My night is my day

I have to admit, walking around downtown Atlanta, GA is somewhat depressing. It would appear, just by observation, they have one of the biggest homeless problems in the south. People are sleeping on the sidewalks, eating out of trashcans, all in the shadows of business men and women walking to work, tourist heading to attractions and politicians headed to meetings. But what can be done? Mental illness looks to be the biggest problem among the homeless I have talked to in places like Atlanta. 

Atlanta is my home

"At any given time today in America, there are about half a million people who are "homeless" -- they don't have a “permanent, safe, decent, affordable place to live.” Around the world there are about 100 million homeless people, and many of them are women and children." -- Robert Alan Silverstein

I like the spikes on the hat

"I sell these hats," he said. "Where did you sleep last night," I asked? He pointed at a concrete wall, "Right over there." He then told me that his boss was on the way and had a push cart filled with hats for him to sell throughout the day in downtown Atlanta. 

Sleeping the night off

Sleeping the previous night off... "Why do alcoholics begin down the same hazardous road day after day? They are in search of that elusive window of well-being that opens when you drink your way out of a hangover and aren't yet drunk all over again. The alcoholic's day consists of trying to keep that window open."

-Roger Ebert

Missed the curfew for homeless

He told me, "Is there anyway you could buy me some chips? I would love some chips. I missed my curfew for the shelter." I said, "What do you mean curfew?" He told me if you wanted to stay in the shelter located in downtown Atlanta, GA, you had to check in by 7PM. It was 9PM. He said it was too far to walk tonight. That being said, I walked into the CVS and bought him chips, beef jerky and two Gatorade's. 

Can't go hungry

"We come here every Sunday. Churches bring a feast. If you go hungry in downtown Atlanta, you're an idiot, I'm sorry, something is wrong with you. We have food on every corner." That... is what he told me. I looked around and saw ten to fifteen homeless waiting for the good church to show up with food. 

Living from day to day

"We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty." - Mother Teresa 

I'm not fixed up!

This man started waiving his hand at me as I took a picture. "What," I asked? He said, "I'm not fixed up baby, don't take my picture." I then heard him on the phone, "They can't take your picture, you're on the phone and you're not here with me." 

Beat with a 2X4

The night before I ran into this man, he was hit over the head with a 2X4. The entire left side of his face and ear are swollen. He has stitches next to his left eye. You can actually see the mark that the 2X4 left. He was rushed to the hospital after he lost consciousness. He was released after receiving the stitches. He told me the incident occurred under a bridge with other homeless persons in Atlanta. He said they were all drinking when it happened.