Category Archives: Portraits of Homeless

Hauntingly Beautiful Portraits of the Homeless

About being poor, Books and Films, Homelessness, Portraits of Homeless, Uncategorized

This week, I decided to search for an article pertaining to homelessness that utilized visual elements that could bring awareness to this issue. While traditional style articles can be great ways to spread the word of societal problems, I think that photographs and art forms of expression can have just as significant of an impact. The article that I found incorporated both written and visual elements and focused on photographer Lee Jeffries and his finds during his most recent trip to Miami, Florida. Jeffries describes meeting a homeless woman there who had spent most of her life in the adult film industry and after she no longer was able to do that, she spiraled into homelessness, depression, and addiction. As he states in the article “She understands what she’s doing, she understands the choices she makes. She just doesn’t see a way out. But she’s still a human being who looks out for other people, and the younger girls she stays with, often to the detriment of herself.”

The saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” really holds true to the photographs that Jeffries has posted of the homeless population, both in this article and his book ‘Lost Angels’. According to the article, it is his goal as an artist to give a face and a voice to overlooked populations. He has photographed poverty stricken individuals across Europe and the US on his personal mission to raise awareness to the oftentimes ignored homeless population.

These pictures say it all, it is almost as though you can see into the soul of the people in Jeffries pictures. Although the article itself was short and to the point, the inclusion of these photographs need no words, as they tell the stories and hardships of these people without needing much description. I think that this type of photography is a great way to raise awareness of homelessness, especially for those who are uncomfortable with it and choose to ignore it in their daily lives. I think it would be impossible to not feel affected by these striking visualizations of what it truly means to be without a home and to be treated without dignity.  As the article states “His style of commercial photography, he understands, “is a small ripple” in the scope of possibility for change, “but it’s significant in terms of what one person can do.”

o-MIAMI-900 o-SNOW-9002

 

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/07/margo-stevens_n_5079048.html

 

 

Crime of Homelessness

About being poor, Causes of Poverty, Government programs, Homelessness, Portraits of Homeless, Working poor

It has been interesting to see that most people think that homeless people are in the situation they are in because they are lazy and/or have no work ethic. This being said, for my teaching project, I have been trying to find real stories of people who are trying their hardest to get out of their situation as well as break the societal cycle.

Yesterday, a social reform type blog posted an article that did just that.  Shanesha Taylor is a homeless mother of 2 that was offered an interview. Because she had no one to watch or care for he children, she had me wait in the car. When she was done with the interview, her life became much more difficult. She was then arrested and her children we taken to child protective services. Since the story did not explain why she was homeless in the first place, it still shines a bright light on the issue of single mothers and their poverty level.  The article says that about 1.6 million kids in America are considered homeless and that sets them up for immediate failure as it makes it much more difficult to rise out of it. After hearing this story, many people reached out to Shanesha and donated money for her to help regain her children’s custody. As this situation was not her choice, it shows that society is constructed by giving the unfair advantage to those who need it the most. Now Shanesha and many women in similar situations have to deal with systems that will cost even more money and time. It is sad to think that people get in trouble for being in a situation they have no control over.

http://socialistworker.org/2014/04/02/the-real-crime-is-homelessness

The Real Causes of Homelessness

About being poor, Causes of Homelessness, Government programs, Homelessness, People, Portraits of Homeless, Poverty, Solutions to Homelessness

I found this story written by Mollie Lowery that hit on many of the points we have been making in class about what truly causes homelessness. Lowery writes the story of a chronically homeless woman named Lourdes. This story is powerful in pointing out the many different flaws of our current system and the ways in which we treat the homeless. I see a lot of the arguments Vincent Lyon-Callo makes in his book  Inequality, Poverty, And Neoliberal Governance: Activist Ethnography in the Homeless Sheltering Industry (purchase on Amazon) within Lourdes’ story. One of these arguments is that our society medicalizes homelessness. The best way I can describe this is by pulling a quote from Lowery’s story of getting Lourdes back into housing: “I began each day with reassurances that if Lourdes got in the car with me, I wouldn’t take her to a mental hospital. Such fear and distrust do not emanate from some genetic pathology. It comes from years of being marginalized, excluded, exposed and traumatized.” Both Lyon-Callo and Lowery emphasize the very important fact that the systems that we have in place to “help” homeless people place the blame on personal attributes, rather than acknowledging that the problem comes from these systems that create inequalities.  Though we have many systems in place to try to help the ever-growing number of homeless, Lowery stresses that “a far more humane, effective — and cheaper — strategy would be to prevent people like Lourdes from winding up homeless in the first place.” Rather than putting a band-aid on the problem, we need to focus on preventing the problem from ever happening. And this involves seeing the true cause of homelessness instead of focusing on “individual pathologies and solutions.”

