What began as a simple photography project aimed at capturing a few homeless people in their respective neighborhoods eventually turned into something much larger (which is why the past couple of posts have been late).
Regardless, when I set out on this mission, I wasn’t prepared for the challenge before me. As a transplant to the city and having lived here for only 10 months, I’m less than familiar with the ins and outs of Chicago neighborhoods, streets and bus routes, especially since I’ve been confined to the near north side due to the locations of work and home. So I found myself wandering about in not-so-comfortable neighborhoods, aware of the many pairs of eyes that followed me and feeling extremely vulnerable. Not to mention, I got lost on more than three occasions. It was quite the adventure.
One stark difference between the north and south sides is that there are no homeless peddlers on the south side, so finding a subject to interview and photograph was an obstacle I wasn’t prepared to overcome. If you wander around long enough, you realize why there are no beggars – there is nothing to beg for in that area. And no one has anything to give.
So instead of giving up on my blog challenge from last week, I decided to capture what I could of some down-trodden people, their homes and their neighborhoods. Over the course of several evenings, I took the Green Line to the south side, got off on a completely random stop and hiked my way north toward downtown with only a camera around my neck and a cell phone with 911 on the speed dial. One evening was dreary and chilly, setting a very appropriate tone for the nature of the project; another evening was sunny, warm and unbearably humid - absolutely miserable. The most chilling parts of losing myself in a questionable area were the sounds that surrounded me... there were none. For being one of the largest cities in the U.S., the traffic was almost non-existent. There were no sirens, no honking taxi drivers and strangely enough for early June, no birds were chirping. The wind never even picked up; it must have been nervous too. My sole comfort was the occasional screech and clack of the El train above me - the only familiarity in this southside ghost town. I didn't venture too far from my security blanket of the train tracks.
I slipped on a White Sox cap (you know, thinking I could blend in with the scenery but to no avail - my blonde hair gave me away), and I took several hundred pictures. I’ve put some of my favorites in the new Windy City Wanderers Flickr account.
I enjoyed the challenge so much that hopefully in the coming weeks and months, I will be able to capture some of Chicago’s most deplorable living conditions (though I feel like I didn’t really do that in this particular set of photos) in hopes of making readers more aware of others’ needs and less concerned with their own wants.
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Lauren Fleming
Lauren Fleming was born and raised in rural east Texas and now calls Chicago home. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Tyler with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism and works full-time in Illinois politics for a state official. She has volunteered with the Homeless Coalition, served in AmeriCorps National Service, has tutored at-risk youth and coached youth basketball. She has a heart for the homeless and the hurting and works alongside various organizations to help eradicate social injustices. More
Comments
Great pictures. I think most south side beggars move toward Hyde Park, where we have quite a few. Several of them get jobs with neighborhood stores, though, which is great.
Nice job with the blog. More pics please.
So you're trying to justify your bourgeois existence by documenting blighted neighborhoods and the homeless and working poor who live in those neighborhoods? For some of us, these neighborhoods aren't just quaint, they're everyday life. Don't trivialize the plight of others.
Thank you, Brian, for your comment.
I appreciate your concern for my “bourgeois existence” and hope you can find some peace in knowing your attempt to correct me is nothing short of wrong. I would never intentionally trivialize the plight of any human being, especially when my misfortunes fated me to become completely independent at the tender age of eight.
I welcome any questions you may have about me and my intentions for this blog with an open mind and don’t condone any speculations made through a computer screen. Perhaps Brian, you’d like to meet for coffee and discuss? It’d make for a great follow-up blog for this week.
Great photos! I have dealt with panhandlers on the south side, as well, in the Pilsen area. What was funny was that he asked if I spoke Spanish. When I replied (in Spanish) "A little, not much" he turned to my gringo friend and addressed him in English!
I appreciated the article and pics are great....
Funny thought as I came upon this link looking for a place that I could send ......well As we speak, I have an ex boyfriend who won't stop calling me. He is drunk again and fooled his friends into thinking he had a place to stay....because he thought I would take him in again....but the last time he was with me ........he hit me 20 times in my head, arms, and back (thank god not hard enough to do real damage)
He is homeless due to his lack of self care ultimately: his very poor credit, not paying his bills. I was his landlord (w/o pay) for way too long....then he ruined it with the next place by not paying his rent....he spends most of his earned money on drugs and drinking.
How can I keep helping, even if he is homeless and its cold outside. I'm a normal, fun loving, you see me out all the time, charity giving, harding working....caring soul....but really how much can one person handle.
The abuse is mostly verbal but the physical abuse that happened recently.....was wake up call about how far I let a bad relationship go....and how one person can get their life out of control.
So I ask you ....how does one respond....I don't want to leave him homeless but ultimately it is his decision.
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