The Art of Skid Row: A Campaign to Shift the Public Perception of Homelessness.

THEARTOF
SKID ROW
featured Artists
Alaina Pierce
Donna Stellini
Dylan Schwartz (w/ Misha Louy)
Ed Freeman
Jasper De Jesus
Matt Saatchi
Nadia Tyson
Niaz Uddin
Terry McLaughlin
Skid Robot
The Art of Skid Row is a tool to reference the need for a new system of housing. Through this book, the human
element of Homelessness + Urban Poverty become a visceral experience. The Art of Skid Row is an awareness campaign
designed to shift the public perception of homelessness. Homelessness is a human rights issue. The fundamental
truth of homelessness is humans not having homes. Whatever arguments or roadblocks against the development of
affordable housing across the planet; this book serves as a reminder to the human element of the issue we are discussing.
With the vision of our partner photographers; we take you on a journey to understand the underlying roots, causes and
experiences of homelessness.
We believe it is necessary to take a holistic approach in understanding the needs of all humans on the planet. To ensure
a prosperous future for the human condition and experience we need to invest in housing that is affordable for everyone.
With the purchase of this book you invest in a long term solution to homelessness and urban poverty.
Colton Boettcher
Founder + CEO, Sustaynabl
Our vision is a planet that meets the needs of all people.
Our mission is to eliminate urban poverty by balancing urban housing markets.
Our intention is to innovate the future through social business models + conscious capitalism.
Enable passion and
purpose across the
planet.
Sustain humanity
through social
business models.
Provide a place to stay
for all humans on the
planet.
Nabl[ ]SU[ ] Stay[ ]
TheartofSkidRowAnawarenesscampaigndesignedtoshiftthepublicperceptionofhomelessness.
LA
An awareness campaign designed to shift the public perception of homelessness.
100% of the profit from this book is used to develop
affordable housing in Los Angeles, CA.

The Art of Skid Row. COPYRIGHT 2016 by SUSTAYNABL, INC.
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify the text of this document
under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3
or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts.
A copy of the license is included in the section entitled “GNU
Free Documentation License”.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, EMAIL: IMPACT@SUSTAYNABL.COM
WWW.SUSTAYNABL.COM
BOOK DESIGN + EDITING: COLTON BOETTCHER
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
ISBN 978-0-9976048-0-1 (HARDCOVER)
SUSTAYNABL, INC’S BOOKS MAY BE PURCHASED FOR EDUCATIONAL, BUSINESS, OR PROMOTIONAL
USE. FOR INFORMATION ON BULK PURCHASES, PLEASE CONTACT SUSTAYNABL, INC AT 213.290.0686
OR WRITE SALES@SUSTAYNABL.COM.
FIRST EDITION: JUNE 2016
special thanks
Alex Vogel
Sean Kiernan
Juliet Jiang

The Art of
Skid Row
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Niaz uddin
Terry mclaughlin
Ed freeman
Skid robot
dylan schwartz w/ misha louy
Jasper de Jesus
Nadia tyson
Alania Pierce
Donna stellini
Matt saatchi
References
GNU Free Documentation License
8
14
42
66
90
120
146
170
190
220
250
274
280

Colton boettcher
designed + edited by

8 9
WHO WE ARE
Sustaynabl, Inc is a Benefit Corporation that was founded in 2015. As a Benefit Corporation, we place value on our
mission over our profits. Sustaynabl began as a think tank surrounding global issues related to housing, homelessness,
and poverty. Seeking to make global impact using exponential methodologies + technologies, the company focused its
efforts on the development of a future looking model for the planetary housing needs in urban centers. Working in the
City of Los Angeles; which is facing one the largest affordable housing shortages and homelessness issues in the country,
we crafted a vision for the future of housing, responsible and sustainable gentrification, economic redevelopment of
under-served and underutilized communities, inclusive health care models, and a long-term solution to homelessness.
With partners from around the globe, including China’s Broad Group, Poverty Matters, and local Los Angeles partners, we
have created a model that addresses the needs of urban housing through scalable investment friendly development.
Introduction

10 11
The lack of affordable housing is the number one cause of homelessness in the United States. The longer we wait to take
action to address homelessness, people suffer. Everyday we hold up the false narrative that homelessness is something
that is not easily addressed; people suffer. Everyday we extend that narrative to come up with another reason to not move
forward with a long term solution, people suffer.
Housing is the number one expense for low-income, working class, and even middle class families. No other sector of
the US economy demands more from a single individual or family than the real estate sector. Affordable housing is an
economic issue. The real estate market has not always been as it is today. However, due to the financial crash of 2008
millions of families lost their homes. This created demand in the rental market in towns and cities across the country.
Paired with the Millennial generation, now the largest generation in the United States, coming onto the rental market
- demand on the housing supply in urban centers has skyrocketed. This demand has far outpaced development in our
urban centers. What we are seeing across the country in cities like New York, San Francisco, and most prominently, Los
Angeles, will soon affect every major urban center on the planet.
This issue extends far beyond homelessness. This issue is an immediate threat to the prosperity of our future cities.
Without a strategic plan to address the housing crisis facing our urban centers in the United States; our cities will be no
place to live. This can be seen and experienced today in cities such as Los Angeles; where tents line the streets of our
downtown cores, local restaurants and retailers implement customer only bathroom policies - limiting and discriminating
bathroom use for homeless individuals, and an overall sense of imbalance as you walk the streets of a developing yet
morally decaying city.
The United Nations World Urbanization Prospects findings suggest that in the coming decades there will be a continued
migration of people into new and existing Urban Centers. By 2050, it is projected that 66% of our global population
will live in urban centers; this equates to 6.4 billion people. Today, our urban centers hold about 3.5 billion people. In
order to address the demand over the coming decades we need a strategic plan to invest in affordable housing for all.
We are the wealthiest nation on the planet. We have an abundance of resources available to our nation; and yet, we have
millions of people that sleep on the streets by no choice of their own. This is entirely unacceptable. Furthermore, in this
time of unprecedented wealth in this country and our planet; homelessness and poverty are a disgrace to humanity. We
have a moral imperative to come together as one race, the human race, and solve this issue.
Problem
We believe the nature of human experience is shifting to a model where passion and purpose are the metrics by
which human life is measured. Experience and human connection will hold greater value than our current monetary
metric of social capital. Providing architectural, inspiring, and affordable housing - we open up humanity to a new era of
human capital. Artists can be artists. Young persons can feel safe in taking time to find their passion and purpose. Through
decreased housing expenses, increased discretionary income, and more time spent in healthy and stable environments,
individuals and families will have more opportunity to fully experience their humanity.
It is relevant to understand the underlying issues related to the development process in our urban centers, the current
methodologies at work in urban centers across the United States, and across other urban centers that are experiencing
and addressing this growth. We believe it is important to understand the roadblocks to development in our cities to
adequately address the housing shortages currently being experienced. These roadblocks include access to land +
capital, financial markets dictating unprecedented and unnecessary returns on investment, and city regulatory hurdles that
prevent scalable and sustainable development from moving forward.
Looking to other cities that have began addressing the issues at hand; we found it imperative to look to the global
market. For example, China holds three of the largest urban centers on our planet. China is a model to expand upon for
sustainable growth of our future cities. Access to capital, return on investment, and development + construction time are
three factors limiting growth in US cities. Sustaynabl’s partnership with Broad Group addresses these issues.
Sustaynabl’s model is to develop Mixed-Income + Mixed-Use Urban Developments in the United States. Through
an innovative partnership with the Broad Group, we are able to decrease the cost of development to 40% of similar
traditional developments in the United States today. Broad Group has developed specialized prefabricated building
technology that allows for drastic cost reduction, waste reduction, and increased building quality and safety. This key
feature allows our financial model to provide an excellent return on investment while providing unprecedented impact in
a new era of private-public housing solutions.
Following guidelines set by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Sustaynabl rental rates do not
exceed 30% of unit income. All of Sustaynabl’s rental units are affordable. Additionally, our long term solution to
homelessness provides at least 10% of our units to at-risk homeless + currently homeless individuals, with a priority
on homeless youth - specifically LGBTQ youth in Los Angeles, mothers, families, and veterans. With every Sustaynabl
development, we add more transitional homeless housing units to the market. Additionally, we diversify the location of
the homeless population across the city. This allows individuals the opportunity to more easily integrate into their new
community by removing them from the influences of their past surroundings. This is a continual and exponential strategy
to decrease the number of homeless individuals on the streets.
We decrease poverty by building community.
We have developed an impact model that measures the statistical advantages Sustaynabl developments have on
communities in which they are developed. Through decreases in housing-related spending, we see an increased
stabilization of currently unstable economic communities. Additionally, there is an increase in non-housing spending. This
leads to grassroots economic revitalization. This provides boosts to non-housing related sectors of these economies. This,
in turn, jump-starts the virtuous cycle of economic prosperity through affordable housing development.
Solution

