William had been living on the streets for over a year when I met him, ever since being arrested and spending 3 months in jail for, in his words, ‘being in the wrong place at the wrong time.’ He will not go to the shelter system, as he says that the shelters for men like him are unsafe. He is thankful that he is still able to get mail at The Broad Street Ministry. Because he is mentally disabled he has found it hard to keep work; he moves around the city a lot during the day, looking for a safe place to sleep. He is not bothered by the judgement he receives from people, for, in his words: “I’m an asshole, too”. 

Incarceration and homelessness are linked very intimately; in the United States, people who have been incarcerated are 10 times more likely than the general population to experience homelessness. Most landlords insist on a background check, and will not overlook a criminal history. Housing issues can be exacerbated by the difficulty a convict may have in getting steady and good paying work. 

Hand embroidered batik, 30 inches x 30 inches