Homeless

Apparently I am not the only one in my family that photographs homeless people… While digging around in the bins of old pictures and negatives I have from yesteryear, I found this one taken in Marina Del Rey, sometime in 1956.

Today was the Homeless candle light vigil and memorial to remember the 60 homeless people that passed away this year on the streets of Las Vegas.

Each year since 1996, Linda Lera Randle El from Strait from the streets has sponsored this memorial in Las Vegas to remember and honor those homeless who have died and to recommit to the task of ending homelessness.  About 150 people turned out to light a candle and to remember…

This year, 60 homeless people have died, that is a little more than 1 a week. This number is up from last year where 46 homeless died.

With more and more people losing their jobs, homes, families this year. Please remember that you can make a difference to people lives by donating to those who are less fortunate than you.

All Photos © by Las Vegas Photographer Dave Proctor

During the 1950s and ’60s they were the winos, the “derelicts” who had had one too many drinks or got tripped up on drugs, the ones who somehow lost their grip and fell through the cracks of society. Most people never stopped to ask their stories, although when they did, most of them were pretty much the same.  Somewhere along the line they became the Homeless.  Most people still don’t ask, but the stories are not quite the same.

They are the family we’ve lost touch with, the friend who was always there but somehow disappeared, they are Us in two years, if an unexpected illness strikes or we lose our job. The Us we don’t dare think about.

Henry finds a bar of soap, score!

Meet Henry, not long ago Henry was like a lot of us, nice house, car and a job that paid the bills.  However all that changed when he lost his job.  Now Henry makes his living collecting aluminum cans he finds downtown.  Each day more and more people join Henry living in the streets.  Some say that each day, another 10 people become homeless in Las Vegas.

Henry washes his socks with the new found bar of soap.

Contrary to what most people think, not all homeless are crazy, dirty or beggars.  Henry is intelligent, likes to keep clean and work for the things he needs.

So as Thanksgiving gets closer, stop and think about all the things you should be thankful for.  Not everyone will be having Hot Turkey and Stuffing.  Some will be out there making the best of the situation as best as they can.

If you would like to help, please contact the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. You can donate money, food and/or your time to a good cause.

Another thing you can do, when you see one of these odd colored “Parking” meters around town, reach into your pocket and see if you have any spare change. Money collected in these goes to helping the homeless in Las Vegas.

Photos © by Las Vegas Photographer Dave Proctor

As some of you already know, I have been working on a series documenting the homeless problem here in Las Vegas.

These are some of the recent new faces of Fremont Street.

Sometimes we think our lives are hard, things don’t work out and we are unhappy.  Take a moment to be grateful for the things you do have. Some people have lost everything.  Every day more and more people become homeless due to many reasons, most are beyond their control.

So the next time you see someone standing on the corner begging, think for a moment of all the things you have, your family, your home, your internet connection, all things we sometimes take for granted and be grateful.

Have you helped someone today?