Photograph #14 – Eric
Eric seeks shelter in a dilapidated house deep in the woods.
Eric has been living on the streets for seven years. When his wife left him, he couldn’t afford to pay his bills. The bank foreclosed on his home and he’s been homeless ever since.
Eric filed for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) because he has a physical disability. He is awaiting his hearing. Until then, he sleeps down by the river where he is very rarely disturbed. He took pictures of places he sometimes sleeps and other areas where he seeks shelter in bad weather. He even climbed down into a sewer and took a photo to show where he would go if there was a tornado warning.
Eric hopes his photos will show others safe places to find shelter during bad weather. His photo on display shows an area deep in the woods. He found a dilapidated house where he seeks shelter to sleep at night. He was careful not to show much detail of the location so others would not find it.
“There needs to be awareness (of homelessness) in St. Charles County,” said Eric.
Eric has been denied disability twice, but he hopes that he will be approved now because he is over the age of 55. If Eric is able to receive the disability income, he dreams of a place of his own to call home.
Eric has been denied disability twice, but he hopes that he will be approved now because he is over the age of 55. If Eric is able to receive disability he dreams of a place of his own to call home.