ChosenFast.com

image credit: Kuba Bozanowski

Jim Schlosser somehow fashions a heartwarming, aw-shucks tale from the life of Jack Fuquay, a homeless alcoholic who slept on a park bench in downtown  Greensboro in the 70’s, and died alone in a public toilet.  I guess we’re all supposed to feel good about Fuquay’s homelessness, alcoholism, tragic life, and lonely death because he was a “character” who spent his benefactor’s charitable contributions on milk instead of wine. Wow, I feel so… not uplifted.

Read more on Seen through rose-colored glasses: The life of a homeless alcoholic in Greensboro…

Cotton (image credit: YES! Weekly)

Brian Clarey visited the Freeman Mill homeless camps and wrote a powerful story for the 10/07/2009 edition of YES! Weekly. Read “Street Level” online here.

Read more on Downtown campground: Life inside the Freeman Mill homeless camp…

[video link]

From Mark Horvath at InvisiblePeople.tv:

“Brutal and senseless.”

This is how Cotton describes homelessness. It might just be the most succinct and heart-breakingly accurate explanation I’ve heard in a long time.

Read more on Video of Cotton: 16 years homeless & disabled, “Brutal and senseless”…

I’m not into politics and campaigning, but…

About a month ago, I went to a fish fry at Ben Holder’s house. Ben is running for Greensboro City Council in District 1. I didn’t go for the politics, or for the fish. I mostly just wanted to see Cameron and Graham — Ben’s kids. I love them and I hadn’t seen them in a while. But when I got there, I got a surprise: Ben had met a homeless guy I know, David, who was flying a sign in Glenwood, and Ben had invited him to come and eat.

Read more on Ben Holder gives homeless man the shirt off his back (almost)…

Dominic Mapstone on Change.org:

“Sleep-Outs for the Homeless” are staged around the globe to raise money and awareness for homeless. But don’t let the name fool you – instead of being a gritty, real-life glimpse into the devastation of homelessness, they are simply glorified slumber parties….”

Read more on Sleep Out for the Homeless: Worst Fundraiser Ever?…

From InvisiblePeople.tv:

Three months ago, Yong lost everything – including her house and all of her possessions – in a fire. To make matters worse, she did not receive the insurance money she needed to survive. She ended up homeless.

Read more on Video: Yong, a homeless woman in Greensboro…

The InvisiblePeople.tv Road Trip USA came to the homeless camps in the field off Spring Garden, near downtown Greensboro. See the story on Whrrl.

Mark Horvath (right) of InvisiblePeople.tv, filming at Nickelsville tent city, Seattle; image credit: KING5.com

From Seattle’s KING5.com:

“Mark Horvath knows what it’s like to live on the streets.

Read more on KING5.com: Former TV exec giving a voice to Seattle’s homeless…

.@invisiblepeople is at Nickelsville, tent city for the homeless at Terminal 107 Park in West Seattle; pics/story – http://whrrl.com/e/fZ90j

More:

From NickelsvilleSeattle.org:

“…[in] January 2008, it was found that 8439 people were homeless in King County. 5808 had shelter through existing programs but 2631 were without, a 15% increase over last year. 34 homeless people have died outside this year alone.

Read more on .@invisiblepeople is at Nickelsville……

Mark Horvath, InvisiblePeople.tv

Mark is coming to Greensboro! Local sponsors and media welcome! Click here.

Media release:

… [Mark] Horvath will visit over 25 cities across the nation in order to help bring understanding and knowledge to the growing homeless crisis. Because he knows homelessness does not discriminate, Horvath will visit a mix of rural areas, larger cities, shelters and youth facilities to bring a voice to the voiceless through the power of social media. Personal stories of those who are homeless will be posted on Horvath’s vlog, YouTube and Vimeo, and through social networks including Twitter and Facebook. In addition, he will share stories in real-time on Whrrl as he visits these communities.

Read more on Using the power of social media to help the homeless…

Mark Horvath met Cliff in Vegas, first stop on the InvisiblePeople.tv Road Trip.

Cliff from InvisiblePeople.tv on Vimeo.

Mark brings the InvisiblePeople.tv Road Trip to Greensboro in August. Stay tuned.