Living Unsheltered | Street Sense Media

Portland's sky turned orange as the 2020 Oregon wildfires approached.

How the climate emergency exacerbates homelessness

Kathryn McKelvey explores the connection between climate disasters and homelessness.

Homeless people were left out of the conversation about homelessness in NoMa

Reginald Black voices his concerns about people living unsheltered in the NoMa neighborhood.

I’ve got to get myself together

Artist and vendor Reginald Denny recounts his experiences with homelessness.

Photo of D.C. agencies conducting an encampment protocol engagement

The Handled

A piece by artist and vendor Laticia Brock.

Beat the heat

Artist and vendor Colly Dennis stresses the importance of providing facilities for those living unsheltered, especially in the summer.

Picture of a woman and a man holding up a hand-painted sign that says "Live Love Let Go" as they kneel inside of a green and gray tent with the entry flap open.

Two homeless residents say Dupont Circle neighbors cleared their belongings when they were given an Airbnb for one night

Two homeless residents living in front of the Safeway at 17th and Corcoran streets NW lost all their belongings overnight. They claim it was neighborhood vigilantes.

The Heat

Artist/Vendor Ayub Abdul details homeless people’s struggle to deal with the summer heat.

Photo of plywood painted with an illustration of a person with a red cross on their t-shirt handing out a bottle of water. Text is painted to say "Black Lives Matter to a medic."

What can happen when the police are asked to respond to a mental health crisis in DC?

After an initial arrest that resulted in a stay-away order regarding the White House grounds and Black Lives Matte Plaza, a reportedly homeless man in need of mental health care now faces compounded charges. DC’s proposed FY 2021 budget includes no major expansions of behavioral health support for people in the criminal justice system.

A Gazillionaire

Laticia Brock writes about her personal experiences with homelessness.

Black and white photo of woman standing in park

DC, stop bullying homeless people out of downtown

Colly Dennis questions how the city has been treating the homeless community.

Photo of child spray painting the word "mom" on a brick wall

Memories of my mother

Darlesha Joyner emphasizes the importance of having a mother figure by sharing her personal experiences.

Black Homes Matter

Vendor Robert Warren reflects on his year so far through a poem.

Franklin Park renovations begin, leaving some homeless residents unsure where to go

The redevelopment of Franklin Park has been planned for years. Due to past starts and stops, some residents thought it was only a rumor. But people were forced to leave on June 30 and a fence is being erected on July 1.

What does reopening look like for DC’s homeless community?

Entering Phase Two included significant changes for local businesses but few changes for homeless services. A glimpse into what needs to occur before proceeding to Phase Three, and how DHS is preparing to approach the rest of 2020.

Black and white photo, both officers are wearing PPE also. One is staring straight at the camera.

A home gone to ruins

A formerly homeless man writes about how the federal response to Black Lives Matter demonstrations in DC has cut some homeless people off from a place sleep and receive help from others.

A D.C. city street. A red and white sign advertises an upcoming encampment clean-up. Cars are parked on the side of the road and a bus is passing by in the photo.

Recovering from the trauma of an encampment clean-up

Homeboy, a resident of D.C. experiencing homelessness, lost nearly all of his possessions in an encampment clean-up.

Beats – Episodes 1 and 2

The first two episodes of “Beats” a web series by Street Sense Media and The Homeless Filmmakers’ Co-op.

A tall black teenager holds blankets wrapped in plastic and wears a blue coat. A shorter black girl stands next to him holding water bottles. A black man in a black jacket stands next to her also holding water bottles. All are smiling and are standing on a street corner.

Seeing more people on DC streets, this native Washingtonian organized a community outreach event

Hands Up Outreach Ministry, a faith-based community organization handed out blankets, water, socks, and other supplies to residents of the NoMa homeless encampment during Black History Month.

Photo of a man in a red hat bending over to examine the burned and now soaking wet remnants of his belongings.

A fire displaced 4 people from a homeless encampment last week. Residents believe it was intentional.

Several people living at an encampment in the NoMa neighborhood lost everything in an April 8 fire. They’ve been working to pick up the pieces with community support.

Two people wearing masks standing in front of two garbage trucks.

New Jersey Ave encampment cleanup challenges CDC COVID-19 guidelines, witness says

According to a witness, encampment cleanups are continuing amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

Content categorized as Living Unsheltered