Interviews
Real Stories: Meet Harold
Published October 01, 2009 @ 08:16AM PT
Harold is one of over 12,000 individuals living in our nation's capital without a home. I met him in Lafayette Square, a park located directly across the street from Obama's government subsidized cushy home, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
When Harold was released from prison, he moved in with his grandmother. She passed away and he had no place to go. He ended up on the streets.
I asked Harold what his future looked like. All he said was, "I have got to find a job."
Harold from InvisiblePeople.tv on Vimeo.
Real Stories: Meet Cotton
Published September 28, 2009 @ 07:13PM PT
"Brutal and senseless."
This is how Cotton describes homelessness. It might just be the most succinct and heart-breakingly accurate explanation I've heard in a long time.
Cotton is homeless and disabled. She lives in a tent in Greensboro, NC. If that's not bad enough, she has been living this way for over 16 years.
This raw and unedited story makes one thing crystal clear: living on the streets is horrible. Cotton is the real face of homelessness; the face that we need to see and hear and see and hear and see and hear until something changes. From this raw and gritty story, I hope you can find the the will to act. The will to get involved in the fight to make poverty and homelessness unacceptable.
I hope this story inspires you to do something.
Cotton from InvisiblePeople.tv on Vimeo.
Real Stories: Meet Yong
Published September 25, 2009 @ 04:00PM PT
Three months ago, Yong lost everything - including her house and all of her possessions - in a fire. To make matters worse, she did not receive the insurance money she needed to survive. She ended up homeless.
Yong's recollection of her first night homeless in Greensboro, North Carolina broke my heart. She was terrified. Today, Yong holds on the hope that she can soon move out of the woods and return to her life as it was before the fire.
While in Greensboro, I met Michele Forrest and her friend Audrie. They are part of a group that cares for the homeless in their community. They bring food, provide case management, and serve as a liaison to other homeless services in the area, such as the police.
Never forget that one person can make a huge difference in their community. Michele has, so can you.
Yong from InvisiblePeople.tv on Vimeo.
Real Stories: Meet Jim
Published September 22, 2009 @ 01:35PM PT
After working hard his entire life, Jim should be settling into retirement. Instead, he is 69 years old and living in a tent in the woods of Greensboro, North Carolina.
Jim only wants to return to his former life. His three wishes are simple: to go back to work, to get his home back, and to get a meal in a restaurant. I hope things turn around for him soon.
Jim from InvisiblePeople.tv on Vimeo.
Real Stories: Meet Coreen
Published September 17, 2009 @ 08:53AM PT
Coreen is homeless, but she is also a survivor. I met her on her second day living in Nickelsville, Seattle's infamous tent city. Rather than stay in an abusive relationship, Coreen ran with just the clothes on her back to escape the daily beatings. I'm glad she got away, many victims of domestic violence are not so lucky.
Although the thought of being homeless was frightening to Coreen, she was happy to escape to Nickelsville. She said that her first night in the tent city was the best night's sleep she's had in over a year, because she now feels safe.
Now if only we could give all of the residents of Nickelsville the peace of having a 'safe ground' of their own.
Coreen from InvisiblePeople.tv on Vimeo.
Real Stories: Meet Ed
Published September 14, 2009 @ 01:13PM PT
Ed lived under a bridge before moving to his makeshift "apartment" in a Nashville wooded area. While his current living arrangement isn't ideal, it is impressive. If nothing else, it proves that some people can make the best of a bad situation. Still, Ed looks forward to someday having a real apartment with a real light switch on the wall.
And as for his outdoor apartment? He says he'll give it to someone else in need.
Ed from InvisiblePeople.tv on Vimeo.
Real Stories: Meet Debbie
Published September 12, 2009 @ 09:16AM PT
Debbie lives in a tent in a wooded area in Nashville, Tennessee. I met her the week of her 55th birthday.
Sadly, Debbie says she is not new to homelessness. She loves Nashville because she has spent most of her life here, but said she cannot finding housing she can afford.
She just wishes she had someplace safe to live.
Debbie from InvisiblePeople.tv on Vimeo.
