Homeless in America - A Women's Plight
My dream assignment, my passion, is to document the stark contradiction between a City’s physical beauty and the small tragedies that occur daily in a sub-community of our homeless population, more specifically the women.
My dream assignment, my passion, is to document the stark contradiction between a City’s physical beauty and the small tragedies that occur daily in a sub-community of our homeless population, more specifically the women.
It is said that over half the population in the U.S. is just one or two paychecks away from homelessness - one crisis from losing their home.
Over the past two decades, homeless women are part of an increasing, often faceless community. Frequently homeless women have been forced to choose between an abusive relationship or homelessness.
In fact, a 2005 survey conducted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors identified domestic violence as the leading cause of homelessness among women and women with children. And the streets are no safer. Homeless women experience widespread health risks including physical and sexual abuse.
Often when we encounter the homeless, we turn our heads and cross the street to avoid seeing it – what we don’t see, we don’t have to deal with – we close our hearts because we fear what we don’t understand, and it is our lack of understanding (and compassion) that fuels our fears and prejudices.
We think to ourselves, “Why don’t they get a job and help themselves?”, “They choose to be homeless”, Homelessness is a complex issue, one we don’t understand, so we assign adjectives, calling the person “crazy”, “lazy”, “drunk”… “Worthless”, forgetting that they are human, that they too have a story.
I want their stories to be told. I want to be the one who captures their stories, because photography has a way of telling a story, that a thousand words could never tell.
I want to bring their plight to the attention of the average American, and to bring dignity back to these homeless individuals.
I would like to use the winnings to start a non-profit foundation to specifically address the needs of homeless women in my community, and then I’d like to see that foundation stretch across the US, to the biggest cities, and the smallest rural communities.
We CAN make a difference!
64 Comments
Thanks for the comment back, Starla. I was happy to vote for you. Yours is a great dream.
Great idea Starla and I agree with John! Be sure to vote/support/comment others. I would add, make easy instructions to send to your databases & BE SURE to tell them to leave a comment as you have no other way to know they voted and also lends to the scoring. I voted! Good Luck!
I think that is a wonderful idea, eyeopening to the world. Mom and Dad would love it. It goes hand in hand with their ministry. Keep up the great work.
Karen
Excellent and noble dream! You are so right and I hope you get it done!
Your project is very timely
I think this is a wonderful idea and I am proud to vote for you ~ Stay determined and keep dreaming !
A great idea! Hope you win the contest an are able to reach all your goals.
Good job!
Hope you win
It seems some great ideas are getting lost from lack of votes so if you'll vote for me I will vote for you. Thanks for your idea and vote... Jkava888
Sweetie- I am so proud of you. Your photos are beautful and I know you are the rigth person for this job. Good Luck - Auntie
Hey sweetie I'm glad you are trying to make a difference in the world keep up the great work. Love your christian Brother David Gooding
I like your idea!
I voted for you; will you vote for me? Let's do this and see how it turns out. Let's help each other!
Good luck!
I wish you the best in the indeavor. Wonderful idea, and I think you'll do great.
Starla,
I think your idea would be a compassionate and needed inquiry into the status of an underclass of our society that continues to be neglected and ignored by far too many of us still. Best of Luck to you. Jon and Brenda Duncan
Very cool. Please, check me out too when you've got the time.
Starla, I hope you win. You are thinking big for such a good cause. I'm sure God has tapped you on the shoulder! Love, Ruth and Jack
What a wonderful dream. I really do hope yours comes true, because if yours comes true, so will the hopes and dreams of so many woman. Good luck.
Wishing you all the best with this, Starla! Nicky
Wishing you all the best, this is a very worthy cause and I hope your dream comes to fruition.
I love this idea! check out mine and Pic it if youd like! Congo here I come...
I have a friend applying for a fellowship in Minneapolis and that is the basis for her photojournalist approach. I absolutely LOVE what you are pursuing - you have a vote from me.
Starla, this is a problem that is only getting worse in these economic times. I look forward to your project. I voted.
A great and truly worthy dream! I see this every day here in a strange place of the super-wealthy; Aspen, I see your concept as really needing to be brought to the fore, so, fight for it, let me know what I can do! Best of luck!
passion makes the difference. I support you!!!
have a look at my dream too.
good luck
What a great cause! I will pray for your great success in helping women and especially their children. Lets pray for the next generation to be raised up to be productive and honorable members of society!