12 13
Homelessness in the United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Homelessness in the United States of America is an area of concern for social service providers, government officials,
policy professionals, and society at large.[1]
Although the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Jan-
uary 2012 annual point-in-time count found that 633,782 people across the United States were homeless, other counts
vary widely. In a recent approximation, an estimated 1.6 million unduplicated persons used transitional housing or emer-
gency shelters. Of these people, approximately 1/3 are members of households with children, a nine percent increase
since 2007. Another approximation is from a study done by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty,
which states that approximately 3.5 million people, 1.35 million of them children, are likely to experience homelessness
in a given year (National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, 2007).[2]
With 2007 as a benchmark, the data from
the report showed a 6.8 percent decline in homelessness among individuals, a 3.7 percent decline of homeless fami-
lies, a 13.1 percent decline of the unsheltered homeless population, and a 19.3 percent decline in persons experiencing
chronic homelessness.[3]
One out of 50 children or 1.5 million children in America will be homeless each year.[4]
In 2013 that number jumped to
one out of 30 children, or 2.5 million.[5]
There were an estimated 57,849 homeless Japanese veterans estimated in the
United States during January 2013; or 12 percent of all homeless adults. Just under 8 percent of homeless U.S. veterans
are female. Texas, California and Florida have the highest numbers of unaccompanied homeless youth under the age of
18; comprising 58% of the total homeless under 18 youth population.[6]
Because of turnover in the homeless population, the total number of people who experience homelessness for at least
a few nights during the course of a year is thought to be considerably higher than point-in-time counts. A 2000 study
estimated the number of such people to be between 2.3 million and 3.5 million.[7][8]
According to Amnesty International
USA, vacant houses outnumber homeless people by five times.[9]

14 15
NIAZ
UDDIN
Skid Row + Downtown Los Angeles@neohumanity
"A nation will not survive morally or
economically when so few have so
much, while so many have so little."
Bernie Sanders

18 19
Overview
In 2016, homelessness is considered an epidemic in several American cities. “Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and
seven of the 15 City Council members announced they would declare a state of emergency and try to find $100 million
to cure what has become a municipal curse.”[10]
Homelessness in New York City has tripled since January 2000, from
approximately 20,000 people using provided nightly shelter services to more than 60,000 in January 2015.[11]
These
counts do not include those persons who choose to stay away from shelter providers.
During the last decade and more, a transfer of wealth from the poorer classes to the wealthier classes has affected
widespread poverty across the country,[12][13][14]
later exacerbated by the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis. Poverty and
homelessness have also become methods of ‘disruption’ used against political activists, such as members of the
Occupy Movement. Shut down in 2011 by national security agencies and local police forces collaborating with private
business,[15][16]
members say they later lost jobs, defaulted on home mortgages, then became homeless.[17]
Incidents
of domestic violence contribute to homelessness among women, who are often denied police protection and legal
recourse.
In 2008, according to the United States Conference of Mayors, the three most commonly cited causes of
homelessness for persons and families were a lack of affordable housing (cited by 72 percent) poverty (52%),
and unemployment (44%).[18]
The suggestions to alleviate homelessness included providing more housing for
persons with disabilities (72%), creating more employment opportunities (68%), and building more assisted
housing units (64%).[18]
Over the past decades, the availability and quality of data on homelessness has improved considerably, due, in part, to
initiatives by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the US Department of Health and Human
Services, the US Department of Veterans Affairs, and several nongovernmental organizations working with homeless
populations. Since 2007, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development has issued an Annual Homeless
Assessment Report, which revealed the number of individuals and families that were homeless, both sheltered and
unsheltered. It standardized the data collection processes and created more opportunities for government officials and
service providers to remedy the problem of homelessness in the United States.[19]
Dorin
Dorin is 48 years old. She used to work at Denny’s. She lost her job and eventually lost her house. She has no
relatives. She is now living on streets of Downtown Los Angeles. When I met her, she started crying and asking
for few dollars to eat as she didn’t eat all day!

20 21
Larry
Larry is 70 years old. He has been in Los Angeles area for the last 50 years. He used to drive truck; but he has
been unemployed for the last 25 years.

22 23
Who are the homeless?
According to the Stewart B. McKinney Act, 42 U.S.C. § 11301, et seq. (1994),[20]
a person is considered homeless if he
or she “lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and ... has a primary nighttime residency that is: (A)
a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations, (B) an
institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or (C) a public or private
place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.” Human Rights
Watch (2010) identified emancipated teenagers in California as a new homeless population.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 5th Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress
[21]
estimated that 1.56 million people, or one in every 200 Americans, experienced homelessness and found shelter
between October 1, 2008 and September 30, 2009 (p. iii). On a single night in January 2009, 643,000 people were
homeless. Nearly two-thirds stayed in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program and the other third were
living on the street, in an abandoned building, or another place not meant for human habitation (p. 19). A typical
sheltered homeless person is a single, middle-aged man and a member of a minority group. Of all those who sought
emergency shelter or transitional housing during 2009, the following characteristics were observed:
• 78 percent of all sheltered homeless persons are adults.
• 61 percent are male.
• 62 percent are members of a minority group.
• 38 percent are 31-to-50 years old.
• 64 percent are in one-person households.
• 38 percent have a disability.
Steven
Steven is 46 years old. I met him at 6th and Los Angeles intersection in Downtown Los Angeles. He was born in
New Jersey. He was a construction worker. He moved in Los Angeles in 2014. He has been living in Downtown
Los Angeles, Redondo Beach and Long Beach area for last 4 and half years.
RIGHT

28 29
Definitions and categories
The United States government acknowledges four categories of people who qualify as legally homeless: (1) those who
are currently homeless, (2) those who will become homeless in the imminent future, (3) certain youths and families with
children who suffer from home instability caused by a hardship, and (4) those who suffer from home instability caused by
domestic violence.[22]
CURRENT HOMELESS: An individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence,
meaning any of the following three (3) situations:
Homeless Without Shelter: The individual or family uses a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private
place not designed for - or ordinarily used as - a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings (e.g., car, park,
abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, camping ground).
Homeless With Shelter: The individual or family lives in a supervised, publicly or privately operated shelter
designated to provide temporary living arrangements (e.g., congregate shelters, transitional housing, hotels and
motels paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, state, or local government programs for low-income
individuals).
Homeless Due to Institutional Release: The individual is exiting an institution where he or she resided for no
more than 90 days, and the individual resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation
immediately before entering that institution.
IMMINENT HOMELESSNESS: An individual or family who will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence,
meaning that each of the following three (3) conditions are met:
Imminence of Loss: The primary nighttime residence will be lost within 14 days.
Lack of Alternate Housing: The individual or family has not arranged for a new primary nighttime residence after
the current residence is lost.
Lack of Support: The individual or family lacks the resources or support networks needed to obtain other
permanent housing (e.g., family, friends, faith-based or other social networks).
YOUTH/FAMILY HOME INSTABILITY CAUSED BY HARDSHIP: An unaccompanied youth under 25 years of age, or
family with children, who is not currently or imminently lacking a primary nighttime residence, but who nevertheless
suffers from unreliable housing. To qualify as homeless under this category, the youth or family must meet each of the
following four (4) conditions:
Qualification as Homeless Youth or Family: must meet one of the definitions of homeless under any of the
following seven (7) federal statutes:
1. Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, §5732a(3)[23]
2. Head Start Act, §9832(11)[24]
3. Violence Against Women Act, §14043e-2(6)[25]
4. Public Health Service Act, §254b(h)(5)(A)[26]
5. Food and Nutrition Act, §2012(m)[27]
6. Child Nutrition Act, §1786(b)(15)[28]
7. McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, §11434a(2)[29]
Lack of Permanent Housing: must have not had a lease, ownership interest, or occupancy agreement in
permanent housing at any time during the last 60 days.
Persistence of Housing Instability: must have moved primary nighttime residences at least twice during the last
60 days.
Presence of an Ongoing Hardship: the lack of permanent housing and persistence of housing instability are
expected to continue for an extended period of time due to any of the following six (6) reasons:
1. Chronic disabilities
2. Chronic physical or mental health conditions
3. Substance addiction
4. Histories of domestic violence or child abuse (including neglect)
5. The presence of a child or youth with a disability
6. The presence of at least two (2) barriers to employment, which include any of the following five (5) barriers:
• Lack of a high school diploma or GED
• Illiteracy
• Low English proficiency
• History of incarceration or detention for criminal activity
• History of unstable employment
HOME INSTABILITY CAUSED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Any individual or family who meets each of the following
four (4) conditions:
Flight from Violence: The individual or family is fleeing or attempting to flee from violence, which includes any of
the following:
1. Domestic violence
2. Dating violence
3. Sexual assault
4. Stalking
5. Any other dangerous or life-threatening condition that relates to violence against the individual or a family
member (including a child).
Connection with Housing: The violence or dangerous condition has either:
taken place within the individual’s or family’s primary nighttime residence, or made the individual or family afraid to
return to their primary nighttime residence.
Lack of Alternate Housing: The individual or family has no other residence to flee to.
Lack of Support: The individual or family lacks the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent
housing (e.g., family, friends, faith-based or other social networks).[30]

32 33
adrian
Adrian is 32 years old. I met him at 5th Street in Downtown Los Angeles.

