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Stories from the Streets

Challenging perceptions of homelessness through art and space

Cappelli, MFA, JD, PhD
Zenite
6 min readJan 6, 2025

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Venice Boardwalk showing sign of places to go.
Photo by Author

Since 2019, I’ve been diving deep into the lives and stories of people experiencing homelessness. What started as a simple curiosity has evolved into a journey that has led me to the streets — watching, listening, and engaging with those who call them home. From the Venice Boardwalk to the city’s hidden corners, I’ve witnessed firsthand the unsettling clashes between homelessness and societal norms.

As a former volunteer at St. Joseph Homeless Shelter, these encounters have challenged me to rethink my assumptions about space, community, and social justice. In all my time meeting and working with unhoused individuals in designated safe spaces for care and rehabilitation, I’ve never had a problem or felt unsafe. These controlled environments foster a sense of mutual respect and understanding, allowing me to connect with people on a deeper level without fear.

Things changed when I was held up at gunpoint by a drugged-out, unhoused addict demanding my purse in the parking lot. Fear now walks with me everywhere. Fear and apprehension.

Now, when I encounter an unhoused person in an unexpected setting — like walking alone down a quiet street or coming across someone camped outside my local grocery store. My heart starts racing…

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Zenite
Zenite

Published in Zenite

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Cappelli, MFA, JD, PhD
Cappelli, MFA, JD, PhD

Written by Cappelli, MFA, JD, PhD

Top Know Nothing Writer with way too many degrees who enjoys musing on life's absurdity.

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