Internship Progress

Local organizations, Portraits of Homeless, Uncategorized, Working poor

Through my internship, I am volunteering at a religious organization that provides food boxes, emergency food boxes, nightly dinners, and chapel services. I was determined to figure out what the organization had to offer as I wanted to be as unbiased as possible for the entirety of the internship. Upon first going there, I was aware that I was going to be package food and distributing it to those in need. However, I was unaware that it was going to be so much more complicated than that.

The hostility of the current volunteers was somewhat off-putting, yet this was a concept I would come to understand later on. I met a man named Bob who was the only one who greeted me kindly. We put together food boxes and he asked me several questions about my purpose and what I hope to gain out of the internship. The next time I came, mostly everyone greeted me kindly as I had gained the trust of Bob. The dynamic between the volunteers seemed unbalanced. This lead me to ask Bob why he started volunteering at my internship site.

Bob went on and explained his troubled youth in Chicago, to his move out west to work for a bank. Bob had a tiff with drugs and drug usage which landed him in his current unemployed state. He is on welfare and due to the fact he is unemployed, he has to volunteer 150 hours a month to receive his aid. Because he spends so much time volunteering, he is unable to apply for jobs due to irregular “free time” and a lack of internet service. Bob has a nine year old daughter and a wife, who is also unemployed. This lead me to investigate what motivated other to volunteer at the site. The answer was that they were all on parole, probation, or actively going to drug court for their own separate reasons. More than half of the volunteers were using the services of the site itself, depending on their own weekly food box.

There are a few key takeaways I have had thus far. First, all homeless people are not the same. Some people come to pick up their food boxes in work uniforms and some arrive in tattered clothes, but have the same needs. Second, not all people who need help can receive it. There is a rigorous process with my internship site that makes it competitive to receive aid with the limited number of spots. Those who are able to consistently receive aid are viewed as “the lucky ones.”  Lastly, society perceives help and aid in interesting ways as our culture feels like a simple “handout” can lead someone to success. While having a meal would make someone more likely to complete activities since they have calories to get them moving, it actually accomplishes nothing. The construction of our societal model of help blurred by certain help being perceived as good when the reality of intentions does not match the desired result.

The Blessing Center

How we should treat each other, Local organizations, Organizations, People, Portraits of Homeless, Solutions to Hunger, Uncategorized

The Blessing Center has been a great place to volunteer.  I am seeing the hope and help that they bring to people who are struggling, but also the impact The Blessing Center has on volunteers.  The Blessing Center is a small community within a larger community of Redlands that helps people who are in need, in ways I did not think were possible.  Seeing how volunteers who were once helped by the Blessing Center are giving back, shows the impact that this small community has had.  People who volunteer at The Blessing Center are hopeful and dedicated to helping others in any way that they can.  It is an organization that has stood in Redlands for over 14 years and continues to follow its values every day of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and helping those who are hurt.

Within The Blessing Center there are food and clothing distribution centers and resource centers available for their clients.  Being able to volunteer at this site has shown me the value of volunteering.  While working in the food distribution center you are able to see the clients and sometimes interact with them.  I was fortunate enough to be able to see and interact with the clients while giving them food.  It was very eye opening to see how many people just in Redlands were in need of help.  They picked up their boxes of non-perishable food and then came to us so we could give them the fruit/vegetable bags.  Many of the people kept saying “God Bless You” as they walked by showing just how grateful they truly were.

