Invisible People (aka SDF, sans-abri, sans logement, va-nu-pieds)
Monday, November 27, 2017
Read The Family Under the Bridge to a young person and help spread homelessness awareness. "Armand, an old Parisian living on the streets of Paris, relished his solitary life. He begged and did odd jobs for money to keep himself warm and fed, and he liked his carefree life. Then one day just before Christmas, a struggling mother and her three children walked into his life..." Click here to order a copy for yourself or to offer as a gift!
INVISIBLE PEOPLE
I recently discovered a YouTube channel called Invisible People and I cannot stop watching it. It's like getting an entire education in homelessness by the homeless. Each episode is very short, between 3 and 9 minutes, and profiles an S.D.F. or homeless person--from a soft-spoken 83-year-old living in his car...to this resourceful, and creative woman. Do not hesitate to watch several of these eye-opening interviews. And after viewing a number of them, I guarantee you will be incapable of passing a homeless person on the street without stopping to say hello. You may even venture to ask them their story.
Last night I was tossing and turning in bed and could not get comfortable after pockets of cold air kept entering beneath the covers (our heater broke). I began thinking about some of the people who shared their stories of scavenging for cardboard to sleep on at night--or looking for a blanket after their own covers were stolen! We think thieves break into homes, but it is the homeless who are most often victims of theft.
Add to the misconceptions about homelessness our own insensitivities. How many of us have innocently joked about looking like a clochard or a hobo, when we really meant to say we need to get cleaned up? We mean no disrespect to the sans-abri, we just aren't thinking about our words.
This week we will revisit stories of homelessness from the French Word-A-Day archives. In this first story, which took place around 2003, my mom is wandering around the southern French town of Draguignan, when a homeless person confronts her and a few misunderstandings ensue (including a few from readers of the story itself!). Click here for the story and many thanks for reading and sharing.
A tip I learned from Mark Horvath, the creator of Invisible People--and from my Superhero sister-in-law: Give chaussettes! Homeless people go through a lot of socks as they travel in and out of shelters (which often close from 6 a.m to 7 pm--leaving the homeless out on the streets all day) or look for shelters. Share more tips on how to help the homeless, in the comments box below.
A Message from Kristi: Ongoing support from readers like you keeps me writing and publishing this free language journal each week. If you find joy or value in these stories and would like to keep this site going, donating today will help so much. Thank you for being a part of this community and helping me to maintain this site and its newsletter.
Ways to contribute:
1.Zelle®, The best way to donate and there are no transaction fees. Zelle to [email protected]
2.Paypal or credit card
Or purchase my book for a friend and so help them discover this free weekly journal.
For more online reading: The Lost Gardens: A Story of Two Vineyards and a Sobriety
My son is 12 and I gave him The Family Under The Bridge last year - he thought it was a great book - we've no hesitation in recommending it. Even better when it's in aid of such a worthy cause, too! The right to a roof over our heads, is an essential right. Well done for highlighting this.
L.
Posted by: Lorraine Flett | Monday, November 27, 2017 at 02:22 PM
I just sent the book from Amazon to my grandchildren. Thanks of this excellent suggestion, Kristi!
Posted by: Patricia Sands | Monday, November 27, 2017 at 02:52 PM
Ever since I learned that for every pair of socks Bombas sells, they give a pair to the homeless and other people in need, those are the socks I've bought. They're great socks, by the way: https://bombas.com/pages/giving-back.
Posted by: Passante | Monday, November 27, 2017 at 02:52 PM
Here near Purdue University, a local knitting shop has a 'knit scarves, gloves or even socks and hang them around town for the homeless' drive. Anyone who knits or crochets can do this and really one can go to a store and buy them. Anyway, it's common to see them hanging from sign poles and trees and benches. They are there for any homeless folks who need them. Also, some beauty salons hold haircut and shave days for them as well.
Posted by: Marcia | Monday, November 27, 2017 at 04:46 PM
Lovely imoirtabt post Kristin. Merci. Looking up the book now.
Posted by: Sandy | Monday, November 27, 2017 at 06:34 PM
important
Posted by: Sandy | Monday, November 27, 2017 at 06:37 PM
Our dear Kristi,
Once again you have made us focus on our blessings --at this time and any time of the year.
