For my first group book project in class, I read the book “Tell Them Who I Am, The Lives of Homeless Women” by Elliot Liebow. Liebow spent two years getting to know women in homeless shelters in the Washington DC area. He worked alongside them and gained their trust during this time. Many of these women had sad, and to me, unimaginable pasts. Many of these same women hoped for change, and fought for change in their own lives every day. They fought for change by working several jobs, maintaining some dignity, and attempting to receive services. While some women had mental or health problems, addiction issues or were not attempting to work, many were not. Many of these women worked hard, on a daily basis, because they had several jobs and lives to upkeep.

One of the most striking things I read was when one woman claimed that she wasn’t “homeless,” rather she was “famililess.” This idea to me is a new one, and such an interesting idea. The woman repeatedly said that she didn’t lack a home, she simply lacked a family. Her claim was that if she had family to lean on for support, she would not be out on the streets and forced to live in shelters. Many of the women agreed with her, saying that if they had a family that they were still in contact with, they would be able to have a home to return to as well. An interesting idea to me, that having a family would supposedly fix their situation.