Bringing the Homeless Home

As I watched The Soloist, it brought back so many wonderful memories from my years as an advocate for the homeless and mentally ill.Because my husband was elected to Congress, we lived most of the year in the Washington, D.C. area. I was in the car with our children one afternoon when we saw a woman on the curb, talking to herself and gesturing wildly. The children noticed her immediately, and of course were full of questions. I matter-of-factly explained that she was homeless, probably mentally ill, and had no one to care for her.  With the innocence and moral clarity children so often have, they asked, “Why can’t we take her home with us?”That evening we sat down as a family and discussed what we could do to help. Our kids started making sandwiches for a local soup kitchen called Martha’s Table that served homeless children.  Al began taking a look at this issue in the Senate, and I founded an organization called Families for the Homeless, and began volunteering with several local service providers.I was deeply moved by those I met in my work, and found that no matter the situations, their spirits were intact, maintaining strength and dignity, even in the midst of adversity and changing circumstances.I was also an avid photographer, and so I couldn’t help but combine my passions, and try to help tell their stories, put faces with the statistics, and raise awareness about the issue from a humanistic perspective.

Photo by Tipper Gore

Former Second Lady of the United States, Tipper Gore has worked for decades as a hands-on advocate for issues of mental health and homelessness. She combines her unique perspective and experience in public service with her personal stories and passion for photography to put faces with the statistics, raise awareness, and inspire us to help change the attitudes that perpetuate the stigma associated with mental illness.