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Invisible Visible
In their own words:
How the global pandemic COVID-19 affects one of our most fragile and at-risk populations:
the homeless citizens of the United States of America
Toledo, Ohio
October, 2020
Ohio Homeless Population 2020: est. 10, 345
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Arriving from Okeechobee, Florida just a few months ago, Brian is living on the streets of Toledo, Ohio. Estranged from his family, he relies on Social Security Disability after injuring his back. Fully aware of the pandemic, Brian avoids crowds and gatherings, wears a mask and prefers to stay out of shelters for fear of catching germs.
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John, age 71, knows about the global pandemic and keeps his mask on even while outdoors. This father of a seventeen year old daughter who lives in Peoria, Illinois, has not encountered anyone who has contracted COVID-19 and hopes things get back to normal soon. In order to battle the cold, John will go to a shelter, but with temperatures above forty degrees he bundles up to beat the milder cold temps and stays outdoors.
Losing his construction job due to COVID-19, Derrick is homeless in Toledo, Ohio. Waiting on unemployment benefits, Derrick is staying on the streets and using the community shelters for showers which he takes once a week. "I don't have a drinking or drug problem - but I do smoke cigarettes!" he said with a huge smile. He wears masks when he goes inside, but keeps them in his pocket while outside in the fresh air.
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