The distribution centers of The Blessing Center are opened every Tuesday and Saturday for clients.  After getting their food, clients are able to come back in and take any clothing if needed.  I have only been able to volunteer on Saturdays so I am hoping I can go during the week to volunteer and observe some of the other resources and centers that the Blessing Center offers.  They have class to teach people how to operate computers, resource centers to help people find jobs, clinics for people in need of shots or other medical attention, dentistry,  H.O.P.E centers for people affected by HIV/aids, and various programs for children.

My favorite part about volunteering at the Blessing Center is the sense of community that surrounds you while you are there.  Every Saturday Pastor Craig starts off the day with a prayer circle.  He blesses the food and clothing that they have received throughout the week and blesses all the volunteers.  He thanks God for all the opportunities he has given The Blessing Center and how grateful he is for it being able to help so many people.  He then opens up the circle for anyone else who would like a say a few words.  This prayer circle always makes me feel like I chose the right place for my internship because of the sense of community and how grateful, passionate, and hopeful everyone is.

 

 

 

Another perspective

News link, Portraits of Homeless

In an article written in Philadelphia, PA,  a homeless man writes about his perspective of the hardships of being homeless.  He goes on to say that homelessness is much more than not having a place to live, rather the issue is most likely deeper. Overcoming the hardship of homelessness is not as simple as some might think. When someone has reached this kind of low in their lives, it takes much more confidence to rise up and see a hope in one’s future. One Step Away is a small newspaper that is produced and sold by homeless people.

As soon as I read this, it reminded me of Street News that I read about in Grand Central Winter. After selling the newspaper, he realized he had a job and a new stable foundation to only grow from.  he said that even though people might not think that selling a newspaper could give you any new skills, but he has learned much in customer service, promotion, and more. He ended his article by thanking his audience and to those who have displayed random acts of kindness.

Reading articles and books from the perspective of the homeless continues to blow me away. How genuine, kind, and full of life some people can be when they have so little, is amazing. From my internship to observing people going about their daily lives, it is hard to see genuine optimism and love of life. Yet, for the people who have so much, nothing ever seems good enough. Why is society like this? What are we doing wrong? Who instilled this thought process in us? All I know is that this course has opened me up to a new kind of compassion, willingness to help, and outlook for others well being. I hope to be more like the man who wrote this article. If that were the case, the world would be a much better place.

 

 

 

 

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/one_step_away/Homelessness-can-run-deep.html

County to County

Government programs, Homelessness, Portraits of Homeless

This weeks data exercise put faces to the countless numbers of people who are homeless. While researching Riverside County I found that there was 31% decrease in homelessness between 2011 and 2013. In 2011 the homeless population was 4,321 people and in 2013 the homeless population was 2,979. Of that 2,979, 1,888 people were unsheltered and 1,090 were sheltered. Within Riverside County, the city of Riverside had the most homeless people at 571.

These may just seem like numbers but each one represents a specific individual. Seeing these numbers and the methods they used to come up with these statistics really put things into perspective.  I was surprised by the numbers in Riverside County because I thought that the numbers were a  lower compared to other counties. During my research I found that San Bernardino is the poorest county in California. The fact that Riverside County and San Bernardino County are so close to each other really shows the effect that bordering cities have towards one another.

For example, Pasadena, California tends to be an extremely upscale city. With that being said, homeless people often are not present. But less than 15 minutes away in Downtown Los Angeles is the greatest population of homeless people living on skid row. Our society stereotypes people to where we think they should reside. People believe that if someone is homeless then they should be with the rest of the homeless population. This is something that needs to be changed and by doing research and making people aware of the homeless populations within their own counties gives them the opportunity to step in a try to make a difference.

http://dpss.co.riverside.ca.us/files/pdf/riverside-county2013homelesscountandsubpopulationsurvey-6.3.pdf

“How I See Homeless People Now”

About being poor, Books and Films, Homelessness, Portraits of Homeless

In the article “ Anderson Cooper: How I See Homeless People Now”, he describes how his perception of homeless individuals has changed because of his encounters with dozens of people living on the streets of Nashville while working on a projects for 60 Minutes. Cooper expresses his surprise at the candidness and honesty shown by these homeless individuals when asked personal questions about their situations. He was stunned by the fact that the majority of these homeless persons seemed more than happy to share their tragic stories, with most of them just being glad to have someone take an interest in what they had to say. These series of interviews quickly proved to be eye-opening to Cooper and his team because of the diversity of stories, with many of the homeless coming from a variety of different backgrounds.

