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- 25 Urban Portraits in 25 Days - #2January 4
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Kim sat next to Michael with a big smile on her face. She said she started living on the streets several months after her parent's kicked her out. When I asked her what she planned to do in the future, Kim said, "I want to create my own homeless shelter."
Hindsight is always 20-20...
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As Christmas approaches, I am presenting a short series capturing 25 Urban Portraits in 25 Days. Each day I will be featuring a new portrait of a Seattle area person who is homeless or precariously in need. I am also presenting a portion of their story; as told by them. Follow along as I feature 25 Urban Portraits in 25 Days. Learn more about the series here. - 25 Urban Portraits in 25 Days - #3December 31 2008
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I met Michael and two of his friends in a busy shopping district in Seattle. The three were sitting on the sidewalk panhandling with a sign that read, "Bet you can't hit me with a quarter." The fact that their grammar and spelling on the cardboard sign was correct - even with an apostrophe in the word "can't" - should have been a big clue. With all the people I contact on the street, it was really just a matter of time before this happened to me.
The rest of the story to come...
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As Christmas approaches, I am presenting a short series capturing 25 Urban Portraits in 25 Days. Each day I will be featuring a new portrait of a Seattle area person who is homeless or precariously in need. I am also presenting a portion of their story; as told by them. Follow along as I feature 25 Urban Portraits in 25 Days. Learn more about the series here. - 25 Urban Portraits in 25 Days - #4December 29 2008
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I met John and his wife, Linda, in Pioneer Square. They were looking through care packages (large bags full of basic provisions) they had just received as I approached. The packages contained a variety of toiletries and food. The two looked cold and generally miserable.
John and Linda have been faithfully married for 25 years and have six children. Their life on the street began several years ago after John was afflicted with a "flesh eating bacteria." John explained that this left him unable to work. Eventually they both got hooked on heroin and lost their middle class lifestyle.
Linda was quick to point out that they have been clean for nearly three years. At the moment, they live in a broken down camper parked under the West Seattle bridge. They walk into downtown to get medical treatment and to pickup necessities.
Although I felt that John and Linda were telling me the truth, it seemed fairly apparent that there was much more to their story (such as why weren't their grown children helping them, etc.).
Life on the street is just one missed pay check away. Any one of us could face a series of unfortunate circumstances leading to homelessness. For others, living on the street can be quickly summed up as a series of irresponsible choices. With all the free resources and human services available in an average American city, how m - 25 Urban Portraits in 25 Days - #5December 29 2008
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I met John and his wife, Linda, in Pioneer Square. They were looking through care packages (large bags full of basic provisions) they had just received as I approached. The packages contained a variety of toiletries and food. The two looked cold and generally miserable.
John and Linda have been faithfully married for 25 years and have six children. Their life on the street began several years ago after John was afflicted with a "flesh eating bacteria." John explained that this left him unable to work. Eventually they both got hooked on heroin and lost their middle class lifestyle.
Linda was quick to point out that they have been clean for nearly three years. At the moment, they live in a broken down camper parked under the West Seattle bridge. They walk into downtown to get medical treatment and to pickup necessities.
Although I felt that John and Linda were telling me the truth, it seemed fairly apparent that there was much more to their story (such as why weren't their grown children helping them, etc.).
Life on the street is just one missed pay check away. Any one of us could face a series of unfortunate circumstances leading to homelessness. For others, living on the street can be quickly summed up as a series of irresponsible choices. With all the free resources and human services available in an average American city, how m - 25 Urban Portraits in 25 Days - "Passed By"December 26 2008
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Once in a while I bump into someone on the street who just isn't into talking to me (Ok, it actually happens more often than not!). Levi allowed me to take several photographs of him while he panhandled in front of a small drug store; however he pointed out that I needed to stay out of his way while he worked.
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As Christmas approaches, I am presenting a short series capturing 25 Urban Portraits in 25 Days. Each day I will be featuring a new portrait of a Seattle area person who is homeless or precariously in need. I am also presenting a portion of their story; as told by them. Follow along as I feature 25 Urban Portraits in 25 Days. Learn more about the series here.