Kelly is homeless yet you'd never know it unless she told you.
2,008,625
Published 2017-06-09
Since May of 2016, Kelly has slept in this alley in Washington D.C. She goes through a dumpster each night to find cardboard to sleep on. Kelly shares candidly about how homeless women need to wear a skirt at night to urinate, however, doing so increases the risk of being sexually assaulted.
Kelly has two master degrees; she is intelligent and articulate. She says her homelessness is a result of her search for justice after ongoing legal battles. She came to D.C. to continue her fight for justice but ended up in a women's shelter. When that shelter was closed last year, she had no place to go but the streets.
I have to give huge props to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP) for including Kelly and several other people currently in some state of homelessness. Even more, people still experiencing homelessness were not just scholarshiped into the event, they were at the table and included in every conversation.
People still homeless are by far the most important voice that service providers and governments need to be listening to. Some homeless conferences just bring in homeless people as a form of tokenism, so it's very refreshing when organizations like the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty and the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness include homeless people in the event and treat them as equals!
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Since its launch in November 2008, Invisible People has leveraged the power of video and the massive reach of social media to share the compelling, gritty, and unfiltered stories of homeless people from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. The vlog (video blog) gets up close and personal with veterans, mothers, children, layoff victims and others who have been forced onto the streets by a variety of circumstances. Each week, they’re on InvisiblePeople.tv, and high traffic sites such as YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, proving to a global audience that while they may often be ignored, they are far from invisible.
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All Comments (21)
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Why is it so many of you have a hard time believing that a homeless woman is wearing makeup and takes some pride in her appearance? First, I met Kelly at an event hosted by The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. Kelly was scholarshiped into the conference. The event just ended moments before this interview was recorded. Kelly spent the night before in a hotel funded by the National Law Center on Homelessness. When I was an outreach case manager working with people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles, 80% of my clients you would never know they slept outside by looking at them. For many, homelessness is not the end. People are survivors. Even while on the streets people do what they can to take care of their appearance. Those of you commenting about Kelly wearing makeup need to let go of the wrong perceptions you have about homelessness and homeless people! The image you have of a dirty baglady or some bum with a wine bottle with a cardboard sign is not an accurate representation of homelessness and homeless people. Yes, it's sad when the human spirit gives up, and there are hurting people on the street in horrible conditions - BUT THAT'S ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF HOMELESSNESS! In any community, the percentage of chronic homeless people runs between 20% to 40%. Around 60% of individuals YOU'D NEVER KNOW THEY WERE LIVING ON THE STREETS UNLESS THEY TOLD YOU! Many have jobs but cannot afford a place to stay. Most wash in fast food bathrooms or 24 hr fitness facilities! I know this may come as a shock but HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE! REAL PEOPLE!
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If you think you'll never be homeless think twice. Anything can happen unexpectedly
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Jesus, please give Kelly the justice she deserves and a Kentucky home to live in. Thank you. Amen.
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I went from being a married (with children), business owner, to alone and homeless. It can happen to anyone!!!
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A ton of people saying she’s “so paranoid” SHES AN FBI WHISTLEBLOWER AND A HOMELESS WOMAN!! like how do y’all not get that?? Calling her “paranoid” is like gaslighting her situation
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this goes to show you anyone can be in this position. much love to her
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This woman is ICONIC. I love her integrity. She’s so strong and inspirational. This woman does not deserve to be on the streets at all. No one does for that matter.
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It’s crazy how small this world truly is. I met Kelly while working at a Starbucks in Downtown DC. I never saw this video until now, and I can truly say that she is a grounded spirit with a bright light. I knew her situation as far as being homeless but I never let her be reminded of that reality when she came in during my shifts. This video make me happy to know that her story is being told and people are so quick to send positive energy to her💓💓
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I never thought about using a skirt to urinate at night and how that makes a person more vulnerable... that certainly opened my eyes!
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wow, what an incredible woman.... I hope she gets justice, and I hope that she finds her peace.
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Kelly is an advocate just like my father who is a whistleblower. He lost his job because he was fighting corrupt cops. Anyways, you'll get what you deserve. God loves you and God is good always. Keep on fighting Kelly!
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If this pandemic has taught me anything, it’s that ANYTHING is possible. Homelessness can happen to anyone. I can only hope that if I were ever put into this position, people would show me compassion.
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This country is NOT concerned about poor prople, it's sad, I'll be praying for this lady, wishing her the best
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I would let her live at my house while she fought for the principal of her case. No questions asked.
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After my husband left me and gave me no money I realized how easy it is to become homeless. I am unable to work due to arthritis. I am so fortunate to have my mom to live with. If not for my mom I would be in a shelter or on the street. All kind of circumstances can lead to homelessness. It is so sad how easily it can happen to anyone. Never judge a person living on the streets. Help them with food, change, clothing, supplies whenever you can.
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She is gorgeous. I hope she is doing well.
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I'm so sorry this is happening. The same thing is happening to me and my kids. My former neighbors are also facing homelessness too. My home was full of mold, asbestos, sewage and I was hospitalized. I was bullied property management and charged $600 for mold on a bathroom vanity. The apartment owner was a famous civil rights advocate and a very influential leader in Atlanta. No one would listen to me. HUD refused to come out to investigate and the news only made my situation worse by adding that I was a burden to tax payers even though I worked as much as possible before my health started to fail. The city of Atlanta had very little interest in my situation because of this man's philanthropic giving. It is so amazing how quickly people are to dismiss your proven claims when you're going up against a person of power. The great thing is that I documented everything with video, photos, hidden voice recorded conversations etc. I have a media background and I'm going to show what citizens go through that are less fortunate. Please check out Atlanta Deadly Government Housing to see my neighbors unit next to my unit. My documentary will be out soon. Blessings to you all. Did you get the chance to watch the video on my channel? You should take a quick look.
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God bless her.
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The guy who is destroying her and avoiding justice has some serious karma to work through. Next time around the tables will be turned.
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Damn this lady is hardcore. I'm not sure I would ever have the courage or resolve to fight this hard.
