Comments on: LAKE AVE HOMELESS

By: LoneRider

LoneRider — Sat, 19 May 2007 20:08:30 +0000

First, I really enjoyed your article!
Thanks for taking the time to meet some of us, and put a story behind the faces.

i think you probably got that feeling of helplessness because many of them DONT WANT TO BE HELPED…. or won’t take the action to get the help. Many are suffering from mental illness as well (as you’ve now seen first hand).

But, take the guy who lost his ID and couldn’t get a job. Did you stop to ask yourself WHY he was not actively (RIGHT THEN) doing everything he could do get those IDs replaced? — If indeed that was the only thing holding him back, then you would think it would be his top and active priority.

Carlos probably has trouble getting work because he might be illegal. He’s probably not homeless, although many times you will find an entire extended family of illegals living in the same small house.

Jason is another fine example of deciding that it’s more important to go “do something else”, than to do something constructive towards getting a normal job. Perhaps he’s making enough money as things are, and getting to spend his time the way he wants.

Thanks again for posting!

By: shollen

shollen — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 17:41:22 +0000

Hey Al, thanks for the comment. I guess I just wanted to prove to myself that I wasn’t afraid to interact with this group of people. It’s sort of sad that the most prominant thing I got out of it all is a sinking feeling of how little I can actually help.

Also, thank you grandpa. You always manage to point out the most positive thing to come out of an experience.

By: ajhatt

ajhatt — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 21:52:12 +0000

Hey there intrepid travelling Shawna. I love the thought of you out chatting with folks on the street, camera, oranges and pb&j’s in hand. I suspect that many of us share your curiosity about the homeless people we see but are either afraid to interract with them or else feel too self conscious or guilty about our own wealth. Thanks for the thought provoking article. It is a welcome reminder of that sidelined section of society.

By: dnichols

dnichols — Tue, 09 May 2006 17:59:51 +0000

Hi Shawna, what a great article and stories. A good reminder that we are only a step away from joining this group if we make a wrong turn along life’s turbulent path. Do not be discouraged if you do not see some immediate results, as sometimes you will never see the positive side of your efforts. Just remember that one person can make a positive difference in their lives and I am sure that you have done so.

By: vhollen

vhollen — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 04:00:46 +0000

Hey Shawna, GREAT pictures with comments (stories) and understanding behind the people we see and always wonder…what puts them in this dysfunctional place, and why can’t they learn to help them selves? Where is that power, if you can change the way you think you CAN do anything.

By: kt

kt — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 02:53:49 +0000

shawna, loved the photos and also the stories behind them. you don’t always get to hear about stories behind photos and I loved the way you went about doing this. hope to see you soon.

By: shollen

shollen — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 20:10:59 +0000

fixed. thanks andy.

By: afischer

afischer — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 16:26:31 +0000

also I messed up the Spanish… it should be “Por ti, gratis.”

By: shollen

shollen — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 05:33:12 +0000

“compliment from robert peach” is right next to “quantum tunnelling as public transportation” in my mind. we’re on our way to a better world, folks.

(and, thanks.)

By: Robert Peach

Robert Peach — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 21:09:50 +0000

I found this exercise a little disconcerting. But, they were excellent photographs.

By: shollen

shollen — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 05:16:42 +0000

no resumes yet…the guy hasn’t given me any info and probably won’t. there should be internet services to match people who are willing to give help to those who are willing to constructively accept it. except there is a technology gap, too. and few with the convenience of the internet will find it appealing to stoop to paper to help people. this is all very unrewarding and fairly useless.

By: acosta

acosta — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 23:46:55 +0000

also … did you type out a resume?

By: acosta

acosta — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 23:44:17 +0000

i.e., you’re rubbing off on him. he told me the truth. also this post has made me find a bit of a bug in wordpress and how it determines the length of articles. yay.

By: shollen

shollen — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 20:59:02 +0000

Thanks Alec.

And Anthony, that is very fancy. but who i am rubbing off on? because i lied to you once??

By: acosta

acosta — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 19:24:13 +0000

ooo i am leaving a comment from my phone. anyway this was a cool article. andy told me yesterday you were out taking pictures of homeless people and i didnt beliuve him … i guess you are rubbing off.

By: Alec

Alec — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 08:24:03 +0000

I enjoyed reading this.