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, but it’s never worked out. Complicated issues keep him from staying with them full-time while he finds his way back to his feet.
Asked for three wishes, he paused and eventually asked for only one thing: to turn back the hands of time. To have a fresh start and a second chance at his life.
Now in the middle of the Minnesota winter, I can only hope he found his second chance before the winter became too harsh.
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 only wish is for a well-paying job. One that will let him survive from paycheck-to-paycheck.
It’s amazing that barriers as simple as identification are keeping hard-working and willing people out of jobs. Here’s to hoping Jim can get through the necessary red-tape to earn somewhere to call home.
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 I would be alone and vulnerable.
The night before Reggie slept on a friends couch. More and more people including families are ‘couch surfing’ as an alternative to literally being on the streets. Just like the growing number in weekly rate hotels our government does not count this as being ‘homeless’. Reggie is lucky his friend is only charging $5 a night. As the economy gets worse I’m hearing more stories of people taking advantage of even their own relatives.
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.
Sandra says, “most people don’t pay that much attention”.
Together we can change that.
Blogger Megan Cottrell joined me that day and you can read her post here
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.”
It’s a solemn reminder of how important it is to have something to call “home.” Despite having that, he’s sleeping outside, and he recently had his possessions and identification stolen.
We must never give up on people. Whatever his past has held, everyone deserves a second chance. I am living proof that people do change.
Let’s hope Mark’s future holds promise and brightness.
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.
Karen wishes only for some money, peace of mind and getting into her new residence. It’s a shame that we can’t provide solutions for people like Karen who are simply transitioning and trying to make the right choices.
Currently in Los Angeles I’m trying to find help for a homeless single mom with two kids waiting on a Section 8 inspection. It makes no sense that a program to help low income people with housing would not expedite an inspection.
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 to James until he connected with a band of local churches who opened their doors to the homeless and provided a daily allowance of two bus passes.
Most recently, a program has provided James with clothing, shelter and a checking account. And even more, a light at the end of the tunnel. Asked what he would do with three wishes, he humbly acknowledges that he has everything he needs.
Imagine how many more stories could end with hope and promise like James’ if we each devoted ourselves to truly solving the issue of homelessness.
Special thanks to Solid Ground
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 are selling their large homes and moving into smaller, more affordable apartments. But to fit into these apartments? Well, many families have no choice but to make their older children move out.
The idea of downsizing families boggled my mind – I just didn’t see how it was possible for a family to kick out one of their kids. But then I met Dawn and her son Ryle at a rotating shelter near Detroit, Michigan. Just two days before this interview, Dawn’s mom dropped her off at the shelter.
Nevada isn’t the only community grappling with downsizing families. Last week, I interviewed Jack Gonzalez at the Los Angeles Youth Network, who also talked about how these families are affecting his organization. (That interview can be found here)
It’s incredibly sad the lengths some families must go to in order to survive during these rough economic times. Maybe your family will never be forced to “downsize” in order to stay housed, but I hope that Dawn’s story puts a face to this unfortunate phenomenon.
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 a strong believer in working hard to earn an income, but his medical conditions prevent him from working. Unfortunately, no insurer will take him on due to his rocky medical history; he has undergone a quintuple-bypass surgery and suffered from a gunshot wound.
But Leon doesn’t worry about himself; he worries about his brothers and sisters who face similar challenges after wearing the uniform. He said, “I’m speaking for the vets out there who are dying there because they’re not recognized for what they’ve done.”
I think I speak for all of us when I say, “We’re sorry, Leon. This is no way to thank you for your service and sacrifice. We will keep fighting to do better for you and all of your fellow veterans.”
Tami
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
As Detroit is wrecked by recession and economic difficulty, a new face of homelessness is emerging. You likely wouldn’t identify Tami as being homeless should you pass her on the street, but her story says otherwise.
Luckily, her experience in a homeless shelter has been an unlikely one as well.
She’s a mother of six who passed from family to hotels to her car and finally into a shelter. The shelter was the type of situation you’d unfortunately expect: rough. Soon, she connected with a house manager at Solid Ground. And within two hours, her entire family was accepted.
Now, Tami, through a shelter that felt like home and provided a healthy diet, is once again employed. Even better, she can now see the possibility of returning to school and securing a future for her children.
Tami shows us just a glimpse of the possibilities and hope we can offer to homeless families if we take the issue seriously.
