"Cigarette Man" earned his nickname by selling single cigarettes on the streets of Skid Row over a span of four decades. He was born in the back of a station wagon to a single mother; he never met his father. When he was twelve years old, his mother died, leaving him to fend for himself. Aside from some short periods in foster care and prison, Cigarette Man's been homeless for most of his life. Cigarette Man is 66 years old.
Cigarette Man gets by in Skid Row by selling cigarettes, second-hand goods, and groceries that have expired past their shelf life. He sleeps in his chair or on the ground, forgoing the trouble of setting up a tent every night, only to be forced to take it down the following morning as businesses reclaim the sidewalk.
For those who have the chance to know him, he's a reliable source of street knowledge, a storyteller who makes any stretch of sidewalk his stage. Cigarette Man's experiences have been hard-won, yet he shares them as insight into human nature.
No one should live without adequate housing. Although the streets and homelessness are all Cigarette Man has known, he needs to be inside. Otherwise, he will end up being another homeless death statistic. This is where you come in. Cigarette Man will not go into a homeless shelter. He's been outside too long to go sleep on a cot in a dormitory-type facility. We all need to advocate for more affordable housing and to get homeless people the support they need.
Produced by Adam Trunell www.idiotdream...
More from our Life in Skid Row series:
Life on Skid Row: Happy Monday • Happy Monday: Life on ...
Life on Skid Row: Panhandlers Are People Fighting to Survive Homelessness • Panhandlers Are People...
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About Invisible People
There is a direct correlation between what the general public perceives about homelessness and how it affects policy change. Most people blame homelessness on the person experiencing it instead of the increasing shortage of affordable housing, lack of employment, childhood trauma, lack of a living wage, or the countless reasons that put a person at risk. This lack of understanding creates a dangerous cycle of misperception that leads to the inability to effectively address the root causes of homelessness.
We imagine a world where everyone has a place to call home. Each day, we work to fight homelessness by giving it a face while educating individuals about the systemic issues that contribute to its existence. Through storytelling, education, news, and activism, we are changing the narrative on homelessness.
This isn’t just talk. Our groundbreaking educational content reaches millions of people every month. Our real and unfiltered stories of homelessness shatter stereotypes, demand attention and deliver a call-to-action that is being answered by governments, major brands, nonprofit organizations, and everyday citizens just like you.
However, there is more work to be done on the road ahead. Homelessness is undoubtedly one of our biggest societal issues today and will only continue to grow if we don’t take action now.
Invisible People is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about homelessness through innovative storytelling, news, and advocacy. Since our launch in 2008, Invisible People has become a pioneer and trusted resource for inspiring action and raising awareness in support of advocacy, policy change and thoughtful dialogue around poverty in North America and the United Kingdom.
27 сен 2024
