Published in Stories Behind The Fog·PinnedMember-only“San Francisco is a mess. I pick up 200 dirty heroin needles a day.” GedionI’m not the type of person who particularly desires attention. I am not here to claim the face of homelessness, and when first approached to share my story, I had to consider this to be an exploitation tactic: another merciless frame to squeeze the unfortunate into, tacking them high up…Stories Behind The Fog9 min read
Published in Stories Behind The Fog·Pinned“After eight cardiac arrests, I just want peace in my heart.” CalvinI grew up in Arizona and had a good childhood. We had nothing, but mom kept us warm and we had somewhere to stay. I had seven siblings and we went to school. My dream was to become a photographer. I took some classes for a year and a half…Stories4 min read
Published in Stories Behind The Fog·Jun 30, 2021“I once was able to.” AnitaOhio is where I come from. And where alcoholism came, too. I’ve been out here in San Francisco for over 20 years now. This city has been good to me. You know? I’ve had good jobs. I worked for 32 years. “I’m mentally in between.” I can’t go to a…Stories3 min read
Published in Stories Behind The Fog·Jun 3, 2021“I fought self-destruction with creation.” Ronnie GoodmanI grew up in San Francisco, in the Fillmore area. I’ve been in and out of prison most of my life. Last time, it was eight and half years for a burglary, and I was in before for a bank robbery. …Stories7 min read
Published in Stories Behind The Fog·Mar 17, 2021“Have I learned from my mistakes?” AllanI live in Oakland, but today I came to San Francisco to get me a free haircut. I’m also going to the library to look for a job, check my emails. Then I wait for my girl to get off work and go back home. We are an interracial couple…Stories5 min read
Published in Stories Behind The Fog·Mar 5, 2021“It’s so hard not having a home for your children.” AnonymousMy mother and I were always moving from one city to another, wherever there was a job — Richmond, Howard, Oakland, San Francisco… So many places, so many schools. We came to California from Mexico when I was seven years old. When I was 11, I found that my brother…Stories6 min read
Published in Stories Behind The Fog·Feb 25, 2021“I’m piecing my life together. And assembling Ikea stuff.” KeithI am articulated and educated, but I have been homeless on and off for about six years. I’ve worked for a company for 21 years. I’m 52 now and have a pension coming that I can collect when I turn 62 or so. Meanwhile, I continue to work. I used…Stories6 min read
Published in Stories Behind The Fog·May 25, 2020“I’ve been homeless since I came to America.” MartinSix years ago, I left Juárez and came to the U.S. looking for a job. First, I lived in Reno, Nevada, but there weren’t many opportunities over there, so someone told me it’d be much easier if I came to San Francisco. “I like taking care of my nails. …Stories Behind The Fog3 min read
Published in Stories Behind The Fog·May 18, 2020“I never had a home of my own. Ironic for a Native American.” Irene“Shhh! You know we have been robbed of our heritage and now we have to play the role of being latinos”. I was born in 1945 and grew up in San Jose, California. I belong to the tribe “Milwaukee”. At that time you couldn’t say that you were Native American…Native Americans4 min read
Published in Stories Behind The Fog·May 15, 2020“Sorry, I don’t have anything interesting to say.” TrevorI was born and raised in the Bay Area. A bit south from here, Redwood City. I’ve lived here all my life. I am fifty, turning fifty-one this week. It was really nice to grow up in Redwood City. I worked for the City of Palo Alto, I did maintenance…Stories3 min read