cause to homelessness is not uncommon. Some stories will wreck the hardest heart, and I hope the next time you see a homeless person drunk on a corner you’ll have a better understanding.
John lost his daughter. She was 22 when she died, and as John puts it, he went “off the planet”
Obviously John is creative and has a bit of entrepreneur in him.
I met John in Austin, Texas. He sleeps on the grounds of a church. But because the amount of homelessness is growing, John is concerned the church will soon kick them all out.
Tilly
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip 2010
I love people. I know everyone says that, especially at job interviews, but I honestly do love people. And yes, it’s no secret that I have an extra fondness for homeless people. Often I run into the most creative and industrious people on the streets, which is how Tilly caught my attention in Austin, Texas.
Tilly found all this sting in a dumpster the day before we met. She does her best to keep herself busy, so she is making the best use out of her ‘discovery’.
Tilly tells an amazing story of mental survival on the streets. Please notice how she describes living in a shelter, and how it’s nearly impossible to heal in a shelter setting.
Levite
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip 2010
Levite is homeless in Wichita, Kansas. Right now he lives in a weekly rate, rundown hotel. These hotels are normally in a bad area and are not safe.
His mom was drinking and kicked him out, which is how he became homeless.
Levite just found a job and is now working trying to get far away from the current environment. He also has plans to go back to school.
Special thanks to Wichita Children’s Home
Marty
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip 2010
Marty has been homeless for two years. He is 19 now. We met in Wichita, Kansas, where he struggles to survive on a daily basis.
Special thanks to Wichita Children’s Home
