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.
Steve
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
I met Steve in Detroit. He is going through the system waiting for his turn to get housing. He says it’s a process and it takes time.
Steve spent 16 years in prison. He came home and started to educate himself. He now has a real estate license and is going to college to get a law degree.
Even people who have had a challenging past can change to make a better future. I know because I am one of them.
Carol
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
The first time I saw Carol, I almost didn’t talk to her. I assumed she was a volunteer helping the homeless in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Turns out, she was homeless.
Carol says sh is homeless because of the economy. She had a stable job in a restaurant, but when the economy went sour, her hours became reduced to the point that she could not pay her bills. Her husband had a work-related injury preventing him from full-time employment.
Like many of the other people I have met in my travels, Carol and her husband never imagined they would ever experience homelessness. They see themselves as normal, hardworking grandparents whose needs are simple. They hope to find assistance and get into an apartment before the cold weather arrives.
Special thanks to Allentown Rescue Mission.
Lori and Savanna
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
I met Lori and her daughter Savanna while visiting a rotating shelter in Detroit, Michigan.
I cannot imagine the challenges of raising a child without permanent housing. Yet children are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population.
According to data collected one night in January 2007 – 50% of homeless populations are families and children in a given year. 13% of families are homeless due to domestic violence. 39% of the homeless people are children under 18 (5% are unaccompanied youth)
Researchers estimate that between 4-7% of youth will experience homelessness before their 18th birthday. Homelessness takes a toll on young children. For example, a child who has experienced homelessness experiences post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at twice the rate of returning war veterans. ~taken from EndHomelessness.Change.org
Lori hopes for a better future. One where she can provide for Savanna – she says, “live a good life like everybody else”.
Special thanks to Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter
ABC News Detroit story of my visit
Nathan
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness
While walking this morning in Portland, Oregon I met Nathan. Too me the weather In Pacific Northwest is nasty and I don’t know how people survive on the streets. Nathan told me he has a sleeping back, a few jackets and uses storefront awnings when he can to stay dry.
Nathan has been homeless off and on since we was 10 years old.
Many street people do not want to use shelters. Lines to eat or use showers are long. Often they are not safe.
Nathan survives by begging for money at an intersection. In weather like today he hopes to get enough money for a nights stay in a hotel. Today Nathan was lucky
Butch
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
40 years. That’s how long Butch has been homeless.
It began in 1969. Butch was just a teenager living in Cleveland, Ohio. His family fell apart, and he became homeless. Today, he is confined to a wheelchair. He begs for money to eat everyday. He says he’s doing the best he can, given the circumstances.
Still – I can’t get this number out of my head. 40 years homeless.
Shame on us. We can do better.
Tim
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness, road trip
Last winter shelter season my eyes and heart opened up to the horrible plight of sex offenders living on the streets. Our street outreach team was called to find shelter for a man. He was a registered sex offender, so he wasn’t allowed to stay at the winter shelter. He had done everything right, reported to the police and the shelter workers. But there was no shelter that would allow him to stay.
No matter what you think of the crimes this man committed, he had served his debt to society and was adhering to the terms of his punishment. Still, finding housing – even emergency shelter – proved nearly impossible.
Up until that time, I had rather a hard stance on this subject. I thought sex offenders were dangerous, a threat to society. Who cares if they have to continue paying for their crime once their jail time is up? But one look into this man’s eyes gave me different point of view; he was so filled with hopelessness, so beaten down from trying to survive. It’s a difficult memory.
I met Tim in Cleveland, Ohio. He’s trying to make something of his life. But as a sex offender, it’s nearly impossible for him to find the help he needs.
I don’t know what Tim did to become a registered sex offender. But I believe an equally heinous crime might be our own society allowing people like him to suffer on the streets, sex offender or not.
