I see them but I don’t

CULTURE & SOCIETY

by THE OLBIOS TEAM

Invisible People is a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the way we think about people experiencing homelessness. – In a certain way, it isn’t that hard to comprehend a man’s slow spiral into invisibility. Once on the street, people start to walk past him, ignoring him as if he didn’t exist. It’s not that people are bad, but if we make eye contact, or engage in conversation, then we have to admit they exist and that we might have a basic human need to care. But it’s so much easier to simply close our eyes and shield our hearts to their existence. Since its launch in November 2008, the video blog Invisible People has leveraged the power of video and the massive reach of social media to share the compelling, gritty, and unfiltered stories of homeless people from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. The video blog gets up close and personal with veterans, mothers, children, layoff victims and others who have been forced onto the streets by a variety of circumstances. Each week, they’re on InvisiblePeople.tv, and high traffic sites such as YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, proving to a global audience that while they may often be ignored, they are far from invisible. Invisible People goes beyond the rhetoric, statistics, political debates, and limitations of social services to examine poverty in America via a medium that audiences of all ages can understand, and can’t ignore. The « vlog » puts into context one of our nation’s most troubling and prevalent issues through personal stories captured by the lens of Mark Horvath – its founder – and brings into focus the pain, hardship and hopelessness that millions face each day. Today’s is Sergei’s 18th birthday We’ve found ourselves outside That part I hate Two years Safe ground Why people stay on the streets and not in the shelter In a matter of days Alcohol makes it easier I try not to wish Lonely in Chicago 25 cents

 

Watch more

STAY IN TOUCH

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
AND RECEIVE OUR LATEST STORIES