Imagine you are homeless and your backpack gets stolen with all of your identification. Try getting a job without ID. Or opening a bank account, cashing a check, traveling, renting a hotel room, even renting a video. Without an ID life stops!

Now let’s add bureaucracy. Every Stare has different laws and regulations! Replacing a lost ID can be one of the biggest road blocks to getting a homeless person off the streets.

Thanks to Jacqueline Dowd at least people in Central Florida have a solution. Jackie started Idignity to help people get past this hurtle. In all my travels this is the only ID clinic I know of and we need more.

Honored that Neil Abramson, Louisiana State Representative, District 98 in New Orleans, would take the time to talk to me about homelessness in post-Katrina New Orleans.

Shawn Escoffery joined me in capturing stories in New Orleans. Shawn truly ‘sees people’. These images are powerful and really transmit the emotion of the experience.

I knew of David Lanier long before we ever met. My editor on change.org featured him. David was a sports writer who ended up on the streets. He wrote a powerful series on homelessness for NWAonline (seems the articles are no longer available. But David wrote a little piece about this night)

Last year there was a ‘camp out’ after I spoke at the University of Arkansas. I normally don’t endorse such events.  They really do not have much impact and end up being kids eating pizza talking sports. Plus, my own homelessness cured me of camping. But Mike Rusch can be pretty persuasive. And besides, Cobblestone Project has been wonderful to InvisiblePeople.tv so I agreed.

After I spoke, as the group of ‘campers’ were walking to the tent area, David came up and introduced himself to me. He told me he was currently homeless and then went on to encourage me. Yes, I was blown away. But what happened just a few days ago in Northwest Arkansas WRECKED ME.

I honestly didn’t know David was going to be there. I have been so busy it slipped my mind. Then this kind, gentle man walked up and said, “thank you, your visit here last year changed my life”.

Meet David and Henry. This is another wonderful story of how compassionate, caring relationships can help solve the horrible social crisis of homelessness.

OK, lets see how you add this up. Here I am this whacked guy with a big mouth screaming real loud about homelessness. I get this crazy idea to drive around the county. It was either that or face my own eviction since I was unemployed without income.  Add all of YOUR support in helping me get out on the road. And then add a community that really understands compassion and networking.

Below is a short video I shot after meeting Don for the first time. Don was the first homeless person housed by “Our Step”, a community effort that is beyond gorgeous. But here is what is simply amazing. This housing program was started as a direct and indirect result of my speaking at the University of Arkansas during last year’s road trip.

Don was in a bad situation. He only has 35% use of his heart and was living on the streets. To get his 3 year-old daughter  back he had to have housing.  And to qualify for housing he had to have his daughter. Ya I know, crazy, but that is how dysfunctional homeless services can be. It’s called a “gap in the safety net” and Don feel through a huge gap. Luckily Our Step was there.

crazy me + social media + your support + community = housing

This may be one of the most amazing and real stories I have found, but you all must know that Brad and Scotty developed a relationship long before Brad allowed Scotty to live with his family.

Brad I’ve gotten to know over twitter. He’s always encouraging me. I spent a few hours with him my first day here, but Brad never told me about any of this. The next day I met Scotty outside an organization that feeds meals. We struck up a conversation and I instantly took a liking to him. He’s really a nice guy. When I dug deeper I found out Brad, who is now my new hero, took Scotty into his home.

I wish it was always this easy. I wish it was safe to simply take people into your home, and I wish that people had real compassion like Brad’s family does to actually do something about homelessness.

This is a wonderful story of friendship, compassion, and simple solutions to a very complex social crisis.

photo credit: robhowells87