Real Stories from Las Vegas and Phoenix

by Mark Horvath

categories: Interviews, road trip

Published July 24, 2009 @ 08:54AM PT

This summer, Change.org will be bringing you real stories of homeless people from California to Washington, DC, courtesy of Mark Horvath's Road Trip, USA. Here are a a few stories from his second and third stops on the tour, Las Vegas and Phoenix.  

Meet Jim

I met Jim in Vegas on a 116 degree day. Like many others I met, he came out here to start a new life. Instead, he wound up on the streets.

Jim lives in a tent city that has been moved eight times. He says his only other alternatives are jail or leaving town. The most heartbreaking thing about Jim's story is that he has AIDS but not healthcare, so he doesn't receive badly needed medications. The only public assistance he receives is food stamps.

One of Jim's closing statements still haunts me, "it's hard on everybody, it's just a little more hard on the homeless."

Jim from InvisiblePeople.tv on Vimeo.

 

Meet Paul

I wasn't sure of I was going to post this story. But InvisiblePeople.tv has one goal and that is to present the realities of homelessness. And who knows, maybe Paul's story will strike a chord with someone out there.
Paul has been sober for one week. When I asked why such a young guy is homeless, he said, "Drugs, man. Sticking a needle in my arm... because of that. ruining relationships." He's right. Addiction is a serious crisis. One that leads to homelessness for many people.

Before you judge Paul, look at me. This Aug 24th, I will have 14 years sober. Let me assure you, I was far worse than Paul. But I'm proof that people can change.

I hope Paul makes it. Sobriety is a road less traveled, so he has a long battle ahead. Luckily, there are places like Phoenix Rescue Mission that are there for people when they are ready to change.

For a behind the scenes view of my day in Phoenix check out my Whrrl story.

Paul from InvisiblePeople.tv on Vimeo.

 

Meet Kenneth

Kenneth is a straight shooter. He's been sober for four years and is taking the right steps to move forward with his life. But it isn't easy. He has been to prison, so finding a job is more complicated than usual. He's getting old, he says, so his job skills aren't what they used to be. But he remains optimistic, "I just roll with the punches. But believe me, if there was some other way, I wouldn't be here."

Kenneth offered an interesting street perspective. He says that there are more shelters today then there were 20 years ago. At the same time, he says that even more shelters are desperately needed, because the need has not been met. He knows of people who are still sleeping under bridges at night because they have nowhere else to go.

Kenneth from InvisiblePeople.tv on Vimeo.