One of the residents of a shelter for the city's homeless (Charlotte County Homeless Coalition) has come to pick up some things from the storage locker where he stores the belongings from his old house. Port Charlotte, Florida 2009A couple from a shelter for the city's homeless (Charlotte County Homeless Coalition) has come to pick up some things from their storage locker. This is a common solution in the USA for people who have lost their homes. Port Charlotte, Florida 2009A new resident of a shelter for the homeless (Friendship House) waits for the time to pick up her son in order to take him back to the shelter to eat and sleep. Immokalee, Florida 2009In the parking lot of a shelter for the homeless (Friendship House) some new residents who have been hit by the economic crisis go out to look for work. The sign asks for money for petrol which she needs to rejoin her family in North Carolina. Immokalee, Florida 2009In the parking lot of a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House), a new resident comes to look for some of her things in the boot of her car. Naples, Florida 2009A new resident of a shelter for the homeless (Friendship House) has just picked up her son from his daycare and brought him back to the shelter to eat and sleep. Immokalee, Florida 2009A scene in the courtyard of a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House). Each day the American flag is flown above the entrance. Naples, Florida 2009In the courtyard of St. Matthew's House, recent victims of the economic crisis rub elbows with residents suffering from alcohol and drug addiction. Naples, Florida 2009A restful moment reading newspapers and books in the common room of a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House). Naples, Florida 2009A scene in the common room of a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House). Religion is often a way out (the only way?) for residents suffering from drug and alcohol addiction. Naples, Florida 2009A church service in the dining hall of a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House). Naples, Florida 2009A church service in the dining hall of a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House). Naples, Florida 2009A church service in the dining hall of a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House). Naples, Florida 2009Residents of a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House) return from a burial service for four of their friends who have died. The mortality rate among those who live in shelters is 2-3 times higher than the national average. Naples, Florida 2009A key chain with tokens symbolizing how long a resident has been abstinent from drugs (St. Matthew's House). "Just for today," "clean for 20 days," "clean for 60 days," "clean for 90 days," "clean for 6 months." Naples, Florida 2009In this shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House), each of the residents has a small cupboard where they can securely store their things. Naples, Florida 2009A scene in the dormitory of a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House). The residents look for distractions. Hunting for work in the face of the economic downturn is a major source of stress for them. Naples, Florida 2009Dinner in a shelter for the homeless (Friendship House). New residents hit by the economic crisis share their meal with immigrant workers who pick fruit and vegetables in the nearby farms. Immokalee, Florida 2009Dinner in a shelter for the homeless (Friendship House). New residents hit by the economic crisis share their meal with immigrant workers who pick fruit and vegetables in the nearby farms. Immokalee, Florida 2009In the kitchen of a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House), residents prepare sandwiches to be taken to work or with them as they search for jobs. In each of the shelters I saw, residents were given daily tasks. Naples, Florida 2009An evening in a shelter for the homeless (Charlotte County Homeless Coalition). The new residents hit by the economic crisis pass the time with their laptops or by playing Monopoly. Port Charlotte, Florida 2009A scene of mutual cooperation in the bathroom of a shelter for the homeless (Friendship House). People displaced by the economic crisis rub elbows with people suffering from drug and alcohol addiction and migrant workers who pick fruit and vegetables in the nearby farms. Immokalee, Florida 2009A scene in the courtyard of a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House). Bicycles have replaced cars for many residents because of the economic crisis and the high price of petrol. Naples, Florida 2009Residents in the courtyard of a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House). The criminalisation of suffering often leads to prison. "You know, when you ain't got no money you do stupid things." Naples, Florida 2009A scene in the common room of a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House). This young woman is going to be interviewed a little later by a TV crew that is looking