feature: picture the homeless – the grassroots organization (founded and led by homeless people) that fights for social justice

Check out Picture the Homeless – a grassroots community organizer focused on Civil Rights, housing, and education; founded and run by homeless people. Formed due to the increased harassment of homeless and African American men by police in New York, Anthony Williams and Lewis Haggins – two homeless men – founded the Bronx based nonprofit in 1999. Picture The Homeless state: “When Nicole Barrett was injured with a brick on the streets of New York in November of 1999, the Giuliani administration used this tragedy as an excuse to increase the harassment and intimidation of homeless people on the streets and in the shelters. Homeless and African American men immediately became targets, and the impact was felt by all homeless people. There were street sweeps and midnight shelter raids. The media contributed to an environment where an isolated criminal act became the pretext to stigmatize and harass people based on their lack of housing. Headlines demonizing homeless people appeared, even before the alleged perpetrator was apprehended and his housing status made public […] Picture the Homeless was founded on the principle that the voices and leadership of homeless people is critical to educate the public and mobilize the political will to target resources in the struggle to end homelessness.” They add: “We are organizing for social justice around issues like housing, police violence, and the shelter-industrial complex. Our name is about challenging images, stigma, media (mis) representation – as well as putting forward an alternative vision of community.” CLICK HERE to find out more about their work.

By Alexander Aplerku, AFROPUNK Contributor

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