Cardboard Stories: Homeless People Sharing Who They Are

February 14, 2015 / Rethink Homelessness

Many people have very biased views about homelessness and the folks who make up the homeless population.

This video – created by the aptly titled organization Rethink Homelessness – aims to help you reevaluate the assumptions that you have about homelessness and homeless people.

After all, homelessness is just one single part of a person’s life. There is so much more.

Click for the Transcript

Beginning text in the video: “These are real homeless people.”

[Shows a vast variety of people writing on and holding cardboard signs with words written on them.]

Text: “These are their stories…”

The signs the people are holding up read:

“I’ve built robots.”

“Lost it all. Starting over!”

“Epileptic seizures for 10 yrs… and still fighting!”

“I was a personal trainer. ‘Believe it or not’ :)” [Holding a flyer, presumably of their personal training business.]

“I once had a scholarship to play baseball.”

“I am homeless and I DO have a job.”

“I am a computer geek.”

“I’m recovering from open heart surgery.” [Shows a scar on their chest.]

“I was born DEAF…”

“I speak “FOUR” languages!”

“I was a figure skater.”

“I went to modeling school.”

“I have Huntington’s… but I don’t let things get me down!”

“I was on the Buffalo Bills practice squad from 1998-2000.” [Catches a football.]

“Me and my son escaped domestic violence!”

“I have a degree in Biology from West Virginia University.”

“I have stage two lung cancer.”

“I surrendered my kids to save them from homelessness.”

“Rethink homelessness.”

To learn more about this topic, check out:

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Rethink Homelessness is a campaign created by The Central Florida Commission on Homelessness (CFCH). The CFCH is a non-profit organization committed to eradicating homelessness in Central Florida. Check them out on Youtube and on Twitter @RethinkHomeless.