Zach Schaffer Photography

17/07/2015

I asked him "what's the worst thing that has ever happened to you?" He responded, "Someone once gave me a bad sandwich with anchovies."

This is Tony. Tony was born in Wasington D.C. and has been here for fifty years. He has worked full-time at grocery stores, specifically in human resources at executive branches. At fifty years-old, he considers himself retired. He stays in shelters at night, and he told me that the "government helps the people who help themselves, so the government helps me." The entire interview he was laughing and wouldn't stop dancing. Wondering if he would take any question seriously, I asked him "what's the worst thing that has ever happened to you?" He responded, "Someone once gave me a bad sandwich with anchovies." He is most proud of the time when he spoke about Black History Month on Nightline. When I asked for advice he told me, "If you don't have anything good to say then keep your mouth shut."

11/07/2015

Check out Tony!

When I asked for advice he told me, "If you don't have anything good to say then keep your mouth shut."

This is Tony. Tony was born in Wasington D.C. and has been here for fifty years. He has worked full-time at grocery stores, specifically in human resources at executive branches. At fifty years-old, he considers himself retired. He stays in shelters at night, and he told me that the "government helps the people who help themselves, so the government helps me." The entire interview he was laughing and wouldn't stop dancing. Wondering if he would take any question seriously, I asked him "what's the worst thing that has ever happened to you?" He responded, "Someone once gave me a bad sandwich with anchovies." He is most proud of the time when he spoke about Black History Month on Nightline. When I asked for advice he told me, "If you don't have anything good to say then keep your mouth shut."

24/10/2014

This is Delbert. Delbert is from Texas, but he has been in Washington, D.C. for 1.5 years now. He came to D.C. to "speak directly to the government about the manipulation of telecommunication." He studied nuclear engineering and computer since at Texas A&M. He told me that when he first started speaking out against the government they tried to tell him he was mentally ill. "My family and the sheriffs department kidnapped me and put me in an institution as a captive," he proclaimed. He sleeps on the streets now trying to get access into different government buildings to speak to the government, but he said no one has let him in.

They're Homeless, beggars, scroungers, lazy, and druggies...

No. They're just people, and here are their stories.

04/09/2014

This is BB! She was an incredible woman and I encourage you to read her story.

She told me, “people walk all over” her on the streets and treat her “dirty.” She has been spit on, and even had someone pull a knife on her once. She said the hardest part of living on the streets is “having to ask people for help.”

She said to me “Continue your education and be the best you can be.”

This is BB. BB has lived in Philadelphia her entire life. She has held various jobs from telemarketing to the Philadelphia Zoo; however, due to disabilities, she now has trouble standing for more than thirty seconds and has not been able to work. She lives in a local park, and has been waiting many years for a decision on her disability insurance. She told me, “people walk all over” her on the streets and treat her “dirty.” She has been spit on, and even had someone pull a knife on her once. She said the hardest part of living on the streets is “having to ask people for help.” One day a man gave her 500 hundred dollars which helped her get a place to stay temporarily, and moments like that keep her positive outlook on life strong. As I was leaving, she said to me “Continue your education and be the best you can be.”

04/09/2014

This is BB. BB has lived in Philadelphia her entire life. She has held various jobs from telemarketing to the Philadelphia Zoo; however, due to disabilities, she now has trouble standing for more than thirty seconds and has not been able to work. She lives in a local park, and has been waiting many years for a decision on her disability insurance. She told me, “people walk all over” her on the streets and treat her “dirty.” She has been spit on, and even had someone pull a knife on her once. She said the hardest part of living on the streets is “having to ask people for help.” One day a man gave her 500 hundred dollars which helped her get a place to stay temporarily, and moments like that keep her positive outlook on life strong. As I was leaving, she said to me “Continue your education and be the best you can be.”

They're Homeless, beggars, scroungers, lazy, and druggies...

No. They're just people, and here are their stories.

21/08/2014

Check out my most recent photo of Ronald.

"I don't really feel lonely out here, I like sunrises and sunsets. I try to relax and feel good. If I don't feel good I try to do better."

