I’ve never met Kevin Barbieux in person, but I’ve been reading his blog, “The Homeless Guy,” for years and I feel like I know him. Today, he posted a video entitled, “How I Became Homeless.” I just finished watching it, and I’m in tears. In the video, he describes the … > read more
A while back, I Twittered about a homeless man and his cat who lived under a bridge in downtown Greensboro. The cat needed to go to the vet and needed food, and the homeless man had no money for either. An animal-loving friend saw the Tweet and paid for a … > read more
I read a lot of stories about homeless people who are “down on their luck” because of losing jobs, especially in this economy. But I do a little checking (learned while doing case management) and often find criminal history that indicates bigger issues (which may well have contributed to the … > read more
The City of Greensboro began the Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy (RUCO) program in 2003. Landlords are required to receive a certificate — verifying that there are no code violations — for every rental unit. Since RUCO began, there has been a dramatic decline in the number of violations. (See … > read more
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, … > read more
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. Some quotes, with my notes: “The tobacco has kept me from killing a couple a people,” [Cotton] says, “including myself.” When we visit the camps, … > read more
[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. Cotton is homeless and disabled. She lives in a tent in Greensboro, NC. If that’s not bad … > read more
From Jamie’s Big Voice (UK): “…I think I understand more than most the plight of homeless people after they have a home. getting A flat or some kind of accommodation is only part of the battle. The battle to break the habit of homelessness it’s self is the toughest. It … > read more
Via email, from Action Greensboro: “… As you may know, Action Greensboro is spearheading a public/private partnership to create a Downtown Greenway… Construction… will displace those living in this area…” This is Yong. She is homeless and lives outside, in a tent in the woods in downtown Greensboro, in the … > read more
Via email, from Action Greensboro: “… As you may know, Action Greensboro is spearheading a public/private partnership to create a Downtown Greenway… Construction… will displace those living in this area…” This is Keith. He is homeless and lives outside in a wooded camp in downtown Greensboro in the path of … > read more