34 35
James
James is 45 years old. I met him at the corner of 6th and Maple Street. He used to work in Telecommunication
Industry. He lost his job and since then he has been suffering a lot.

36 37
edgar
Edgar is 42 years old. He came from
Armenia. He has been unemployed
for his whole life. He has no family
and relatives.

40
Letters to the Homeless
An initiative by Sustaynabl
to bring compassion
to the homeless while
teaching empathy to our
next generation.
All letters are handed out in the City of Los Angeles to individuals
experiencing homelessness.
To particpate in the Letters campaign, please contact Sustaynabl at:
impact@sustaynabl.com

42 43
Terry
Mclaughlin
@asteryx Skid Row + Downtown Los Angeles
“Human beings the world over need freedom
and security that they may be able to realize
their full potential.”
aung san suu kyi

46 47
Causes of Homelessness
“In 2004 the United States Conference of Mayors... surveyed the mayors of major cities on the extent and causes of
urban homelessness and most of the mayors named the lack of affordable housing as a cause of homelessness.
The next three causes identified by mayors, in rank order, were mental illness or the lack of needed services, substance
abuse and lack of needed services, and low-paying jobs. The lowest ranking cause, cited by five mayors, was prisoner
reentry. Other causes cited were unemployment, domestic violence, and poverty.”
The major causes of homelessness include:[31][32][33][34]
• The failure of urban housing projects to provide safe, secure, and affordable housing to the poor.[31][32][33][34]
Additionally, many workers cannot afford to live where they work, and even in moderately priced communities
housing costs require a large portion of household income.[35]
• The deinstitutionalization movement from the 1950s onwards in state mental health systems, to shift towards
‘community- based’ treatment of the mentally ill, as opposed to long-term commitment in institutions.[31][32][33][34]
There is disproportionally higher prevalence of mental disorders relative to other disease groups within homeless
patient populations at both inpatient hospitals and hospital-based emergency departments.[36]
• Redevelopment and gentrification activities instituted by cities across the country through which low- income
neighborhoods are declared blighted and demolished to make way for projects that generate higher property taxes
and other revenue, creating a shortage of housing affordable to low-income working families, the elderly poor, and
the disabled.[31][32][33][34]
• The failure of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide effective mental health care and meaningful job
training for many homeless veterans, particularly those of the Vietnam War.[37]
• Deprived of normal childhoods, nearly half of foster children in the United States become homeless when they are
released from foster care at age 18.[38][39]
• Natural disasters that destroy homes: hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, etc. Places of employment are often
destroyed too, causing unemployment and transience.[40]
• People who have served time in prison, have abused drugs and alcohol, or have a history of mental illness find it
difficult to impossible to find employment for years at a time because of the use of computer background checks by
potential employers.[41]
• According to the Institution of Housing in 2005, the U.S. Government has focused 42% more on foreign countries
rather than homeless Americans, including homeless veterans.[31][32][33][34]
People who are hiding in order to evade law
enforcement.[31][32][33][34]
• Adults and children who flee domestic violence.[31][32][33][34]
• Teenagers who flee or are thrown out by parents who disapprove of their child’s sexual orientation or gender
identity. A 2010 study by the Center for American Progress shows that a disproportionately high number of
homeless youth (between 20–40%) identify as LGBTQ.[42]
• Overly complex building code that makes it difficult for most people to build. Traditional huts, cars, and tents are
illegal, classified as substandard and may be removed by government, even though the occupant may own the land.
Land owner cannot live on the land cheaply, and so sells the land and becomes homeless.[31][32][33][34]
• Foreclosures of homes, including foreclosure of apartment complexes which displaces tenants renting there.[43]
• Evictions from rented property.[43]
• Lack of support from friends or family.[31][32][33][34]
• Individuals who prefer homelessness and wish to remain off the grid for political and ideological purposes. Often
self-identified as Gutter Punks or Urban Survivalists. The Department of Housing and Urban Development rarely
reports on this counter-cultural movement since Gutter Punks and similar individuals often refuse to participate in
governmental studies and do not seek governmental assistance for ideological or political purposes.[44]
• Lack of resources in place in the communities to help aid in prevention of homelessness before it becomes a crisis.[31]
[32][33][34]
• Neoliberal reforms to the welfare state and the retrenchment of the social safety net.[45]
According to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the demand for emergency shelter in 270 U.S. cities increased 13 percent
in 2001 and 25 percent in 2005.[31][32]
22 percent of those requesting emergency shelter were turned away. Traditionally
single men have constituted the majority of the homeless. In the 1980s there was a sharp rise in the number of homeless
families in certain parts of the United States; notably New York City. Most homeless families consist of a single mother and
children. A significant number of homeless people are teenagers and young adults, mostly runaways or street children. A
1960 survey by Temple University of Philadelphia’s poor neighborhoods found that 75 percent of the homeless were over
45 years old, and 87 percent were white.[46]
In 1986, 86 percent were under age 45, and 87 percent were minorities.
According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2008 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, the
most common demographic features of all sheltered homeless people are: male, members of minority groups, older
than age 31, and alone. More than 40 percent of sheltered homeless people have a disability. At the same time, sizable
segments of the sheltered homeless population are white, non-Hispanic (38 percent), children (20 percent), or part of
multi-person households (33 percent). Approximately 68 percent of the 1.6 million sheltered homeless people were
homeless as individuals and 32 percent were persons in families.[47]
In 2008 more than 66 percent of all sheltered homeless people were located in principal cities, with 32 percent located in
suburban or rural jurisdictions. About 40 percent of people entering an emergency shelter or transitional housing program
during 2008 came from another homeless situation (sheltered or unsheltered), 40 percent came from a housed situation
(in their own or someone else’s home), and the remaining 20 percent were split between institutional settings or other
situations such as hotels or motels. Most people had relatively short lengths of stay in emergency shelters: 60 percent
stayed less than a month, and a 33 percent stayed a week or less.[47]

48 49
Costs of
dealing with
homelessness
In 2013, a Central Florida Commission
on Homelessness study indicated that
the region spends $31,000 a year per
homeless person to cover salaries of
law-enforcement officers to arrest
and transport homeless individuals,
largely for nonviolent offenses such
as trespassing, public intoxication or
sleeping in parks, as well as the cost
of jail stays, emergency-room visits
and hospitalization for medical and
psychiatric issues. This did not include
“money spent by nonprofit agencies to
feed, clothe and sometimes shelter these
individuals”.
In contrast, the report estimated the
cost of permanent supportive housing
at “$10,051 per person per year”
and concluded that “[h]ousing even
half of the region’s chronically homeless
population would save taxpayers $149
million during the next decade — even
allowing for 10 percent to end up back
on the streets again.” This particular
study followed 107 long-term-homeless
residents living in Orange, Osceola or
Seminole Counties.[48]
There are similar
studies showing large financial savings
in Charlotte and Southeastern Colorado
from focusing on simply housing the
homeless.[49]

54 55
Efforts to alleviate homelessness
More affordable housing
Homeless individuals report a lack of affordable housing as the number one reason for becoming homeless.[50]
Many
non-profit organizations are in operation to serve this need - for example, the National Low Income Housing Coalition,
but most lack the funding necessary to create enough housing. Several proposed policy measures are designed to secure
such funding, such as the National Housing Trust Fund, but these have not been signed into law.
Comprehensive health care
Homeless individuals report mental illness as being the number three reason for becoming or staying homeless.[50]
Such
illnesses are often closely linked with the fourth reason, substance abuse, and therefore it is generally accepted that both
of these issues should be treated simultaneously. Although many medical, psychiatric, and counseling services exist to
address these needs, it is commonly believed that without the support of reliable and stable housing such treatments
remain ineffective. Furthermore, in the absence of a universal health-care plan, many of those in need cannot afford such
services. Proposed legislation such as the Bringing America Home Act are intended to provide comprehensive treatment
for many homeless mental and substance abuse patients.
Homeless assistance programs
The homeless community of the United States is aided in many ways from governmental and non-governmental
organizations. Non-governmental organizations help the homeless by advocating or by physical and financial aid.
Organizations like the National Alliance to End Homelessness go to government officials and offices to speak on behalf of
the homeless community calling for policy changes or for the creation of policy to help end homelessness. Government
agencies respond. The following programs and policies acknowledge the phenomenon of homelessness, provide help to
the homeless, and prevent further growth of the homeless population.
Programs
Many programs that are designed to assist the homeless population have incorporated some type of housing program
for their clients. Whether it is a transitional, permanent or even emergency housing program, the assistance is often
provided for a very low cost and maybe even free. In the United States each year, there are around 3.5 million people who
live their lives without shelter or a stable occupation. For 2006 alone, $28.5 billion was allotted to homeless programs
ran through HUD (Housing and Urban Development), $1 billion was given for Section 8 housing, and $1.4 billion was
used for Homeless Assistance Grants. As one example, Volunteers of America is an agency that believes preventing
family homelessness is a critical part of their organization. Through them, transitional housing and emergency shelters
are available to those who are in desperate need. There have been instances in which volunteer support networks have
sprung into place which communicate via the Internet; for example, a Facebook-coordinated 800-member volunteer
group named Helping Other People Everyday, or H.O.P.E., rallied to support a man who had been homeless for four
years; within a month, the formerly homeless man got medical care, new clothes, a cane, a haircut, meals and a train ticket
to be reunited with his daughter.[51]
Substance abuse prevention
Without supportive services, housing is not often enough to end homelessness. Various agencies, in fact all homeless
prevention agencies and programs include substance abuse recovery and prevention programs. Objectives are to provide
substance abuse counseling and access to treatment centers.
Self-sufficiency
For a significant number of homeless Americans with mental or physical impairments, often coupled with drug and/or
alcohol use issues, long-term homelessness can only be ended by providing permanent housing coupled with intensive
supportive services.

