Fifteen years ago, Mark Horvath was homeless on the streets of Los Angeles. Today, he runs InvisiblePeople.tv, a project that inspires people who live in tent cities, in shelters, and on sidewalks to share their stories on YouTube.
Mark states on his YouTube vlog:
The purpose of this vlog is to make the invisible visible. I hope these people and their stories connect with you and don’t let go. I hope their conversations with me will start a conversation in your circle of friends.
After you get to know someone by watching their story, please pause for a few moments and write your thoughts. By keeping this dialog open we can help a forgotten people.
The invisible guy didn’t intend to become homeless. I didn’t plan on living on the street. Everyone on on the streets has their own story, some made bad decisions, others were victims, but none of them deserve what they have been left with, and it is a reflection of our own society that we just leave them there.
Please always remember, the homeless people you’ll ignore today were much like you not so long ago.
Pretty amazing stuff … makes you think how close we all are from their situation. Also makes me think that I am living a life of over indulgence …
As I watch some of the other videos I find myself thinking they are not taking responsibility for their actions / decisions. Yet I know nothing about them and feel that I am judging what they are saying just because they are homeless. I do realize that it is just a wrong way to think.
In my home town there are these two “homeless” people by Target always “flying a sign” asking for money. I see them someday’s pulling up in a car, smoking cigarettes, and having some Starbucks … before they start there long work day of panhandling. Maybe they are destitute, I do not really know. But from the outside their situation looks odd and possibly scamming. Unfortunately now when I see a homeless person asking for money my thoughts go back to these Target panhandlers. I find myself less likely to pass along some cash.
I agree! It was actually a post of yours about a year ago(?) that got me thinking about how I approach this. I’m with you – do I give them money or do I not? In the past…NOT. I’ve only started thinking about it more recently and actually bring a number of $1 bills into the city with me when I go. BUT, I have so far only given money to street musicians and entertainers – which is progress for me. My goal is to start connecting more with people rather than looking the other way.
This photographer whose work I admire, Thomas Hawk, started a $2 Portraits Project. Anytime a panhandler asks him for money, he gives them $2, but only if they will share a little bit about themselves with him and allow him to take a picture. It’s not done in an exploitative way and it really allows you to see the human story that we often forget about. I would love to be able to do something similar to this, but I’m not quite there yet.
Maybe I’m getting softer now than I used to be, but I’m thinking that even though many of these people are there because they made mistakes or choose to be there, there are others who aren’t – they’re mentally ill or sick. I guess no matter what the reason, we’re all human and giving them a buck or two and a smile isn’t going to really hurt me, but it might make some difference to them. I’m sure I’ll get scammed, but hopefully that will be the minority. Anyway, like I said I’m not there yet… but working on it.