Homeless Home Analysis

Because this family was homeless, and particularly a homeless family of color they were immediately categorized as “lazy.” In the beginning, there was a stranger who came to their living environment and told them they wouldn’t need to live like this if they would just get a job. I found no indication that this family was lazy or had weak work ethics in comparison to people from other races, classes, or gender. On the contrary, I found them to be harder workers. Whether it was gathering and fixing things to sell or standing on the streets in the early mornings to see if the milk trucks needed help, they were still seeking out ways to support their family. The dynamics of this family were strong. They protected one another and displayed strong …show more content…
The only services that seemed to be available to them was a homeless shelter. Their concern about being in a homeless shelter was that it would strip them of their own identity, and they also feared being robbed or hurt in that type of environment. In fact, they felt safer in their make-shift shacks. The attorneys from the Center for Constitutional Rights had been involved in their lives during the two-year making of this documentary, but I do not feel that they worked hard enough to advocate for this family. No one seemed to take the time to learn from or about this family. They constantly feared that they would be arrested for trespassing, but unfortunately, they had nowhere else to go. Their dilapidated self-made shacks were where they lived and what they considered “home.” They sought out these vacant lots to protect what little self-sufficiency they had left, because being self-sufficient made them feel like human beings and a part of our human …show more content…
Just like the family in the documentary, the families I worked with were good people in a bad situation. To work with homeless families, I firmly believe one must have personal experience. My knowledge about the homeless population before my field placement was limited. However, it was through this experience that I discovered the issues and needs of our society’s most vulnerable people. During this internship, I was reminded that all families deserve a place to call home, a place to grow up with their loved ones, and a place to be safe and comfortable. One would be pressed to comprehend unless they have explored the homeless culture