Most importantly,putting into action our compassion and desire to help the so many less fortunate.
Always,THANK YOU!
Love
Natalia. xo
Posted by: Natalia | Monday, November 27, 2017 at 07:46 PM
Thank you for the suggestion - ordered it for my daughter for Christmas :)
Posted by: blair | Monday, November 27, 2017 at 09:54 PM
Is the book in French? Please?
Posted by: Robert | Monday, November 27, 2017 at 10:56 PM
In answer to Robert's question, the book is about a French family and set in France and it is available in French but also in English. Hope that helps.
Posted by: lorraine flett | Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 12:20 AM
This comment has nothing to do with the subject of today's post. I really wish you would go back to having your full Word-A-Day in the body of the email you send, instead of having to go to a web page to read the "whole entry". Often I am in a place where the wifi is very weak, strong enough to load email, but so weak that it takes a very, very long time for your web page with the "whole entry" to load. Sometimes I just have to give up. Please, go back to having your full Word-A-Day in the body of the email you send!
Posted by: Ron | Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 03:03 AM
Hello, Ron. I hear you! And I do understand that the full inbox version is, in many ways, a good thing. But, for me, there are many helpful-to-my-efforts reasons to link to the full post. I will keep your suggestion in mind, and thank you for it.
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 07:23 AM
Previewing your Comment
Suzanne Dunaway
Love today's blog. I have put your blog as a link in Loulou today, as I feel it is a strong message with such good information for as many as can receive it. I hope it's okay to put in the link. One of our best friends in Rome is a homeless woman with whom you can talk and talk for hours about almost anything. Reads by flashlight at night on the church steps where she lives. Merci pour l'information. Loulou
Working...
reCAPTCHA challenge image
Get a new challenge
Get an audio challengeGet a visual challenge
Help
Working...
Love today's blog. I have put your blog as a link in Loulou today, as I feel it is a strong message with such good information for as many as can receive it. I hope it's okay to put in the link. One of our best friends in Rome is a homeless woman with whom you can talk and talk for hours about almost anything. Reads by flashlight at night on the church steps where she lives. Merci pour l'information. Loulou
Working...
reCAPTCHA challenge image
Get a new challenge
Get an audio challengeGet a visual challenge
Help
Working...
Working...
Posted by: Suzanne Dunaway | Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 12:26 PM
Where can I order the book in French? Merci beaucoup!
Posted by: Michele bloch | Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 01:00 PM
Kristi, thank you for the book recommendation. I will look for it for my kids. I have been thinking about knitting hats and scarves for the homeless in our town.
Posted by: Katia | Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 10:30 PM
I'll be ordering the book today. Tis the season to really think about gifting and you brought it to light. Thank you!
Posted by: Judi | Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at 08:34 PM
kristan
thank you so for opening all our eyes to the homeless conversation .
I did go to utube and watch the invisible people , Thank you I will keep going back to more stories of the stories of real people who are not invisible .
Merci
terry
Posted by: Terry | Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 01:52 AM
... kristi... If we are not our 'brother's keeper'.. then who are we? Judi Dunn
Posted by: judith dunn | Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 04:30 PM
Hi Kristi,
Thanks for bringing us this story! I just ordered the book "The Family Under the Bridge" and watched a few of the Invisible People videos. Whenever I see homeless people at the street corners, I am usually heading into the grocery store. I will buy an extra sandwich, chips, cookie and drink and pass it to them on my way back home. I usually try to chat with them before the light turns green. I always think "there but for the grace of God go I" .... I think we all could be in the position of being homeless. All it takes is an accident, divorce, death, sickness, etc.
There are lots of wonderful organizations in our town for the homeless. One is PACEM (People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry). http://pacemshelter.org/about-pacem/
Thanks Kristi and especially at this time of year we need to count our blessings and give and take care of others in our communities that need help and caring.
Blessings,
Eileen
Posted by: Eileen deCamp | Friday, December 01, 2017 at 08:45 PM
It is amazing ... The dialogue of goodness and kindness you facilitate all over the world. May God bless you infinitely!
Posted by: K.J. Laramie | Saturday, December 02, 2017 at 05:52 PM