On Current TV | November 16, 2007 | Comment on this video (32)

Homeless, Not Voiceless

brandonsound
A group of American homeless share their personal stories of pain, addiction, loneliness, and adversity, and reveal their common humanity.
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32 comments // Homeless, Not Voiceless // Video

  • Aspen_Harper
    • +1
      Aspen_Harper  

    • I remember seeing this a while back! It is still great coverage! Check out my new vid on the homeless situation in Daytona Beach, Florida!

    • 2 years ago
  • cuserve
    • +1
      cuserve  

    • Concord University Bonner Scholars met and interviewed Dwayne in Franklin Square of Washington, DC. Dwayne is enduring homelessness in our nation's capital and agreed to share his experiences with you. (May 2009)

    • 2 years ago
  • cuserve
    • +1
      cuserve  

    • Jose is homeless because of a lie. Jose shares his story of how he ended up experiencing homelessness and why he has yet to find a job. This video was created as part of the Concord University Bonner Scholars Freshmen Service Trip to Washington, DC and was filmed in Franklin Square.

    • 2 years ago
  • MelodyProductions
    • 0
      MelodyProductions  

    • Nathaniel Ayers was a a Julliard-trained musician who found himself living on the streets of L.A.'s Skid Row. His story--which brings to light the serious issue of mental illness in the United States--was captured in the book "The Soloist" by Steve Lopez and in an upcoming movie with Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr.

      Recently, The California Endowment, a health foundation, presented a grant to the founders of the Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation as it launches to fund the arts at mental health agencies and arts organizations that serve the mentally ill.

    • 3 years ago
  • Arius09
    • 0
      Arius09  

    • I love obama! he cares about the homeless :) so do i ! BARRAK THE VOTE!!!

      ps.. im 17 and im more politically informed than 80% of americans!!

    • 3 years ago
  • ashgallagher
  • JrJollyRoger
    • 0
      JrJollyRoger  
    • ashgallagher:

      Thanx 4 the compassion, been in & out of project homeless but all I get in emails are about events with expectation that I'm mobile enough to go that far even if I could raise funds to pay to attend. Now that folks are realizing what I've been advocating since 1993 maybe the right one will be able to at least get homelessness decriminalized which has been in MY way from getting much else done.
      Email me 4 more so I'll know WHEN you recieve.
      Hope all's well with ya.

    • 1 year ago
  • JrJollyRoger
    • 0
      JrJollyRoger  

    • Has anyone noticed how many new voices are sounding off compared to a short time ago. Who are all these citizens just recently becoming a victim of the changes in the economy!? Who are the next couple MILLION gonna be!!?

    • 3 years ago
  • aJohnDoeHomeless
    • +1
      aJohnDoeHomeless  
    • Image

    • Typically, like the unemployment rates they sometimes say are improving not to take into consideration that many are no longer eligible for unemployment and others never qualified in the first place. Alot of citizens have even given up looking for work, as the few jobs available don't pay a "living" wage. I can't afford to work a job that is a losing proposition... much less one that doesn't pay enough to afford rent. The jobs that do, won't hire anyone that looks like they crawled out of the bushes with twigs in the hair or spiders crawling out of their shirts... especially having been kept awake through most nights being rousted by the cops. Like the definition of a "rut" goes... it's a grave with both ends kicked out.
      Not all of us are alcoholic, drug addicts, or otherwise derelict (do I sound like?)... some of us are used to working for a living!!

      http://IamJohnDoeHomelesswithViewpoints.blogspot.com/

    • 3 years ago
  • JrJollyRoger
    • 0
      JrJollyRoger  
    • aJohnDoeHomeless:

      That is alot, but only part of the way it is. All those who are kicking homeless citizens to the curb will be remembered when it's their turn to ask for help. Who do they think the homeless people are (were)!? How many friends and relatives may be or going to be? Most of them didn't expect to be a short time ago. Karma is not just something that goes around - it's what you are sending around that will come back around to bite you1

    • 3 years ago
  • emma_802
  • JrJollyRoger
  • CrazyDave
    • +1
      CrazyDave  

    • Great little parts of their lifes. I love hanging out with homeless people in my city of Chicago. They are full of wisdom and stories.

    • 4 years ago
  • JrJollyRoger
    • +1
      JrJollyRoger  
    • CrazyDave:

      So many different stories, with the same conclusion. What is sad about it is the MILLUIONS who are NOT YET experiencing these chapters in life and are STILL currently kicking homeless citizens to the curb. Karma is not something that is just going around - it's what you SEND around!

    • 1 year ago
  • OutImpact
    • +1
      OutImpact  

    • Very important cause and a wonderful representation and reminder to those who turn a blind eye that these people are real, have different stories to tell and deserve to have real help.

    • 4 years ago
  • JrJollyRoger
    • +1
      JrJollyRoger  
    • OutImpact:

      Thank you for that.
      Who do people think the homeless were / are!? . . . and WHO will the NEXT 3 million be!?? iT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE whether you lose your "stuff" from an earthquake, flood, fire, OR ECONOMIC SCANDAL * when you lose your stuff - you lose your stuff!! It DOES NOT MEAN you've lost your knowlege, intellegence or experience - but you seem to lose any respect for others to think you know anything!
      The sad part is trying to caution someone, warn them from a pitfall, or give advise that is benefitial - and being ignored because what could you know.
      People need to speak out NOW before they become JUST ANOTHER ONE OF "THEM"!!

    • 1 year ago
  • 6darkangel6
    • +1
      6darkangel6  

    • i've always thought of running away but i just can't,.... i don't have the perfect life at all, i leave in an old home up i new orleans and i have nothing but a broken bed, a micro wake, and a waterin hoes.

