Dennis. Burton Barr Library Phoenix, Arizona

homeless in arizona. former transmission r&r auto tech. Burton Barr Library in background. He is naming himself santa claus today. It is December 2010.

John

John was hit crossing the street in Phoenix. He is homeless in Arizona. He still owes the hospital $10,000 for his injuries. Insurance paid a $200,000 medical bill. John has a $120,000 judgment against the driver of the jeep that ran him down. The driver left the scene but was found later.
His lawyer tells John he can't help him, the lady moved to Las Vegas.
John ended up in Phoenix with his family. They traveled from the east coast and worked the fields to survive. Somedays the family worked all day and only ended up with $10 pay.
John picked onions as a child with his family. John loves to eat onions to this day.
I met this fine homeless man today. He just was released from jail for trespassing. John thanks me for the money I traded for these images. He is hanging out with William today.
The money will buy him a beer.

William on the streets of Phoenix

William, Willie is on the streets of phoenix today.
Willie is covered in tattos. Somedays he removes his shirt and paces up and down the sidewalk attracting attention. He shouts at passing vehicles.
John (see next photo) tells me William has been on the streets a long time. He has mental issues.
Phoenix fire department races to a call in background

"Raymond" cuban boxer

Raymond arrived in the USA in 1980 as a young man. He is now homeless in Arizona. Raymond is a god fearing man. He also abuses alcohol to faze out his everyday issues. He was intoxicated when I asked him for these poses. 2 shots on B&W with my hassablad and 2 shots in color with my nikon. I wish him luck.
The Mariel boatlift was a mass exodus of Cubans who departed from Cuba's Mariel Harbor for the United States between April 15 and October 31, 1980.

The event was precipitated by a sharp downturn in the Cuban economy which led to internal tensions on the island and a bid by up to 10,000 Cubans to gain asylum in the Peruvian embassy.

The Cuban government subsequently announced that anyone who wanted to leave could do so, and an exodus by boat started shortly afterward. The exodus was organized by Cuban-Americans with the agreement of Cuban president Fidel Castro. The exodus started to have negative political implications for U.S. president Jimmy Carter when it was discovered that a number of the exiles had been released from Cuban jails and mental health facilities. America had been tricked into receiving Cuba's undesirables. Castro publicly stated "I have flushed the toilets of Cuba on the United States".[1]
Raymond now homeless and an alcohol abuser came to the US from Cuba in 1980.
The Mariel boatlift was ended by mutual agreement between the two governments involved in October 1980. By that point, as many as 125,000 Cubans had made the journey to Florida. WIKIPEDIA

Holleywood Squares, Ken Young

Ken Young homeless in Arizona, Yuma. Lived in San Diego, California on Jackson street now in Yuma. Refuses my cash for photo. Claims he was a contestant on Hollywood Squares.
Update. I was contacted by Ken Young's mother and sister. They informed me that Ken is now deceased.
He had mental illness and had left his home state for adventure. I do not know any details.

Steve

Steve has bad knees and will have the VA perform surgery. They will provide rehab for one year after operations. Very kind gentleman with hazel eyes. Living on the streets today. Hasselblad, clayton F76+ developer Kodak TMAX film

Ron

I was only allowed one shot for a small donation. Ron says he panhandles and collects scrap to survive. I see Ron now and again pushing his cart down McDowell rd in Phoenix. Seems too intelligent to be in this situation. Hasselblad image.