Homelessness is a worldwide problem. Its scale is difficult to estimate; according to different sources, as much as 3,000,000 Europeans are homeless. Only some of them actually “live on the streets”, which makes them noticeable whatsoever. Without shelter, the homeless do a natural thing in an unusual way: they lie motionless in the public spaces of cities. This sight is so difficult to bear that it is denied by the passers-by. In effect, the homeless people sleeping on the street are locked behind invisible but perfectly isolating walls of their “houses”. Being ignored by the society, they hardly get the help they need so much. Social rejection makes them increasingly alienated and prevents their return to society. As a result, they easily slide downhill.
With these photographs I want to show that homelessness is not a local problem but it concerns us all, regardless of nationality or place of residence. Bringing its obviousness to public attention, we should be able to help the homeless people turn the corner.
The photos were taken in the cities of Barcelona, Brussels, Paris, Milan, Rome and London.