for people who have lost their homes due to foreclosure. Naples, Florida 2009On the porch of a shelter for the homeless (Friendship House). This sixty-year-old man is a recent victim of the economic crisis, unable to find work in his trade as a plumber. Immokalee, Florida 2009A dormitory in a shelter for the homeless (Friendship House) where you can find immigrant workers and American victims of the economic crisis. A monitor makes a bedcheck just before "lights out". Immokalee, Florida 2009A dormitory in a shelter for the homeless (Friendship House) where you can find immigrant workers and American victims of the economic crisis. Immokalee, Florida 2009In a storage room of a shelter for the homeless (Friendship House), some residents are ready to spend the night. Because of the economic crisis the shelter is functioning at 120% of its capacity and new arrivals sleep here. Immokaleee, Florida 2009In the dining room of a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House) some residents are ready to spend the night. Because of the economic crisis the shelter is functioning at 120% of its capacity and new arrivals sleep here in the refectory. Naples, Florida 2009Breakfast in a shelter for the homeless (Friendship House), where you can find immigrant workers and American victims of the economic crisis. This worker is in a hurry because he has to leave shortly to spend the day searching for farm labour in one of the nearby fruit and vegetable fields. Immokalee, Florida 2009A scene early in the morning (around 5 o'clock) in a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House). A man recently hit by the economic crisis prepares to go out in search of work. Naples, Florida 2009A 10 minute walk from the shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House), there is already an early morning queue in front of the temporary employment agency "Able Body Labor". Naples, Florida 2009This man, a resident of one of the shelters (St. Matthew's House), specializes in construction work and came from Texas because he heard that there was still a little work left in Florida. After several ineffective tries with the temporary agency, his plan now is to earn about $500 USD and look for work in another state. Naples, Florida 2009This man, a resident of one of the shelters (St. Matthew's House), specializes in construction work. He showed me his picture as it appeared in People Magazine in 1982, in an article covering that year's recession. His point was that it is not that bad yet. Naples, Florida 2009In a shelter for the homeless (Charlotte County Homeless Coalition) residents look for work on the internet. This region is particularly hard hit by unemployment. Port Charlotte, Florida 2009A dormitory in a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House). This resident is packing his bags. After 3 warnings he has received notice of his expulsion. Naples, Florida 2009A scene in a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House). This resident has received 3 warnings and now he is being expelled. Naples, Florida 2009Residents of a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House), who have been hit by the economic crisis, search for an alternative place to live. They visit a mobile home that rents for $600 USD per month. Naples, Florida 2009Not far from a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House), a resident who was kicked out and his friend squat in a garage of a house that was abandoned by its owners and subsequently condemned, like many other foreclosed houses in the region. Naples, Florida 2009A squat in a house that was abandoned by its owners and subsequently condemned, like many other foreclosed houses in the region. Naples, Florida 2009Not far from a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House), a homeless person has found shelter in the garage of a house that was abandoned by its owners and subsequently condemned, like many other foreclosed houses in the region. Naples, Florida 2009A squat in a house that was abandoned by its owners and subsequently condemned, like many other foreclosed houses in the region. Naples, Florida 2009About 500 meters from a homeless shelter (St. Matthew's House), on the 6th floor of the Naples Court House, buyers bid on foreclosed houses that have been put up for auction. Naples, Florida 2009About 500 meters from a homeless shelter (St. Matthew's House), on the 6th floor of the Naples Court House, buyers bid on foreclosed houses that have been put up for auction. Naples, Florida 2009In front of a shelter for the homeless (Charlotte County Homeless Coalition), a woman who lives in her car waits for supper time at the shelter to get something to eat. She says she was made bankrupt by the cyclone of 2004 and that current economic difficulties prevent her from finding work. Port Charlotte, Florida 2009In front of a shelter for the homeless (Charlotte County Homeless Coalition), a woman who lives in her car is getting ready to go to the shelter for her evening meal. She says she was made bankrupt