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I met Michael on the streets of Denver, playing his guitar. After being a personal nurse for someone who kicked him out, he returned to the streets he’d been on for 20 years before. Michael never panhandles; instead he plays his acoustic guitar on the streets. If you listen to him, it’s not hard to imagine how he makes enough …

Shawn moved to Colorado to be with someone, but then they broke up. As of March 2007, he was still working some, but also living in a shelter. He was frustrated at the way the shelter was treating the homeless of Boulder. Shawn had plenty of wisdom to share and some challenges to the shelters in Boulder: “You want to …

I first met Rico at the Glendale Winter Shelter, drawn to his large canvas of bright colors. We’ve had some rainy weather in Los Angeles this winter, and the National Guard allowed us to keep the armory open during the day. Rico didn’t mind the rain; it excited him because he could work on his art. There is no way …

Boston has been on the street for 15 years. He has mental health issues, and he consistently fights with depression and addiction. As a child, he lost both of his parents–his mother to murder. From there, it was to his grandparents, an alcoholic and dysfunctional household. He left there for the streets, and in his own words, he met a …

Brian has been without a home for the last 39-years. A Vietnam-era veteran who has recently discovered he is HIV-positive, he feels like he is still trying to find his way through life. Now, he is experiencing homelessness and recovering from heroin addiction in Des Moines, Iowa, and he laments being 54-years old and trying to reassemble his life. He …

Gypsy is homeless on Iowa. The hardest part for her? Her children have been sleeping at a friend’s house for the past two months. She gets to see her children during the day, but she wishes there were more to do. They can only stay in the public parks and attend free feedings. Some days, they misses these meals, and …

Jody lives in her car, while her 19-year-old son Phillip lives in a shelter in St. Paul, Minnesota. After being unfairly evicted from her apartment, she sold all she had to buy a car to live in. As I was giving out socks, Phillip approached me. His shoes have holes all the way through, so he is unable keep his …