Cooper admits that prior to this project, he was guilty of walking past homeless people and simply pretending that they are not there, something that most people in society do because facing these people has the tendency to make others uncomfortable. He discusses the fact that to the majority of the population, these homeless individuals are invisible and ignored, and that is the way that they feel. This was a lesson learned by Anderson Cooper that he considers a huge source of personal growth. In his interview for 60 Minutes, he explains that there is a man who camps and panhandles in front of his residence and has been there for some time. Before this story, Anderson felt annoyed and uncomfortable with the man being there and never spoke to him at all. However, after completing this project Anderson has since spoken to this man almost daily, at least greeting him kindly as they pass one another. He has also taken an interest in this homeless man and learning about his past and the road that has lead him into homelessness.

This story relates to the course material that we have been covering because it reinforces the key theme shown throughout all the books, that homeless people have a story to tell and these stories are worth hearing. Individuals who take the time to listen to the stories of the homeless grow in understanding and compassion for those living on the streets. Whether these individuals are addicts, suffer from mental illness, have come from backgrounds of abuse, have suffered from a physical injury, or any of the other reasons that they have ended up in the situation of living on the streets, they deserve to be heard and taken seriously. In Morrell’s text Voices From the Street and many other course readings, the stories of homeless individuals and their daily struggles are heartbreakingly portrayed and they definitely change the perspective of outsiders. As Anderson Cooper concluded, homeless people are just like any other individuals that you may meet, they have hobbies, interests, fears, and struggles, the same as everyone else, but they just happen to live without a home and therefore are constantly disregarded and invisible. The opinions of people who discount the homeless as unimportant would undoubtedly be changed if they took the time to listen to the voices of those who are on the outskirts of society.

Sandy Banks: “Farewell, my Texas cowboy”

News link, Portraits of Homeless

Los Angeles Times columnist Sandy Banks published a beautiful story this morning, about a homeless man she knew well.  Eddie Dotson had been living on L.A.’s streets for many years by the time Banks met him.  He was polite to everyone and helpful to others.  He built a lovely and comfortable dwelling out of scraps and others’ throw-aways; he would rebuilt it without complaint when the street cleaning crews destroyed it (as they did every few months).  Banks remembers his patience and tenderness.

Banks wrote about him in 2009, which is the first that Dotson’s family in Austin, Texas, had heard about him in years.  They came out to L.A. and brought him home.  He died last week, so Banks wrote a moving essay about him and about how much he taught her.  Read it on Page A2 of this morning’s Times.

I want to praise Banks for her large heart and her clear prose.  I also want to praise the Times for hiring columnists — she is one of several — who show us that homeless people are human beings.

Eddie Dotson in 2009, after one of the times when the city of L.A. dismantled his sidewalk home.

What if we cared about those living in poverty as much as we care about celebrities?

About being poor, Books and Films, News link, Organizations, People, Portraits of Homeless, Poverty, Uncategorized

I recently discovered through tumblr a project known as Homeward Bound, which is affiliated with Woodgreen Foundation and is a part of United Way Toronto. This particular project focuses on the life of single mothers struggling with poverty, and suggests giving these women’s problems the proper representation and time.

I think these magazine manipulations are powerful, because a significant portion of society does care about celebrity gossip and tabloid news. I think this campaign cleverly critiques our society’s obsession with the wealthy and famous and flips this consumption of popular culture on its head.

No doubt if we were exposed to the reality of poverty on a daily basis as we waited in lines at the grocery store where our eyes inevitably wander, we as a society would be much more enraged about the problem.

[For more examples of the campaign’s pictures, click here: (w) (x) (y) (z).]