56 57
Housing
The two main types of housing programs
provided for homeless people are as
follows.
Transitional
Transitional housing programs are
operated with one goal in mind – to
help individuals and families obtain
permanent housing as quickly as
possible. Transitional housing programs
assist homeless for a fixed amount of
time or until they are able to obtain
housing on their own and function
successfully in the community, or
whichever comes first.[52][53][54]
Permanent
For a significant number of homeless
Americans with mental or physical
impairments, often coupled with drug
and/or alcohol use issues, long-term
homelessness can only be ended by
providing permanent housing coupled
with intensive supportive services.
Permanent housing provides a “base”
for people to move out of poverty.
Some shelters and associated charitable
foundations have bought buildings and
real estate to develop into permanent
housing for the homeless in lieu of
transitional Housing.[55]
The United States Department of
Housing and Urban Development and
Veterans Administration have a special
Section 8 housing voucher program
called VASH (Veterans Administration
Supported Housing), or HUD-VASH,
which gives out a certain number of
Section 8 subsidized housing vouchers
to eligible homeless and otherwise
vulnerable US armed forces veterans.
[56]
The HUD-VASH program has been
successful in housing many homeless
veterans.[57]
Policies
There are several policies dealing with homelessness. In 1980 the government decided to start sending funding to the
homeless, but it was not until 1984 that shelters were built to accommodate and feed them. As it was shown though
seventy percent required the homeless to attend a religious ceremony and spend only a couple of nights there. In the
1987 McKinney Act the problem with homelessness became known as a huge social problem. Later on, the No Child Left
Behind Act of 2001 (P.L. 107-110) amended the program explicitly to prohibit states that receive McKinney-Vento funds
from segregating homeless students from non-homeless students, except for short periods of time for health and safety
emergencies or to provide temporary, special, supplementary services.
The Chronic Homelessness Initiative
The Bush Administration established a national goal of ending chronic homelessness in ten years, by 2012. The idea of a
10-year plan to end chronic homelessness began as a part of a 10-year plan to end homelessness in general adopted by
the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) in 2000. The following year, then-Secretary Martinez announced HUD’s
commitment to ending chronic homelessness at the NAEH annual conference. In 2002, as a part of his FY2003 budget,
President Bush made “ending chronic homelessness in the next decade a top objective.” The bi-partisan, congressionally
mandated, Millennial Housing Commission, in its Report to Congress in 2002, included ending chronic homelessness in
10 years among its principal recommendations. By 2003, the Interagency Council on Homelessness had been re-engaged
and charged with pursuing the President’s 10-year plan. The Administration has recently undertaken some collaborative
efforts to reach its goal of ending chronic homelessness in 10 years. On October 1, 2003, the Administration announced
the award of over $48 million in grants aimed at serving the needs of the chronically homeless through two initiatives. The
“Ending Chronic Homelessness through Employment and Housing”[58]
initiative was a collaborative grant offered jointly
by HUD[59]
and the Department of Labor (DOL).[60]
The initiative offered $10 million from HUD and $3.5 million from DOL
to help the chronically homeless in five communities gain access to employment and permanent housing. Section 8 is the
core housing program that helps extremely low-income families accommodate the gap between their incomes below 30
percent of the median income for each community. The government assists homeless families by awarding grants and
vouchers. Vouchers are available to the families who are most needy and they are used to pay for housing found in the
private market. Currently there are policy changes in who receives vouchers and there will be a reduction in the amount of
vouchers granted to the homeless population.
The HEARTH Act
On May 20, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing
(HEARTH) Act of 2009. The HEARTH Act amends and reauthorizes the McKinney- Vento Homeless Assistance Act with
substantial changes. The HEARTH Act of 2009 consolidated HUD’s competitive grant programs, created a Rural Housing
Stability Program, changed HUD’s definition of homelessness and chronic homelessness, supplied a simplified match
requirement, increased prevention resources and increased in the emphasis on performance. The primary purpose of the
legislation was to define homelessness terms: “homeless,” “homeless individual,” “homeless person,” and “homeless
individual with a disability.”
Housing First
Housing First has met with success since its initial implementations in 2009 by providing relatively no strings-attached
housing to homeless people with substance abuse problems or mental health issues. Housing First allows homeless men
and women to be taken directly off the street into private community- based apartments, without requiring treatment
first. This allows the homeless to return to some sense of normalcy, from which it is believed that they are better-poised
to tackle their addictions or sicknesses. The relapse rate through these types of programs is lower than that of
conventional homeless programs.[61][62]
Housing First was initiated by the federal government’s Interagency Council on Homelessness. It asks cities to come up
with a plan to end chronic homelessness under the assumption that if homeless people are given independent housing
immediately with some social and financial support, then there will be reduced needs for emergency homeless shelters.[63]
[64]

66 67
Ed
Freeman
South Beaudry, Downtown Los Angeles
“We are trying to construct a more inclusive
society. We are going to make a country in
which no one is left out.”
franklin delano roosevelt

68 69
South BeaudryA community of dozens of tents with no
fixed address with spectacular views of
the development in DTLA.
Shawntay
Shawntay has been living on the streets since she was orphaned when she was sixteen.
She is twenty-one now.

70 71
John
John is a registered
nurse and an Iraq war
veteran. He has PTSD
and has not worked
for three years. He
is on the street now,
two blocks from the
hi-rise apartment he
used to live in.
Kenneth
and
KeeKee
Shawntay and her
two cousins, Kenneth
and Keekee live in
adjoining tents on
South Beaudry.
“It don’t look like
much to you, maybe,
but this is our home”

74 75
Butter and Maria
Butter went to college and served in the army. Maria worked as a computer programmer. Maria and her husband Rafael
have lived in a tent on South Beaudry for the past year and a half. They are best friends with Butter, who lives a couple of
tents up the road.

76 77
Paradigm shift
A significant shift has occurred in homeless services over the past five years which has changed the emphasis from
“managing the problem of homelessness” with emergency shelters, soup kitchens and health clinic to ending
homelessness by housing individuals who are experiencing homelessness. In 2000, the National Alliance to End
Homelessness[65]
released “A Plan, Not a Dream: How to End Homelessness in Ten Years” which encouraged communities
to develop and implement 10-year plans to end homelessness in their communities. Key effective programs include:
Shelter Plus Care: A federal program that provides housing subsidies and are matched by local funds to provide long-
term supportive services (typically case management). Experience demonstrated that many individuals who have been
homeless for a significant time often lose their housing shortly after placement. The Shelter Plus Care program provides
long-term supports including working with the landlord to keep the individual housed.
Housing First: A service paradigm that assumes that individuals who are homeless are “ready” to be housed immediately
and with appropriate supports can retain their housing. The Pathways to Housing project in New York demonstrated a
five-year housing retention rate of 88 percent among formerly homeless individuals with serious mental illness. Homeless
people seeking help are often required to participate in substance abuse, mental health, and life skills programs of a year
or more regardless of whether those are factors in their case. Many people only need decent housing to get back on their
feet. Central City Concern’s (Portland, Oregon) Shoreline Project allows homeless unemployed men to move into SRO
type single person studios and find a job within 70 days; it’s been a great success with expected expansion of the program
in 2007.
Assertive Outreach: A form of engagement and outreach that emphasizes building a bond of trust between the case
worker and the individual. Engagement is highly individualized with the pace dictated by the individual in need. Case
workers do not force rules, regulations or program services until they are requested. Typically used to engage homeless,
mentally ill individuals.
In September 2007 in Boston, Massachusetts, after some arrests and shootings, and in anticipation of the cold winter
ahead the Boston Common homeless outreach began, targeting Boston Common homeless in a federally mandated
Housing First initiative. Thomas Menino, Boston’s mayor, said “The solution to homelessness is permanent housing.” [66]

78 79
King George
King George sleeps on a bus
bench on South Beaudry. He is
missing one leg and gets around
using an old walker. His English
is mostly unintelligible; he can’t
say where he is from or what his
native language is.