    • 4 years ago
  • JrJollyRoger
  • Toffee
    • +1
      Toffee  

    • I live in Atlanta, Georgia and I encounter the homeless everyday. I try to talk with them and encourage them, but the way the system works makes it real hard for them to get back into the real world. There is a cap on how many times you can be issued a social security card, which is so hard on the homeless because their things get stolen, rained on or lost throughout their everyday journeys. Also, they do not have an address where they can get mail sent to. I have many homeless friends that are veterans of the vietnam war. They fought for our country, but now our country is not fighting for them. They are left on the streets, shunned from society. They say that one out of four homless are veterans...unbelievable, huh? One homless friend I had named Dino, was the most caring, smart and social man I have ever met. He was homeless due to a nasty divorce and he lost everything. He ended up on the streets for years, luckally I had the chance to get to know him for about 3 years. The last time I saw Dino was on television when i saw them pulling his weathered body out of a sewer. That week there was non stop, hard rain. He had taken shelter in a sewer to protect him from the rain since he was not allowed on the streets. He ended up getting swept away and stuck in there for 3 days, until his friends went looking for him there, since they knew thats a place he frequented. They heard his cries and tried to help. His handicapped friend tried everthing he could to get him out of there and even used his crutches as a way to get to him. Unfortunately, the ems and police took a whopping 3 hours to get there...even though the police station was about 2 minutes away...and the hospital about 5 minutes away.... Dino was pulled from there, still alive, so i rushed to the hospital they said they were taking him to. There was no record for him...so i called about 3 other hospitals and they had no record for him either... luckally someone at the hospital i was at heard why i was there and directed me to where he was. They had processed him as a Jon Doe...even though his homeless friends had given them Dinos real name..."Louis Dean VanNoy."
      I guess they didnt believe them or something...but when i came up there, they listened to me because i looked "respectable." They told me he had passed away and I couldnt help but think that they didnt do what they could to keep him alive because he didnt have health insurance. I couldnt believe that they were just going to let him die nameless... I am so glad I saw all of this on TV so that I could go up there and give him back his name. I knew I was in Dinos life for a reason, but I never knew it would be to give his name life.

    • 4 years ago
  • aJohnDoeHomeless
    • 0
      aJohnDoeHomeless  
    • Toffee:

      It is sad to think how many U.S. citizens have died on the streets while no one even knows when it happens (except sometimes for friends still in touch) but even more sad is that the reality for most who have not encountered these problems (YET) don't seem to care or can't bring themselves to admit that they might. Also there are those who might care if they felt there was something they were able to do about it and feel they cannot. Yet encouraging more compassion for those who are victimized by mere economic imbalances caused by the greedy and self-serving would counter the actions of those who are just fearful that they are not so far away from the pits themselves.
      http://homelessreality.org/fireflood.html

    • 3 years ago
  • JrJollyRoger
    • +1
      JrJollyRoger  
    • Toffee:

      Thanx 4 the compassion - and like I told 6darkangel6 - if you haven't gotten hep to it yet - Get out of the Gulf area!!!!!! It's WORSE that they are lettin' on - the news is STOPPED from telling everyone JUST HOW BAD THE OIL etc IS!!!!!!
      The economy is messed up everywhere, but all the more important reason to protect your health the best you can!!!!!!

    • 1 year ago
  • haggymay
    • 0
      haggymay  

    • I love these guys, wish I could tell 'em so. I talk to people on the street, and if I can afford it, and they are having a rough day, I give them $...but these guys, Thomas and Robert, Faz, Archie and Barry..thanks for letting me meet them...Take care guys! you are special to me...

    • 4 years ago
  • aJohnDoeHomeless
    • +1
      aJohnDoeHomeless  
    • haggymay:

      I have advocated for the needs of homeless citizens since 1982. I have never panhandled and do not encourage handouts. However when someone is desperate enough to ask, if you cannot, do not want to or cannot afford to, you do not need to feel bad but can discourage those who spit on, hit, throw rocks at, set on fire or otherwise commit similar crimes against these citizens just because they seem defenseless or unworthy. NO ONE deserves to be mistreated in this manner. Karma is not something that just goes around and comes around.... it is what you are SENDING around... and that is only a matter of time that it WILL COME AROUND to your turn.
      (tell a friend)
      http://homelessreality.org/

    • 3 years ago
  • xxmxcxrxx
  • SallyCocaine
    • +1
      SallyCocaine  

    • Ive honestly considered growing up and being a nomad. I know these people dont have the greatest lives, but they will never be be bound to the boring and monotonous things in our life that we all claim to rebel against. They have the chance to do whatever they want whenever they want and I think this really gives people a chance to be happy.

    • 4 years ago
  • JrJollyRoger
  • kimrich09
  • AnemicElitist
    • +1
      AnemicElitist  

    • That was really great. People need to realize that most homeless people don't WANT to be. It's awful how America shames and shuns the lives of the homeless, instead of helping them. The government should proving housing for all of its people, it's a basic need along with food and water. Lower-class society is a vicious cycle. Higher living standards = money to put kids through college = jobs = higher living standard. Unfortunately, not everyone has it that easy.

    • 4 years ago
  • JrJollyRoger
    • +1
      JrJollyRoger  
    • AnemicElitist:

      The observation is astute, but the "government" should focus more on stopping the CAUSES then there would not be so much need for providing anything. Ironic that donations for food and beds at shelters is low considering that now many former donors are NOW CLIENTS!!

    • 1 year ago
  • Tori
    • +1
      Tori  
    • Image

    • for a New York City foundation that tries to help homeless people get off the street with work, housing, and support.

    • 4 years ago
  • JrJollyRoger
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