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| Homeless in London ©timothyfoster |
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| Homeless in London ©timothyfoster |
I'm really hesitant of photographing the homeless but when I see them sleeping I loose my confrontation with guilt and let myself see their vulnerability.
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| Homeless in London ©timothyfoster |
I remember taking the first picture and there were all these needles lying near by, and thought if I move one or two needles into shot it will look better. Crazy shit. I also remember when I once went to Perpignan photojournalism festival and Tom Stoddard said to me, "What point of photojournalism isn't fake"? But I still didn't euthanize the picture and I think the picture still said a lot about the mans condition. In fact I think the most beautiful thing in this image is that someone had placed a book and a banana in arms reach for when he came out of his state.
I always wondered what he must have felt like waking up and seeing that someone from the millions like myself that continually walk by, had actually given a damn and put those simple objects next to him. Maybe when he woke it gave him hope, maybe it made him more upset, but it was worth a try who ever put it there and it was more than I'd done.
10 comments:
hi tim,i also have slept on the streets in the past.who knows what the future holds..your photos, you may be interested to know that the couple in the photo.are there probaly because the is a gap in the system.nothing much is in place to help homeless couples with out children..or the right to have a relationship in the the homeless industry..because its all set up for single homeless people,and if you go into a hostel you will get split up.so its best to stay on the streets..how do i know.cause i had a parnter while on streets, and had nothing! but problems with homeless outreach teams.trying to help us together..so much so i could write a whole book about it..The homeless industry in this country.is worth 800 millon a year..regards guizar
Guizar, thanks for your comments, I was really happy to hear what you had to say and I think you should keep saying. They say there is a book in all of us but some have a more interesting book than most, like yourself. I've passed on the blog link with your comments to my friends who work for the homeless charities, they're a good bunch and doers, so I think they'll listen and try. kind regards, Tim.
Tim point 2
When looking at homeleness in specific detail,ie: the addicition problems,mental health,etc..it would appear that society as whole is looking at homeless people through a microscope..in trying to solve the general malaise..there has been massess of research about it in the last twenty years..and yet it persists which shows poverty is the KEY issue not housing..but if you been street homeless..you already know this..
regards guizar
It’s a difficult one, perhaps the word homeless should be changed, and until you have been there you will never really understand how someone lives out their life. Were all individuals living in our own worlds side by side others, all trying to communicate our feelings and thoughts. Most people who haven’t been homeless I would hope are morally aware that it isn’t something anyone would wish on someone. As in, maybe having a home is an innate desire to be able to protect your physical and mental self.
Absolute poverty could be the problem, like you said, you had nothing at one point, there is also the hidden homeless that doesn’t get much attention either. I guess how I see it, is that society has accepted homelessness and walks by it as though it can do nothing. Like watching a television news program about wars in far flung places and feeling powerless, we are called the, ‘oh dear - generation’.
I remember that things never used to be like this, we used to fight for change, why do you think society has changed to this?
Hi tim..
put this together...
Homelessness is a stuation.that also has a backdrop in culture.that complex whole that includes.knowledge,belief,art,law,morals,customs.and other cabilities and habits aquired by amember of society,Street homeless just one situation that can define homelessness guizar
There are generally 2 types of factors that can lead two homelessness
Structual..
changes in housing markets,and land use...employment opportunities,quality education,discriminating policies..single homeless being one...these can have a profound effect
Individual..
various disabilities are literly a handicap to people..Mental illnesss, a general term,it dosnt take long living on the streets for this to accour and be mentally incapacitated looking for somewhere to stay..lifelong disiabilties mental/physical can also mean low income..Ilness,leaving hospital to go back to the streets a good example..illiteracy, the ability to identify,interpret,create,communicate,understand...Addictians...personal circumstances,domestic violence, low income too many to support,no family,natural disasters,umeployment.Alcholism the road where i fell,Health which can come in many forms...
Factors can determine a persons actions which can lead to homelessness,and other social
issue.....just throwing money at a problem can make it worse but it makes others think something is being done..Something is but its not always the correct something..
spent some time thinking this through..hope its makes sense.if only partly...
should you wish to share this.just to show that because someone who is living on the streets or who has done so,its only a label...
hi tim..
or to put it another way
Labels..homeless in london..
your last photo says it all..
guizar
Hi Tim,
I am an outreach worker with homeless people and I just wanted to say that I really like these pictures.
They are honest and unstaged and show the vulnerability of life on the streets. Any more to come??
hi again tim..
most surprised by comment from outreach worker,i thought their aim was no rough sleepers by 2012..but then again no R Sleepers thed be out of work and who knows might end on the streets themselves..hope outreach worker spotted a couple on streets together..A honest answer please from him/her..what chance they got staying together if they go into a hostel..as they know the sector < homeless industry> its money first people second..£700 millon a year generated..figure can be checked its real..regards guizar from bullring
My last comment was simply to compliment Tim on his work.
With regards to eradicating homelessness by 2012, the government have made this promise, but seems to forget that as yet we still have a degree of freedom as to how we chose to live our lives. Unless it becomes illegal to be homeless, we will always have rough sleepers. I chose to become an outreach worker because I believe that a person should not have to live on the streets if they don't want to.
Housing rough sleepers is never easy as the accommodation needs to be suitable to the individuals needs. There are not many hostels that take couples, so it can mean a long wait for a couples room or the couple would have to go in separately into separate rooms, with an option of moving into a couples room when available. It can be equally difficult to get homeless clients into hostels with dogs, sex offences, murder convictions, or offences against children. However, local authorities do seem to be listening. Over the last few years more services are opening up to these issues and extending hostel intakes.
Hi I know I'm a bit late in replying to your original post on homelessness but I've only just found it today, 3 January 2015. I really resonated with what you said about our eyes adjusting and seeing what we may not normally see if we're happy etc. For the most part of my life I've always seen those who at times remain unseen to the world and I try to reach out when I can. I recently volunteered at a shelter and it was probably one of the more heart-opening, rewarding experiences in a long time. I hope you're well and that no matter what state of mind you find yourself, that you will always see and post for others to see, those that remain unseen.
Amrit
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