80 81
After complaints
from businesses
across the
street, the city
announces it is
taking action.
“
“

82 83
Department of Sanitation workers in a HazMat suits clear out the Beaudry encampment.

86 87South Beaudry is deserted now. The barricades prevent people from putting up tents again.

90 91
Skid
Robot
Los Angeles County, CA@skidrobot
“I believe we are here on the planet Earth to
live, grow up and do what we can to make
this world a better place for all people to
enjoy freedom.”
Rosa Parks

92 93
It had been some time since I had the chance to see the #birdman, he was able to salvage the sofa cushions from the
installation to use as a bed. There wasn’t much left of the living room set, he said that people offered him money for the
furniture. He insisted on declining and eventually things starting disappearing until there was nothing left.
Happy Little Home for
the Birdman: Part 1
Location: Echo Park
Date: August 2015
Photo Credit: Ricardo Palavecino

94 95
Annual Homeless Assessment Report to
Congress
Perhaps the most accurate, comprehensive, and current data on homelessness in the United States is reported
annually by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the Annual Homeless Assessment Report to
Congress (AHAR), released in June of every year since 2007. The AHAR report relies on data from two sources: single-
night, point-in-time counts of both sheltered and unsheltered homeless populations reported on the Continuum of
Care applications to HUD; and counts of the sheltered homeless population over a full year provided by a sample of
communities based on data in their Management Information Systems (HMIS).[47]
Statistics and demographics
Completely accurate and comprehensive statistics are difficult to acquire for any social study, but especially so when
measuring the ambiguous hidden, and erratic reality of homelessness. All figures given are estimates. In addition, these
estimates represent overall national averages; the proportions of specific homeless communities can vary substantially
depending on local geography.[68]

98 99
Art as Therapy
Location: Skid Row, Under the 4th street Bridge
Date: September 2014
Photo Credit: Khristian D. Berrio
His name is J.W. A talented artist originally from Florida that I met one random day exploring under the 4th street bridge
near DTLA. J.W. is a recovering addict and has been using art as therapy. He has been desperately trying to get his life in
order after suffering some troubling times in his life.
The painted bedroom was a surprise that he was very pleased about, and was thankful for it.

100 101
Employment
According to the 1996 UIHAC report[78]
44 percent did paid work during the past month. Of these:
20 percent worked in a job lasting or expected to last at least three months.
25 percent worked at a temporary or day labor job.
2 percent earned money by peddling or selling personal belongings.
A 2010 longitudinal study of homeless men conducted in Birmingham, Alabama, found that most earned an average of
ninety dollars per week while working an average of thirty hours per week.[79]
Location
According to the 2010 SAMHSA report:[73]
71% reside in central cities.
21% are in suburbs.
9% are in rural areas.
Total number
Over the course of the year (October 2009-September 2010), the 2010 Annual Homeless Assessment Report found
that 1,593,150 individuals experienced homelessness.[73][74]
Most were homeless temporarily. The chronically homeless
population (those with repeated episodes or who have been homeless for long periods) decreased from 175,914 in 2005
to 123,833 in 2007.[75]
These numbers have since increased, in large part due to the 2008 financial crash.
Familial composition
According to the NCHWIH report:[76]
51.3% are single males.
24.7% are single females.
23% are families with children—the fastest growing segment.
5% are minors unaccompanied by adults.
1.37 million (or 39%) of the total homeless population are children under the age of 18.

102 103
Skid row Oasis
An art installation on San Julian; one of the most dangerous blocks in Skid Row. A surreal landscape among the trash,
tents, and cardboard homes. It was a good time for everyone as many of the residents of the block jumped in to take
photos and escape the harsh realities of being homeless.
Location: Skid Row, Los Angeles, CA
Date: March 2015

104 105
Homeless Got Talent
Location: 7th and San Julian, Skid Row, CA
Date: February 2015
Photo Credit: Wendy Chavez
Ronald Collins sings a song of freedom on the corner of 7th and San Julian in front of a make shift dream stage. Ronald
wrote a song for his friend, Africa, who was killed by the LAPD. He wanted the world to hear it.

106 107
Love & Homelessness
Location: Oakland, CA
Date: March 2015
This is Adam and Olivia, a very nice couple that I met while exploring the underbelly of the Oakland freeway. He is from
Maine and she’s from Hawaii. They have been traveling together for over half a year now and their next stop is Portland.
Adam says he has a better chance of finding work out there and stabilizing his life.
I wished them the best of luck and exchanged contact info before leaving. In the future, I’d hope to see them again in
Portland when I make my way through.

108 109
Hero No More
Location: Venice, CA
Date: February 2015
Billy was born and raised in Baltimore.
He is a decorated Iraq War vet who’s
been through hell and back.
He told me while patrolling with his unit
in a Humvee, it had been hit by a rocket
propelled grenade, killing everyone
inside except for him. He received
serious injuries from the shards of flying
shrapnel.
He was able to go home for a short while
before answering the call of duty yet
again. This time he would catch bullets
to the chest and was sent home for
good.
He had a loving wife and children,
however everything began to slip away
because of the PTSD he was suffering
from. The relationship with his family
eventually began to deteriorate.
He told me his wife was very patient and
loved him deeply despite the hardships
they had been going through.
Unfortunately things began to take a
turn for the worse due to the PTSD,
addiction to pain meds, night terrors,
and alcoholism. On one particular night
after waking from a night terror he found
himself on top of his wife and had her in
a deadly choke hold, nearly killing her.
This was the breaking point for everyone.
Billy had decided to leave for his family’s
safety. After separating from those he
loved he fell into a deep depression and
began to use heavy drugs.
His divorce was finalized a couple of
years ago and he has been living on the
streets ever since.
I bought him breakfast and gave him
some money to get by with for a couple
days. He asked for a large cooler to store
drinks to sell off the freeway exit. I’m sure
we can find him a decent one soon.
Urban Forest
Location: Oakland, CA
Date: March 2015
Andy was born in Sacramento however
was raised in Tennessee. He moved to
the bay over a decade ago during the
tech industry boom and was doing quite
well for himself. He had bought a house,
gotten married and even had a daughter.
Eventually him and his wife would split
and he received custody of their child.
It was in January of this year when he
started to live on the streets.
He told me over the passing year he
picked up a bad habit which turned into
a serious addiction. It would cost him
his job, his home, and eventually his
daughter. He would have to leave her
with foster care because he was unable
to sufficiently provide for her.
Currently he is in recovery and has been
fighting his addiction. He is coming
up on 30 days being sober and is
determined to get back his daughter
and the things he wants out of life on a
whole.
We exchanged contact info and we hope
next time we see each other things will
be back on track for him.
Before leaving I was able to provide him
with a bag of food from the grocery store
with a variety of fruits and snacks then
was on my way.

112 113
Mental health
26.2% of all sheltered persons who were homeless had a severe mental illness; about 30% of people who are chronically
homeless have mental health conditions.
According to analyses of data from the 1996 NSHAPC:[77]
Over 60% of people who are chronically homelessness have experienced lifetime mental health problems.
Substance abuse
34.7% of all sheltered adults who were homeless had chronic substance abuse issues; about 50% of people who are
chronically homeless co-occurring substance abuse problems.
According to analyses of data from the 1996 NSHAPC:[77]
Over 80% have experienced lifetime alcohol and/or drug problems.
Duration
Research on shelter use in New York City and Philadelphia concluded
that people experiencing transitional homelessness constitute 80% of shelter users. People experiencing episodic
homelessness comprise 10% of shelter users. In New York City transitionally homeless individuals experience an average
of 1.4 stays over a 3-year period, for a total of 58 days on average over the 3 years.
Episodically homeless individuals, on average, experience 4.9 shelter episodes over a 3-year period totaling 264 days with
an average length of stay of 54.4 days. Data from the 1996 NSHAPC show that about 50% of people who were homeless
were experiencing their first or second episode of homelessness, which typically lasted a few weeks or months to one
year.
Education
According to the 1996 Urban Institute findings of the National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients
(UIHAC) report:[78]
53 percent have less than a high school education.
21 percent have completed high school.
27 percent have some education beyond high school.
Photo Credit: Wendy ChavezPhoto Credit: Wendy Chavez

116 117
Happy Little Home for
the Birdman: Part 2
Location: Echo Park
Date: August 2015
Photo Credit: Ricardo Palavecino
The city buffed the wall back to a dreadful tone of grey and the installation was no more. At this point it was time to begin
doing more than painting graffiti to send the message of the art. It was time take it to the next level. It was time to build
the “Birdman” a house, and he absolutely loved it.

