Our distribution partner Project Ropa introduced us to Edward, who has been living on the streets of Los Angeles for about 1,5 years.
Edward has been using his Shelterbag for a couple of months now, sleeping in front of a church across from Echo Park. The place is guarded by security cameras, giving him a sense of security at night. He told us he loved the design because it allows him to be mobile, and only carry his skateboard.
When we met Mercedes (aka Danger), she was sewing her tent because it was ripped. There was no mattress or blanket inside. When we visited a week earlier, her tent was not there yet. She just relocated to be close to the services offered by The ReFresh spot across the street (a community-driven project run by Homeless Healthcare that provides Skid Row residents access to restrooms, showers, laundry, and supportive services).
After doing her laundry and showering, she made sure to wear her good wig before I could take her portrait.
Her morning routine (meditation, prayer, and self-care) helps her to stay positive. She thinks about her children when she prays, but she doesn’t know where they are now.
Cleveland (67) was the first in line to have his photo taken after he received a Shelterbag from Salvation Army on Skid Row.
We checked back in a week later to hear his thoughts. “If I could do a jingle for it, I would!” Cleveland is a musician, or in his own words: “more of a vocalist than anything else.”
He came to L.A. from New Orleans when he was young, chasing the music business. He has been on the streets since ‘77.
