Street people

[theboxman]

Because it is just to good not to look: www.street-people.com

Two men have taken on the problem of homelessness in a less than traditional manner. “It never failed” commented the founders of Street-People.com,” every time we had to walk somewhere downtown we got panhandled”. These frustrations led to a conversation about how to draw more attention to the problem of homelessness. “The measures that are currently being undertaken to address the problem don’t seem to have an impact,” added the website founders. The website has generated anger from shelters, homeless resource groups, and other websites.

Street-People.com was created to chronicle the stories of the homeless, but in a way that’s not exactly sympathetic. The stories, profiles and photos on the website are not heart-wrenching portrayals of loss, but rather insights into the underground economics and off-the -radar lifestyles of the homeless as they try to cajole, scam, and plead for money from anyone they encounter. One of the most revealing stories on the website is of “Wheelchair Will” who confided that the wheelchair is just for show. A prop he uses to solicit sympathy and, he hopes, some spare change. The profiles featured on the site are of real homeless people from the founders’ hometown of Memphis and other cities in which they’ve had encounters with the homeless.

According to the National Alliance To End Homelessness, approximately 3.5 million individuals experience homelessness each year. Although most people who are homeless are served by shelters or a social agency there are long term homeless who live on the streets for years. The founders of Street-People.com do not feel they are exploiting the homeless in this project. “Traditional methods of drawing attention to the problem are not working and maybe a little satire would help.” The group created a line of merchandise for sale in the website’s “thrift store” which included “bum finds” that sells items the homeless have found while dumpster diving, and t-shirts and novelty items featuring colorful phrases from interviews the founders conducted with those featured on the website. “We felt this might get people’s attention if they started seeing people wearing t-shirts that turned homeless people into cult figures” added one of the founders.

The group even created a model release contract and pays the homeless for their stories and to appear on the website and merchandise. “We donate to charity, offered to buy meals, and supported organized efforts for homeless people. We just think a little humor might draw attention to the issue.” commented the founders

[Dr Deaf]

The Closer: Submitted by G. Hogan



"I was in San Francisco last year on trip that was half business and half vacation. San Francisco is an expensive city with lots of great restaurants. I was walking back to my hotel with my wife after having a great business dinner at one of the finer restaurants owned by one of those chefs with a TV show when we where approached by a homeless couple. They had ratty clothes, looked like they hadn't bathed in a while, and just looked like they where trying to make it through the day.



He was a tall African-American man, lean, bearded and wearing a t-shirt, flannel shirt and jeans. She was a Caucasian woman in sweat pants and a t-shirt. They started their patter as we approached, but it was different than the normal 'do you have any spare change?' I think it was the opening that just came across as honest that stopped me. He started with 'Sir, I know it is night time and it looks like you are walking home and I don't want to bother you but I need help.' It made me think that maybe he wasn't homeless but rather a person in need or lost, broken down, or stranded. I stopped and he introduced himself as Thomas and his girlfriend Jennifer.



'Sir, we're homeless and living in our car' he started, 'We drove here because I thought I had a job and when I got here the man said he had hired all the people he needed. We spent all our money to get here and I just need to get some money to feed my girlfriend. I feel responsible because I asked her to come with me and now I have nothing.' This was a new approach I had not heard before because he made it not about himself but his girlfriend; could I help him help her. I think he knew that no guy wants to look bad in front of their girlfriend or wife so you could relate to him.



While I was standing there thinking about what he had said he continued, 'Sir, my car is just around the corner so I can prove that I am living there and just need some help. I've been afraid to ask people because I thought the police might arrest a black man like me in this nice part of town, but it's night and I just don't know what else to do.' Now he really had me. I was thinking about the poor girlfriend and then he made me think about how the police might not be too kind to African Americans. He ended with, 'I hope I am not upsetting your wife and if you just want to walk on I understand, you just looked like someone who might help.'



What a close! I mean, it made me feel bad for thinking he might be a bad person while at the same time stroking my ego by implying that I exuded kindness. I don't know what happed to Thomas and Jennifer, but I gave them $5 and wished them good luck. I figured I had paid $5 for bad movies where the acting wasn't nearly as good, so he had earned the money in my mind. It was a great street performance."


motherfucker should sell tvs at circuit city.

interesting link.