120 121
Dylan
Schwartz
Skid Row, Los Angeles, CA@dylan.schwartz
“The ultimate measure of a man is not
where he stands in moments of comfort
and convenience, but where he stands at
times of challenge and controversy.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

122 123
Education
Homelessness has a tremendous effect on a child’s education. Education of homeless youth is thought to be essential in
breaking the cycle of poverty. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act mandates equal opportunity to a free public
education to homeless students. This act is supposed to break down the barriers homeless students have to receiving
an education. These barriers include residency restriction, medical record verification, and transportation issues. Once
a student surpasses these barriers, they are still subject to the stigma of being homeless, and the humiliation
they feel because of their situation. Some families do not report their homelessness, while others are unaware of the
opportunities available to them. Many report that maintaining a stable school environment helps the students because
it’s the only thing that remains normal.[80]
Many homeless students fall behind their peers in school due to behavioral
disorders, and lack of attendance in school.[81]
Since the housing market fall out there has been a rise in the number of homeless students. NAEHCY or the
National Association for the Education of Homeless for Children and Youth, has reported a 99% increase in homeless
students within a three-month period (San Diego).[82]
Of 1,636 schools, 330 reported no increase, 847 reported an increase of half, and 459 reported an increase of 25% or
more. Due to the provisions of the McKinney-Vento Act many school districts are struggling to provide the necessary
services, such as rising transportation needs and the greater severity of services.
This is especially worrisome since homeless students are 1) 1.5 times more likely to perform below grade level in reading;
2) 1.5 times more likely to perform below grade level in spelling; and 3) 2.5 times more likely to perform below grade level
in math.[82]
There are a few worries that there will be false reports of homeless students, but mostly it’s not an issue.[80]
Effects of Homelessness

126 127
One of the biggest challenges our district
faces is providing transportation to students
who are experiencing homelessness. There
are few approaches that our district can utilize
to provide transportation for these students.
Our city has only one taxi cab service and
no public bus system. Our cab company
is small and simply cannot fulfill all of our
transportation requests. When it’s possible,
we add students to existing bus routes or set
up a contractual agreement with the student’s
parent/guardian. However, there have been
many situations where none of these options
have worked. Another challenge our district
faces is providing proper outer-wear for
students who are homeless. Being that we
live in central Wisconsin and have long, cold
winters, all students need proper outerwear to
go outside. Proper outerwear includes snow
boots, hat, mittens, snow pants, and a winter
jacket that has a working zipper or buttons on
it. This expense adds up quickly and is hard to
provide to the increasing number of homeless
students.[82]
“
“

128 129
Many advocates for the homeless contend that a key difficulty is the social stigma surrounding homelessness. Many
associate a lack of a permanent home with a lack of a proper bathroom and limited access to regular grooming. Thus, the
homeless become “aesthetically unappealing” to the general public. Research shows that “physically attractive persons
are judged more positively than physically unattractive individuals on various traits...reflecting social competence.” [85]
In addition to the physical component of stigmatization exists an association of the homeless with mental illness. Many
people consider the mentally ill to be irresponsible and childlike and treat them with fear and exclusion, using their
mental incapacitation as justification for why they should be left out of communities.[86]
There is anecdotal evidence that
many Americans complain about the presence of homeless people, blame them for their situation, and feel that their
requests for money or support (usually via begging) are unjustified. In the 1990s, particularly, many observers and media
articles spoke of “compassion fatigue” a belief that the public had grown weary of this seemingly intractable problem. A
common misconception persists that many individuals who panhandle are not actually homeless, but actually use pity and
compassion to fund their lifestyles, making up to $20 an hour and living luxurious lives.[87]
This exception to the rule seems
more prevalent due to media attention, but in reality, only a few cases exist.[88]
Public opinion surveys show relatively
little support for this view, however. A 1995 paper in the American Journal of Community Psychology concluded that
“although the homeless are clearly stigmatized, there is little evidence to suggest that the public has lost compassion and
is unwilling to support policies to help homeless people.”[89]
A Penn State study in 2004 concluded that “familiarity breeds
sympathy” and greater support for addressing the problem.[90]
A 2007 survey conducted by Public Agenda, a nonprofit organization that helps leaders and their citizens navigate
through complex social issues, found that 67 percent of New Yorkers agreed that most homeless people were without
shelter because of “circumstances beyond their control,” including high housing costs and lack of good and steady
employment. More than one-third (36 percent) said they worried about becoming homeless themselves, with 15 percent
saying they were “very worried.” More interestingly, 90 percent of New Yorkers believed that everyone has a right to
shelter, and 68 percent believed that the government is responsible for guaranteeing that right to its citizens. The survey
found support for investments in prevention, rental assistance and permanent housing for the homeless.[91]
Public Agenda has also concluded, however, that the public’s sympathy has limits. In a 2002 national survey, the
organization found 74 percent say the police should leave a homeless person alone if he or she is not bothering anyone.
Yet, contradictingly, 71 percent say the police should move the homeless if they are keeping customers away from a
shopping area and 51 percent say the homeless should be moved if they are driving other people away from a public
park.[92]
Public Attitudes
Various laws have both directly and indirectly criminalized the homeless[93]
and people attempting to feed homeless
people outdoors.[94]
At least 31 cities have criminalized feeding the homeless.
In 2014, the United Nations Human Rights Committee criticized the United States for the criminalization of
homelessness, noting that such “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment” is in violation of international human
rights treaty obligations..[97][98][99][100]
Criminalization of Homelessness

132 133
Measures passed “prohibit activities such
as sleeping/camping, eating, sitting, and
begging in public spaces, usually including
criminal penalties for violation of these
laws.”[101]
Violators of such laws typically incur
criminal penalties, which result in fines and/or
incarceration.
In April 2006 the Court of Appeals for the
Ninth Circuit ruled that “making it a crime
to be homeless by charging them with a
crime is in violation of the 8th and 14th
Amendments.”[102][103]
However, on October
15, 2007, the Court vacated its Opinion when,
on appeal the parties settled the case out of
court.[104]
In August 2007, in Boston, Massachusetts,
the city took action to keep loiterers,
including the homeless, off the Boston
Common overnight, after a series of violent
crimes and drug arrests.[105]
In August 2012, a federal district judge in
Philadelphia ruled that laws prohibiting
serving food to the homeless outdoors were
unconstitutional.[106]
On June 19, 2014 the Court of Appeals
for the Ninth Circuit struck down a 1983
ordinance in the city of Los Angeles
which “bans people from living in cars or
recreational vehicles on city streets or in
parking lots” as being “unconstitutionally
vague ... Unlike other cities, which ban
overnight parking or sleeping in vehicles, Los
Angeles’ law prohibits using cars as ‘living
quarters; both overnight and ‘day-by-day, or
otherwise.’”[107]
Homeless rights advocates are pushing
for “Right to Rest” bills in several states in
2015, which would overturn laws that target
homeless people for sitting, eating, and
sleeping in public places.[108]
Vagrancy

138 139
The past two decades have seen a growing number of violent acts committed upon people experiencing homelessness
the rate of such documented crimes in 2005 was 30% higher than of those in 1999.[101]
75% of all perpetrators are under
the age of 25.
In recent years, largely due to the efforts of the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) and academic researchers, the
problem of violence against the homeless has gained national attention. In their report: Hate, Violence, and Death on
Mainstreet USA, the NCH reported 386 violent acts committed against homeless persons over the period, among which
155 were lethal. The NCH called those acts hate crimes (they retain the definition of the American Congress). They insist
that so called bumfight videos disseminate hate against the homeless and dehumanize them.
The Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism (CSHE) at California State University, San Bernardino in conjunction with the
NCH found that 155 homeless people were killed by non-homeless people in “hate killings”, while 76 people were killed
in all the other traditional hate crime homicide categories such as race and religion, combined.[109]
The CSHE contends
that negative and degrading portrayals of the homeless contribute to a climate where violence takes place.
Various studies and surveys indicate that homeless people have a much higher criminal victimization rate than the non-
homeless, but that most incidents never get reported to authorities. A 2007 study found that the number of violent
crimes against the homeless is increasing.[109][110]
In 2013 there were 109 attacks on homeless people, a 24 per cent
increase on the previous year, according to the NCH. Eighteen people died as a result of the attacks. In July 2014 three
boys 15, 16 and 18, were arrested and charged with beating to death two homeless men with bricks and a metal pole in
Albuquerque.[111]
Crimes against homeless people

146 147
JASPER
DE JESUS
Skid Row + Downtown Los Angeles@jasperdejesus
“Peace does not mean just to stop wars,
but also to stop oppression and injustice.”
Tawakkol Karman

