Montreal, just like any big city, is full of homeless people. And just like in every other town, there’s a vast majority of people who do everything they can to NOT see the homelessness around them. You know exactly what I mean: you’ve spotted one from a few meters away, so you speed up your pace, take your phone out or look the other way, making sure to avoid this uncomfortable moment when you just know the homeless person is going to ask for some spare change and you’ll say no…
If you recognized yourself in the uncomfortable questions above, then these series of street photography are dedicated to you. Understand that I am not judging you in any way; hell, I used to be you. But one day I realized the homeless are humans, just like me. And if we all saw them as humans – and not just “beggars” – then maybe we’d realize it’s quite a messed up society we’ve built for ourselves… I mean, how did we come to think it was okay to have so many of us suffering in such miserable living conditions?
So take a good look at this grave social issue, and stop looking away because it’s not going to go away on its own. And next time you see one, whether you want to give them some change or not, don’t look the other way. Because for having chatted with quite a few homeless people, I can tell you that they’ll appreciate your smile much more than your 1$ coin.
I also take portraits of the homeless and share the stories they tell me.
More info: mikaeltheimer.com
Dreams of a better life
La vie est belle
“I’m teaching you how to give”
Don’t mind me
Grocery shopping
Lap dance
The flip side of the coin
Place-des-arts
A nap in the park
If the social ladder is broken, take the stairs
Chilling with my friends
Parking spots have cheaper rent
I wish I had a couch
The invisible woman
But not traveling light
Stairs make great pillows
Home is where my hammock hangs
I missed my train
Raindrops keep falling on my head
Ground zero
Sending out an S.O.S
Can we share that bagel?
Daddy, why is the man sleeping here?
Social assymetry
Don’t get too close, I bite
Sleepy head
Stuck in the middle
Just like home
Thank you for watching these
Now stop looking away when you see me
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