by the cyclone of 2004 and that current economic difficulties prevent her from finding work. Port Charlotte, Florida 2009The noon meal is being served to all the homeless people behind this shelter (St. Matthew's House). This man, a cook all his life, must wait several months before he reaches full retirement age. Naples, Florida 2009A noon meal being served at the Guadalupe Center. Newcomers who have been recently hit by the economic crisis share a meal with immigrant farm labourers who pick fruit and vegetables at the nearby farms. Immokalee, Florida 2009In the kitchen pantry of a shelter for the homeless (Charlotte County Homeless Coalition), there is food to accommodate people displaced by the economic crisis. Since 2008 they have had to double their provisions. Port Charlotte, Florida 2009In front of the shelter (Charlotte County Homeless Coalition) a volunteer helps a client transport her ration of food aid to her car. Food aid is furnished once a month to families in need. Port Charlotte, Florida 2009In front of the shelter (Charlotte County Homeless Coalition) a volunteer helps a family load their car with supplemental food aid. This type of aid is furnished once a month to families in need. Port Charlotte, Florida 2009Not far from the shelter (Charlotte County Homeless Coalition), a homeless person, recently hit by the economic crisis, shakes out his bedding. Spotted by the police thanks to a tip-off, his camp will be destroyed the same day. Port Charlotte, Florida 2009The camp of a homeless person recently displaced by the economic crisis. Port Charlotte, Florida 2009A homeless person recently displaced by the economic crisis returns to his camp. These discrete campsites are generally well hidden in the woods. Port Charlotte, Florida 2009Not far from Port Charlotte, a homeless person recently displaced by the economic crisis (a sharp rise in unemployment) has a drink at a water fountain in a sports complex. Port Charlotte, Florida 2009Not far from the shelter (Charlotte County Homeless Coalition), some homeless people, recently hit by the economic crisis (massive unemployment), in their camp. Port Charlotte, Florida 2009Not far from the shelter (Charlotte County Homeless Coalition), one of the homeless people, recently hit by the economic crisis (massive unemployment), leaves his camp to attend some courses. Port Charlotte, Florida 2009Not far from the shelter (Charlotte County Homeless Coalition), a homeless person, recently hit by the economic crisis (massive unemployment), repairs his bicycle. He is the owner of a van but he did not count on the rising price of repairs and petrol. Port Charlotte, Florida 2009Not far from the shelter (Charlotte County Homeless Coalition), some homeless people, recently hit by the economic crisis (massive unemployment). Port Charlotte, Florida 2009Not far from the shelter (Charlotte County Homeless Coalition), in the early morning a homeless man, recently hit by the economic crisis (massive unemployment), goes to the supermarket to buy the day's groceries. Port Charlotte, Florida 2009In a supermarket a homeless man, recently hit by the economic crisis, is able to buy groceries thanks to a food program sponsored by the government. Port Charlotte, Florida 2009A scene in a public library. This place is essential for the homeless who are able to come here for news, to relax and distract themselves. The shelters are generally closed during the day. Port Charlotte, Florida 2009A sticker under the windscreen of a car in one of the rich neighbourhoods of the city, in reaction to the policies of the new Obama administration which some see as socialist. Naples, Florida 2009An interview conducted by a TV crew in the lunch room of a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House). Several days earlier the crew had called to ask if they could find some people who were victims of a home foreclosure. Naples, Florida 2009Final adjustment before an interview conducted by a TV crew in the lunch room of a shelter for the homeless (St. Matthew's House). Several days earlier the crew had called to ask if they could find some people who were victims of a home foreclosure. Naples, Florida 2009To illustrate what was involved in her chores as a kitchen aide (each resident has a daily task to do), the TV crew asked her to "act out" her typical work in the kitchen. Naples, Florida 2009To illustrate what was involved in her chores as a kitchen aide (each resident has a daily task to do), the TV crew asked her to simulate preparing a meal. Naples, Florida 2009A TV crew stages a scene of a resident going to her room in the shelter (St. Matthew's House). Naples, Florida 2009A TV crew films the life of a shelter resident, she is shown here in her room. Naples, Florida 2009A TV crew films the family photos of a resident of a shelter for the homeless. Several days earlier the crew had called to ask if they could find some people who were victims of a home foreclosure. The interviews and the filming in the shelter took around 2 hours. Naples, Florida 2009