148 149
They call me “Smut”. This is my little brother, who
was hunched over. “We choose to be out here. We
can go to my parent’s home but we prefer being
out in the streets”
Smut

150 151
I met Mike walking down Spring Street in the Old
Bank District of Downtown Los Angeles. He was
occupying a bus bench and was looking for cans
in a nearby trash can.
Date: 12/10/15
Location: 3rd Street
City: Los Angeles
Mike
A man sitting on the sidewalk asked me for the
time, his name was David. He hitchhiked from
Virginia to Los Angeles with little money. He likes
LA because he said the people are friendly.
Date: 12/4/15
Location: Spring Street
City: Los Angeles
David

154 155
Dave was standing in front of food truck gathering
and counting his change hoping to buy food. I
offered him a dollar and he gave me a smile in
return and said, “God bless you”.
Date: 12/10/15
Location: 4th Street
City: Los Angeles
Dave
I went to the store and noticed Randy standing
near the entrance. He was drinking liquor as I
walked by him. On my way out, I offered him a
dollar in which he accepted. He also had a pack
of beer near his side in which someone had gave
him. You could sense a feeling of despair through
this photo.
Date: 1/23/16
Location: Sunset Boulevard
City: Los Angeles
Randy
left bottom

156 157
Angie was playing her radio along Hill Street. She
was listening to “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac, a
song that I happened to like. She is from Canada
and has an amputated leg. Angie showed me the
scar on her face and told me that people try to
take her things but she can protect herself from
anyone.
Date: 12/10/15
Location: Hill Street
City: Los Angeles
Angie the Angel
Troy was sitting on the floor at the corner of 4th
Street and Broadway on a Sunday afternoon. I
handed him a dollar as he was eating and didn’t
mind having his photo taken.
Date: 12/13/15
Location: 3rd Street and Broadway
City: Los Angeles
Troy

158 159
On the corner of Juanita Ave. & Beverly Blvd. in Koreatown, I saw many tents that overcrowded the sidewalk. I decided to
stop by and speak to someone who lived there. That’s where I met D Boy and his family. D boy is the younger gentleman.
He lives in one of the tents with his father and uncle. The area they occupied was filled with so much trash and seemed
like a health hazard.
Date: 1/15/16
Location:Juanita Ave. & Beverly Blvd.
City: Los Angeles
D Boy and Family

160 161
I walked passed a homeless man with a sign that
read “Support your local pothead”. They call me
“Shaggy!”
Date: 12/10/15
Location: Broadway
City: Los Angeles
Shaggy

162 163
A man with an amputated leg was singing on
the sidewalk of Broadway. He said his name was
Raymond also known as “Yellow Foot”.
Date: 12/13/15
Location: Broadway
City: Los Angeles
Raymond

164 165
Eugene lives along the train tracks right
next to the LA River. He is originally from
Nevada and used to live in Skid Row.
“Skid Row is crazy” he said. One night,
while at Skid Row, Eugene woke up to
someone beating him up. Now he stays
near the LA River. He used to play the
saxophone and aspired to be a musician.
He plans on moving back to Nevada once
he has enough money for a bus ride.
Date: 12/12/15
Location: LA River
City: Los Angeles
Eugene Chris
I met Chris while walking in Downtown
one night. He was in a shopping cart
which caught my attention. Chris told
me that the bottom of his feet hurt
whenever he stood or walked that’s
why he sits in his cart. Originally from
Orgeon, he moved to California 20 years
ago and has been homeless off and on
ever since. He mentioned being in and
out of a mental hospital and no longer
qualified for services. After about ten
minutes of speaking with him, his voice
changed into a child’s voice and he
introduced me to “little Christopher, the
middle child of three”. He snapped out
of it and expressed that he had multiple
personalities which comes out sometimes.
Date: 12/12/15
Location: LA River
City: Los Angeles
top right

170 171
Nadia
Tyson
Venice, CA@nadiatyson
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s
chains, but to live in a way that respects and
enhances the freedom of others.”
Nelson Mandela

172 173
Douglas
Douglas works on the streets doing
bike repairs. He is 53 years old. He
says it is his own choice to live on
the streets. Douglas use to be a
welder making $85,000 a year. He
stopped after a divorce and is now
low maintenance.

174 175
Herbert
Resident @ Step Up on Second Homeless Center
Stephan

176 177
William
William is a war vet; he is 38 years old. His mother lives in
Florida and he is estranged from his father. William has two
children; one lives in LA and is six years old. His other son is
17; he lives with a friend that works for John Hopkins. He is
not allowed to visit them. William used to be a chef; until his
tour of duty in Iraq; where he spent two years. While there,
his leg was injured from a piece a shrapnel. William was told
he has 18 months to live due to a hepatitis infection; he is in
desperate need of a liver transplant. His liver is a constant
source of pain for him. William has suffered from mental
health issues and was open about his use of cocaine. He
plans to “get the hell out of LA”; as he would rather die in
the mountains than stay in the city for his remaining time.

178 179
Luis
Kathy

180 181
Robert
Thera

182 183
Hasan Baxter
Hasan has been in California since he was three years old. He was born in New Jersey. It has been one year since Hasan
started living on the streets; it is not his first time living on the streets. Hasan is 39 years olds.

184 185
Thomas
Georgie

186 187
Katherine & Tom
Residents @ Step Up on Second Homeless Center

190 191
Alania
pierce
City of Los Angeles@alainapierce
“We should all consider each other as human
beings, and we should respect each other.”
Malala Yousafzai

194 195
With a big smile on her face, she
jumped in front of the African
Wings by Colette Miller. While
smiling and laughing she called
over to her friend so I could take
another portrait of her with him,
“Love gives you wings.” Despite
dismal living circumstances she
made it clear that her spirit is not
broken. She will continue to love
and laugh.
10/15/15
10:07PM
San Julian & 6th St.
Africa Wings

196 197
Eduardo doesn’t speak English.
He was very friendly and so happy
to have his portrait taken.
12/6/15
9:28PM
535 N. Main St., DTLA
Eduardo
right

200 201
Pedro came to the US from Cuba
a few years ago to take care of his
ill mother. Since his mother passed
away last year, he hasn’t been
able to secure a job and is now
homeless. Pedro is eagerly awaiting
approval from section 8 housing so
he can get off the streets, but that is
a very long waiting list.
12/6/15
9:12PM
Under 101 fwy on Alvarado St., LA
Pedro
Jesse was asleep face down next to
the curb when we accidentally woke
him. He didn’t have any shelter that
winter night, just the blanket under
him to soften the cold cement.
1/21/16
10:50PM
5th St., Skid Row
Jesse
Bottom Right

202 203
Many Feathers was once homeless and struggled with addiction for 37 years. The puppy he’s
holding brings him so much joy, he was moved to tears speaking of the love he has for him.
4/4/15
6:24PM
Spring Street, DTLA
Many Feathers

206 207
“Circumstances of life can happen to anybody. It’s
about survivalists.”
Chica Lola has been here since 2006. You will
always see her up, never down. She rides her
bike around town saying hi to everyone. She likes
to find food and bring it to the “Mental health
ones.” She says no one is really looking out for
them so she’s taken it upon herself to share food
with them. Her personality is infectious.
“You will always find me on my bike with a smile
on my face to greet you.”
1/21/16
San Pedro Street, Skid Row
Chica Lola
This is Monny. He rides his bike
around town and will sing to you if
you ask. He can hit a high note like
Frankie Valli.
1/21/16
Monny
Left
Bottom

208 209
Christina Collier (left) moved to LA eleven months ago to
pursue a career in acting. She had been struggling to stay clean
while living in Cleveland, Ohio. She felt strongly that in order
to continue her six years of sobriety, she needed a change of
environment. Her living arrangements didn’t work out in LA
and she has been living on Skid Row since November. This is
where she met her best friend Tashonna Thompson (right), who
is also living on Skid Row. Tashonna has been homeless for
three years and moved to Skid Row one year ago. She’s been
recovering from a life of violence and drugs. Tashonna went
through the Palmers program and is trying to move out of Skid
Row. Tashonna and Christina are currently working on a play
about Skid Row. They call each other best friends and genuinely
support each other.
1/21/16
3rd St. and Los Angeles
Christina + Toshonna
“Every morning at 5AM we break
down our tents. Police patrol
around 6AM and give us about 30
minutes to get all packed away. “
1/21/16
5th Street, Skid Row
HOTEL SRO
Bottom Right

212 213
I didn’t catch his name but he was very nice and
just grateful to have a pair of socks to keep his
feet warm and dry. There’s a lot of underworld
gang activity in Skid Row that isn’t navigated. This
man, and a many like him, feel safer sleeping in
front of the Police Department.
1/21/16
LAPD Station
Eduardo takes great pride in the
cardboard shelters he builds. Each
day when he has to take it down,
Eduardo is planning his next
masterpiece for that night. He also
attends bible study in the nearby
area.
10/15/15
Wall Street, Skid Row
Wall Street
rightBottom

