End Homelessness

Home » View Story

Homeless Real World

Published May 04, 2009 @ 07:57PM PT

Coming to a small screen near you: Homeless Real World.

Well, that's the working title. It goes like this: four Mile High City filmmakers looking to capitalize on the presence of MTV's Real World Denver set out to document the lives of six people living on the streets. The team captured 160 hours of footage, but it never aired. Why? It was deemed to risque.

Sure, anyone can imagine why a reality show that follows the trials and tribulations of homeless people could be perhaps a little too real. Yet millions of people are glued to their televisions each week to watch celebrities getting fired by Donald Trump.

Seems "reality" is acceptable so long as it's not too real.

I must admit: whenever I see videos about homeless people that are highly edited, my 'POVERTY PORN' alert goes off. Do the producers aim to cash in on the hardship of others, or is their goal to shed light on an important issue? I mean, the stories of people on the streets and in shelters are profound enough (as our very own Mark Horvath demonstrates each week). So adding all those bells and whistles just detracts from the moving power of the human story.

Relevant or exploitative? Profound or outrageous? You decide:

Homeless Real World (sizzle reel) from Broadcasting & Cable on Vimeo.

Spread the Word

More You Can Do

Get action and news alerts about Homelessness »
Browse top Homelessness organizations to support »
Find out more about Homelessness and what you can do to help »

Comments (7)

Pretty predictable, nothing that I think would upset our collective cultural sensitivities. Kids see gore and guts movies that make this video seem tame. I really have to wonder what is really behind the censorship. Sure, I guess you could say it was exploiting people for profit and maybe that was the reason. But we are all being exploited everyday by the great economic engine of consumerism. And homeless people and poor people have been totally exploited, to the point where they have nothing left. So why hide it? I say show it all and let's start being straight for a change.

Posted by Hearts of Fire Project on 05/04/2009 @ 09:24PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Hearts of Fire Project
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
I hate to say it, but this type of programming has no place on network television (or, really, cable television). I am wholly sympathetic to your work and this type of "expose", but it just doesn't have a place on our airwaves. The systematic process of berating celebrities or carefully chosen team members (by corporate structures) has a place because we have accepted it, companies have produced it, and, therefore, sponsors support it.
Film festivals, the internet, and public access groups are the best places for this type of program. Adbusters would also be a great venue, but their reach is limited. Even a program as risque as Family Guy has to fall within certain mores and norms. Unfortunately, real honesty isn't one of them.

Posted by gary pollack on 05/05/2009 @ 09:38AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by gary
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
What gets me is this type of sad face, tug at heart strings documentary at its best often fails to tell the solutions. It does not give the poor a voice. There is so much good which Could be done, if an advocate who wants to end 100% of poverty, teamed up with a film maker.

As far as it being on TV Why not? These airwaves CAN DO A LOT OF GOOD. If we go from Shotum ups' and carve them ups, to solutions of everyday problems. TV would be better if it wasn't just used to DULL the mind, and desensitize people to violence.

Posted by jan Lightfootlane on 05/05/2009 @ 10:13AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by jan
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
THAT SHOULD BE ON TV, IT SHOWS A LITTLE ABOUT BEING HOMELESS, BUT IT DIDN'T SHOW HOW THE LAW IS ALWAYS MESSING WITH YOU AND MAKING YOU MOVE YOUR CAMP.IT'S HARD LIVING OUT ON THE STREETS I WAS THERE FOR OVER 7 YEARS

Posted by terry west on 05/05/2009 @ 12:32PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by terry
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
The laws messes without the homeless-even before the homeless are displaced. States who have general relief or town welfare OFTEN deny the eligible the aid they need to stay housed.

Back in the 1980 Womens day had an article about a homeless lady and her retriver. She sleept in her 1973 Chevy Nova weithout it blowing up, or catching fire on her.

When her back went out and Mary could no longer work, She was wrongfully denied Social Security. which she got overturned many months later- but that was not seen as a CAUSE of homelessness.

You know why magazines do not consider improperly applied programs as causes for homeless? Me neither. One explanation is society- those earning $76,000 a year and above, love the "Flaws" in the system-they do not want them fixed. They are not the ones sleeping in cars.

If good people knew about the flaws they would most likely call to have them fixed.

Posted by jan Lightfootlane on 05/05/2009 @ 04:33PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by jan
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
What I think is shocking is that Change.org didn't send around a petition last to get Congress to vote for Bankruptcy judges to have the same authority to save a home as they do to save a yatch. I'm so DISAPPOINTED in Change.org.

http://www.health-boundaries-bite.com
Your fingernails reflect your health --
Learn some warning signs --
Karen Kline

Posted by Karen Kline on 05/06/2009 @ 12:30PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Karen
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
A bit garbled, there, because I'm so upset that Congress did not vote for the authority. I meant my post to say, "last week"

http://www.health-boundaries-bite.com
Your fingernails reflect your health --
Learn some warning signs --
Karen Kline

Posted by Karen Kline on 05/06/2009 @ 12:31PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Karen
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply

Add a Comment

For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

Comment

Check Spelling

Email me when there are new posts to this thread
Comment Policy

Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the ideas covered in the posts. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; that contain ad hominem attacks; or that are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion.

Author

Shannon has worked in homeless shelters and service organizations in San Francisco, the Triangle region of North Carolina, and currently in the greater Boston area. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.