Right now I’m employed by Picture The Homeless (PTH) as the Rental Subsidies Organizer, a campaign to get around changing New York City’s shelter & homeless policies. We focus attention on DHS, HRA, ACS in order to assure that the 34,000+ shelter residents and God only knows the number of street homeless are assisted with real housing – real housing. I came to this job through NYC shelter system. Picture The Homeless didn’t actually get me out of the shelter, they just showed me how to navigate the system.

Marilyn, 22, Puerto Rico Mario, 28, Private sanitation worker. Indoor graffiti artist. Born in El Salvador, lived all over North & South America. What’s your story? About 6 months ago I had everything. I had my apartment, a brand new car, money to spare, a 64 inch TV, I had everything, Last thing I ever thought was being in the situation I am now – no money, no cigarettes, trying to pick up cigarettes from floor every now and then. Before if I saw a homeless person I used to say “get a job, you have hands, you can work!” For me, homeless just described a person who smelled, who’s a dog who’s always begging money, away from civilized people, not worthy, a parasite. Don’t know how else to break it to you.

What’s your story?

I’m a native New Yorker. I entered the shelter system in ’04, starting with Bellevue and then I moved to Bedford Atlantic. And after assessment, I landed in Pojamo House, a mens’ shelter, which lasted for two years. There, I was enrolled in the Teach Program, which was a job readiness program – it went through resume, dress, interviews etc. I was assisted with a job search in the areas of security and stock clerk.