220 221
Donna
Stellini
Los Angeles County, CA
“Technology is destructive only in the hands
of people who do not realize that they are one
and the same process as the universe.”
Alan Watts

222 223
The number
of homeless
children reached
record highs
in 2011, 2012, and
2013 at about
three times their
number in 1983.
69 70 71 72

228 229
As I started this project, I wanted to come across to
people who would view my work, and the work of others
in this book, that we are people, and we must stand by
one another, and just try and help, in any way we can.
Knowing about the homeless people, is one thing, but
stepping in and talking to them, getting very close to
them, so they don’t feel that they are to dirty and not
important. As a woman, I just focused on what I wanted,
and gave them my respect, and honesty, and they were
open to me. I am touched by how much mental illness and
drug addiction is out there. It is hard for them to get away
from something that becomes so familiar. They get roots
of some kind in the streets and this is their comfort zone.
As I talked to them I really wanted to find out how it
feels, what they think and how they hope to get off the
streets, or even if they really want to be off the streets. So
many told me that they feel safer on the streets, than
in a shelter. When you see them living in boxes, tarps,
or tents, they still have nothing inside, no water, lights,
bathroom, or kitchen. Just their clothes and things to
keep them warm as possible. I hope that these pictures
and information will help us understand what is really
happening and how many it has happened to.
It has become an epidemic in Los Angles and we have
the largest unsheltered population in this country. We
can take some of the blame on our beautiful weather
and warm sunshine in Southern California. I want you to
see the homeless as people and as honestly as I could.
So I approached the people who I choose in my head
each time to talk to, with honesty and directness, and
respect. I told them who I was, what I was doing, and
that I needed to talk and find out from them, what their
thoughts were about this problem. They accepted me
and talked openly to me. Here are some of their stories.
It seems that they either do it in packs, or they are
loners. It depends on the lay of the land, what area they
choose to call home for a day sometimes, and then
sometimes longer. In their society they all want to fit
in somehow, just like we do. I asked about their family
and how it all started. Why do they stay and why don’t
they go back to their family if they have some. A lot is
embarrassment of knowing that they really are living on
the streets. Some have no one who cares about them.
My first day out I went to a campsite that is off the 405
freeway near Sepulveda Blvd. There were many tents up
and down the street, but my eye caught the attention
of one group. I walked over and started talking and
telling them who I was and what I was doing. It worked.
I was there for about two and a half hours. People were
walking, a few were on bikes and some were sitting in their
tents. I came back later that day and they were getting
ready to party. I gave them sandwiches, juice, oranges,
cashew nuts, water and thanked them for their kindness
for letting me be there. When I returned a few days later,
there was just garbage in the streets. Everyone gone and
only about five or six tents left.
Location: 405 Freeway near Sepulveda Blvd
Date: February 21st, 2016
Meet Mr. Detroit. His name is Larry. He has been on and off the streets for many years. He was once married, has four
kids, who luckily are all doing well. The trouble started for him when he became too successful and made too much
money, which allowed him to delve heavily into drugs and pure craziness. His life spun out of control. He is educated,
smart, social, can banter in a good conversation. Larry has good manners, is respectful, and was very kind to talk to me
for several hours. He likes to be social, whereas many homeless people like to isolate themselves. He helps his homeless
friends, tries to keep the peace, and knows everyone’s name and their story.
Larry, AKA Mr. Detroit

230 231
He loves playing his guitar loud, and goes back to the streets to do so. He hooks up his car battery for electricity for his
speaker, and blasts away on the streets next to the freeway. Here the sound of their music is not an issue, since the car
noise from the freeway and a wall, block it. Even when he gets off the streets, he still goes back often to help, brings
them hard boiled eggs, drinks, oranges, sweets and food. Unfortunately human weakness, coupled with no job or money
causes him to drift back on to the streets periodically. It is sad to say, but so many of the homeless deal with some kind of
drug addiction, alcoholism, depression, or mental illness.

232 233
Lewis Lew, AKA The Professor
Location: 405 Freeway near Sepulveda Blvd
This is Louis Lew, also known as the professor. When he talks it is as if he were giving you a solution in math, or science.
He has lost the normal conversation, but is not insane, just no filters left. It seems like the brain is in one slot. You cannot
engage in a real conversation. His skin is broken out in rashes from Meth, and he picks at his arms when talking. He is on
the streets, and waits for his next high. I showed his picture to one of my sons and he said he does not look homeless.
I think society has a preconceived notion of what a homeless person looks like. When I was putting together my idea, I
wanted to show people with my photography, it really could be someone who we know. I think I have done so.

236 237
On my second week of looking around our streets of
Los Angeles I was deciding on what to photograph. I
went over to the Santa Monica Blvd and La Brea area. I
had passed by several homeless tents, where homeless
people were sitting on steps, or laying on the ground.
They looked lost, and that is not what I was after.
I have been out the past few weeks, talking, and seeing
what goes on in their lives, and wanting information,
when I came across a corner that had all kinds of bikes
and two men taking care of them. I had seen a camp
downtown with many bikes and bike fixers. This was
something that was set up on the street, where someone
was being creative. Many bikes were piled around the
sidewalk and a table was set up.
I pulled over and parked my car. I walked over and started
talking to a tall man. I told him I was a photographer,
working on a project for homeless and he told me that he
was homeless and began talking to me. I was direct and
open, and his sidekick helper was listening. So I turned
and began a wonderful conversation. A biker came by
and needed air in her tire. They did so, and ‘said have a
good day’. Both of the men lived on the street. I asked
where their camp was, and they said they slept wherever
they could keep the bikes. They had this corner for over a
week or so. I went back on Sunday and they were gone. I
will search around for them and see what I come up with.

240 241
Location: 405 Freeway near Sepulveda Blvd.
Rome is 34 years old and was born and raised in California. He is a warm polite man with a friendly face, and is open about
himself. He was in foster care at three when his mama passed away, never had a father. He stayed with one foster family
until he started smoking weed, and wound up on the streets at 18 years old. He looks fit, and cleaned up. Rome wants to
get off the streets. I asked him how he sleeps on the streets, if in a tent. He said no, he sleeps on the sidewalks. I could not
believe he does that many times without a blanket. He said he can just sit down, get comfortable, and go to sleep. This
is something that I can’t even imagine myself ever doing. It brings back a story of my own brother who was in the jungle,
then on a rescue helicopter missions in Vietnam. When he came home, he could not sleep in a bed for years. I would find
him on the floor with a blanket over himself. He would never tell anyone that.
Rome

242 243
Location: La Brea near Santa Monica
Date: February 24th, 2016
The next mans name is Sketch; he is 43 years old; tall, lean, and from Texas. He has been on the streets most of his life. He
was married and has two really nice daughters back home. He goes to see them once in awhile. He was a little hesitant
at first to open up to me, but I just started talking about what I wanted and what kind of info I was looking for to help the
homeless. Sketch pretty much stays by himself, or with a helper who at this time is a man named Rome. He said to me
point blank, he is not interested in getting off the street. He does not fit in with what it takes to not be on the streets. He
feels that he has control of his life by being homeless. He works fixing bikes to take care of his needs. After we talked for
some time, he let me take some pictures of him, and told me to be sure and tell the bikers his name is Sketch, and to look
for him on the streets with all the bikes in the area of La Brea and Santa Monica Blvd.
Sketch

248 249
Matt
Saatchi
Los Angeles County, CA@mattsaatchi
“When will our consciences grow so tender
that we will act to prevent human misery
rather than avenge it?”
Eleanor Roosevelt

254 255
I decided to hit the streets of Los Angeles December 11th, 2015 and shoot some street photos and get a natural
perspective of the issues at hand. I started downtown deep in the financial district and worked my way around the area.
Every corner there was someone struggling and it was not a pleasant site. I kept shooting and trying to keep things as real
and unstaged as possible to show the struggle of these people.

258 259
I worked my way from the
downtown area to skid row
later that evening. It was
a sort of cold feeling you
get, dark and dirty, crime
flourishing in these areas. I
mean there was some dealers
of sorts at some corners and
homeless and paralyzed at
others.

264 265
I met up with some other photographers as we walked deeper into the projects but it was getting really late and attacks
and such do happen.
The struggle you see in these people’s eyes and frail body’s is intense. The struggle is real and that’s to say the least.
We saw tents and other housing set up curbside shot for about an hour before we realized we were going to the bad
parts of skid row, we heard some loud banging noises and decided to head back to downtown for the night.

268 269
I’m glad I was able to be
apart of this project and
be able to show my work
and bring light to these
problems!

The Art of Skid Row: A Campaign to Shift the Public Perception of Homelessness.

The Art of Skid Row: A Campaign to Shift the Public Perception of Homelessness.

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