Homelessness
Our housing crisis is worse now than during the Tasmanian winter of 2019 when 24 year old Ty looked into Scott's 49 year old eyes and wondered if he was looking at his own future. We found Scott living in his tent in the bushes near the Bridgewater bridge. Ty just happened by. He described his own situation, living rough, just up the road behind McDonalds. I pulled all of my lighting out of the car. I knew the symbolic potential of these photographs. People will only have an opportunity to care about something if they notice it. I wanted people to notice these photographs. Later and at the time, I wondered if the photographs were too intimate, too revealing but then focussed on the plight and the potential for change. What is my place in all of this and is it folly to think photographs can change things for the better? Did these photographs show something that once was and has changed, something that the subjects have moved on from and would never want out there or would they too feel they could help others by bringing attention to this issue? When it comes to Scott and Ty, I may never know. I have tried to contact them unsuccessfully several times, especially Ty, he has time on his side and a sparkle in his eyes with potential for a bright future. I don't know about Scott, I hope he's well, he was going in for some serious surgery.
Please let me know if you know these guys, I would love to hear how they're going.
I've done several homelessness stories over the years and have been surprised at how many people in that situation don't understand it is a societal human right to have safe shelter, food and water and they do think they are a burden on society and therefore become silent.
Can good governance effectively solve social problems like homelessness? We will, and should be judged as a nation by the way we care for our vulnerable people. If you google famous people who were once homeless you will see there are extensive lists of them. Beautiful souls like Archie Roach were once homeless. Imagine the tragedy of losing him before his light truly shone?