I can't wait to see your photos - Wonderful idea & great dream! Best of luck and you have my "PIC" - please check out my dream of furthering peaceful coexistence between Jews and Arabs in the Middle East. Thanks!!
Good ideas like yours that are not in the Top 100 are nearly impossible to find. This is unfair as many great ideas are hidden. Those of us in the “Sub-100” should work together to promote the best projects of the Sub-100 so that they can be in the Top 100 and be seen. Please vote for best Sub-100s!
This is an amazing story and I would love to see the work Starla wants to do to get the stories told about these homeless, through her amazing photography. Thank you Starla for your great concern, care, and passion about this issue in America. It needs to be seen and heard.
AMAZING!! What a timely and generous act. Women are marginalized everyday, it's not right, it's not fair. Thank you for making a difference!! ... and letting us share in your dream.
Awesome! i picd. thanks
Good luck, Starla, hope you win. Thanks again for the beautiful pics. you took of me. Best wishes,
Heather
This definitely a compelling dream! I wish you luck! Truly, I do!
thanx for the vote, here's one for you too.
Compassion and responsibility for humanity. Got my vote. Good luck.
We should not have homeless in America. I hope you for the best.
Lynda
Beautiful idea! Could be very empowering for many women(and men).
Check out my idea on covering the new engineering and innovation designed at alleviating poverty and hunger and protecting the environment. Also check out my portfolio http://maclellanimages.com/blog1/galleries/
Cool idea. I worked on something like this in Chicago when I first got into reportage. Anyway, voting for you. Feel free to return the favor and vote for my project on daily struggles and political upheaval in Zimbabwe.
I fled from an abusive husband. I tried to get help through the housing program, I was told they had 2 bedrooms and cause I had kids of the oppisite sex{5 yr boy 3 yr girl, and 18 month girl twins} that I didn't qaulify.Had to be a 3 bedroom. We slept in a car in March. MO weather is cold then.
Go get 'em Starla! Best wishes on this new adventure! D
You have my vote, If you get the chance, check out my dream "From Australia With Love" and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE vote for it!
Thanks.
-Adam
I love homeless men like it's my job! Good luck...this is something that would tickle my fancy. Pic! Do you like mine?
This brings back so many memories of my childhood(often homeless)with my mom & brothers. Coming from an abusive & homeless childhood, I will be more than willing to help this cause in any way I can. Thank you for committing the time in your life to promoting human welfare! Many blessings! - Beth
Hi Starla. Great and touching idea. Voted for you. Hope you'll venture over and vote for me as well.
Noble Project, especially with the current economy. Here's a pic.
good luck to you, as this is an idea worth much exploration. a pic in return! please spread word of my project, as i can taste its actualization... thank you for helping make magic happen.
Great idea. I once saw a photo exhibit of the homeless in a local mall . I was touched. Good luck!
Hi Starla, thanks for the vote. I know we all can make a difference and Pay it Forward:) Great idea and so I voted for you! Good Luck in your endeavors!
i volunteered on skid row in LA...please check out my oiphanage america and vote for that..thanks
great idea,,very good project good luck
Thank you so much Starla. This really is a great idea.
Thanks for your comment. We already have over 10,000 pictures uploaded and it won't happen if one doesn't try. You don't eat a cake all at once you eat it a piece at a time. Thanks for voting, I voted for you also.
I especially like the fact that you wish to start a NPO. We need more motivated, creative people like you in our society. :) Def. go for your dream. Best of luck, you have my support!
Good Luck.
Thanks for the PIC. I sent you one, too. Good luck!!! :)
You have my vote
Great idea! Thanks for the PIC Starla... i left one or you also! Good Luck!
you got it!
thanks for the vote.
I'm returning votes for everyone that voted for zibs.
Great Idea! You go girl! Wish I was aware of this competition longer than a day!
I read your passion. Good luck!!
I like your idea, check out mine and vote for me if you like it. Its about poverty and society in 3rd world countries and how they are controlled, devastated by their governments and western industrialized nations.
FatherJohn
Very compassionate and worthy. I suggest that you look at some of the dreams different people have posted here (mine is about children) and vote for the ones you like best. If you leave a nice comment, they may link back to your dream by clicking on your name and they might vote for you.