The Potter’s Field Campaign grew out of the loss of Picture the Homeless’ co-founder, Lewis Haggins, on December 23, 2003. Picture the Homeless, under the leadership of the Civil Rights Committee, had made attempts, prior to Lewis’ passing, to gain access to potter’s field to remember the countless homeless buried there. But Lewis’ passing struck home, in a very personal way, how important it is for the poor to have closure in their relationships and to know that they, themselves, will be reposed in dignity.

The way the poor and homeless are handled after they die in New York City is not the only insult the poor face... but it's the final insult.


© Newsday [1], Photographer, Jason DeCrow
The essentially spiritual nature of the Potter’s Field Campaign makes us unique among Picture the Homeless’ campaigns. In order to succeed, we needed to build on existing relationships with faith leaders and reach out to a more diverse range of faith leaders. As a result of our efforts, Picture the Homeless now counts among our close allies leaders of Protestant, Catholic, Jewish and Muslim faiths. As we move forward, we hope to broaden our alliances to include leaders of non-Abrahamaic faiths.

All who pass from this life possess a sacred dignity intrinsic to their membership among the human family; and all consequently deserve to be reposed in dignity and remembered with honor and love.