Music Man
Music has always been a force in Tony’s life and what has made living on the streets bearable. Tony is homeless; he is one of the forgotten people who have lived under the sky for more than four decades. Now in his 70’s, he is reconciled to this lifestyle, and at times, he wonders […]
On The Road
During the many hours James and I spent together walking through his “community,” he hardly uttered a word. I spoke; he listened intently, consumed in the conversation, but as a silent partner. It was apparent he was very much at peace with himself. I see him occasionally and we acknowledge our connection, but […]
Unfortunate Circumstances, The Graham Story
It was a cold day. I had been on Market Street since 7AM speaking with several homeless people as they awakened from sleeping on the cold cement. About noon the streets was alive, noisy, and full of life with people from all lifestyles. You could just sense the vibrancy in the […]
The Jungle
This section of the city was perilous both in darkness and in daylight. Trash lined the streets, which were the camping grounds for drug users and their dealers. Colorful graffiti covered the walls and fences with not an inch to spare. An elderly man was walking slowly, pushing his cart overflowing with stuffed plastic […]
Behind The Veil
The contrast between her dark lustrous skin and bright yellow scarf added mystery to the woman Behind the Veil. She was a stunning sight. Although quiet and a bit shy, she shared the struggles of her present life and contrasted them to her past when she had a family, a job, and a […]
Penny
The sun was brilliant and the wind howling through the alleyways when our paths crossed. It was difficult not to notice Penny, a heavyset woman with bright red unkempt hair blowing in the wind circling her freckled face. Her weary and weather-beaten appearance suggested the streets had been her home for quite some time. With […]
Kaceen – Heaven is Heroin
It was early on a spring day on Skid Row, in Los Angeles, a city with almost 90,000 homeless residents. There I was, walking among what seemed like thousands of homeless people just awakening from their sleep on filthy blankets and soiled pillows on the hard concrete streets. Some were lining […]