This is Ronald. Ronald is from Atlanta but he now lives in Washington D.C. He used to be a welder in the steel industry, but he is now unemployed. While working, a wall of a building fell down on him and he had to get surgery all over his body, including brain surgery. He is now on disability and tries to find shelters every night for sleep and safety. He said that finding shelter and getting lost are the hardest aspects of being homeless. I asked him if he ever felt lonely and he told me, "I don't really feel lonely out here, I like sunrises and sunsets. I try to relax and feel good. If I don't feel good I try to do better" It was incredible to meet someone with such a sad story that still has a positive outlook on life..

21/08/2014

This is Ronald. Ronald is from Atlanta but he now lives in Washington D.C. He used to be a welder in the steel industry, but he is now unemployed. While working, a wall of a building fell down on him and he had to get surgery all over his body, including brain surgery. He is now on disability and tries to find shelters every night for sleep and safety. He said that finding shelter and getting lost are the hardest aspects of being homeless. I asked him if he ever felt lonely and he told me, "I don't really feel lonely out here, I like sunrises and sunsets. I try to relax and feel good. If I don't feel good I try to do better" It was incredible to meet someone with such a sad story that still has a positive outlook on life..

30/07/2014

This is Ira. Ira was born in Washington D.C. and raised in Maryland. Ira had been addicted to drugs for much of his life, and used crack co***ne for seventeen years. His explained, "When you're young you think everybody else is doing it, so why not? It's like seeing a new pair of shoes in the store; when you see so many people wearing it you want to get them too." He said he has been panhandling for six months. He is getting SSI benefits, but after rent and bills, he has no money left for food. He has been clean since 2005, and now he works as a monitor at the program he went through for nine years. He now helps people with their alcohol and drug addictions. He told me that the happiest moment in his life was when "my mother and father were alive and got to see me clean and hug me while I was clean. They got to see the real me. They're deceased now, but I still think about it everyday, because they died knowing that I went through that program."

08/07/2014

This is the most popular photograph I have ever taken. It has reached over 100,000 people, and garnered almost 9,000 likes, comments, & shares. More importantly, it has given Bill a lot of attention. After sharing his photograph and story, he has told me on many occasions that more people on the street have not only helped him financially, but have talked with him. I'm hoping to make one last impact with this image! We all love Bill, know his story, and some of us have known him for years. Let's help him out!

Here's a fundraising page that has already raised $185, lets see if we can add some more! All of the money will be going straight to Bill. Please donate, and if you cannot, feel free to share this so someone else can!

http://www.gofundme.com/6l97l8

This is Bill. Bill is originally from Pittsburgh, but he lived in Louisville, Kentucky for a portion of his life. He is happy to be back in Pittsburgh now. Bill was born blind, and grew up with the church playing a big part in his life. He actually memorized most of the Old Testament (and all of the New Testament) from an audiotape he used to take out of the library. Unfortunately, he was sexually assaulted at a very young age at his church, and his visions from it still haven’t gone away. He gets SSI benefits that cover his rent, but he has been out here singing for the past 30 years to pay for food. He stressed that he has never done a drug in his life or touched alcohol, and he hates the way people treat him on the streets. He’s been spit on many times for “pretending to be blind.” When I asked to take his picture, he said “put my picture all over the world.” Bill sits out here singing with his radio every single day, and whenever I talk to him he is nothing but gracious.

07/07/2014

Check out the newest addition to They're People Too!

This is Georgia. Georgia was born in Texas and raised in shelters in Mississippi by “normal folks that struggled to survive.” She said she grew up with a passion for questioning everything, and one day put on her backpack and walked out of the door with her service dog, Daisy. She travelled for six months, staying with friends she had met online, mostly anarchists and activists. She was one of the first hundred at the Occupy Protests in NYC, and watched it grow to crowds of thousands. Afterwards she travelled to different Occupy Protests around the country, living on the street and couches. She told me that she’s been spit on, had trash thrown at her, food dumped on her, and people have even tried to kick her dog. She said, “no matter what in life hits you, no matter how low it gets, you still have a choice. You can give up or get up, and that's all there is. And I refuse to give up.”

07/07/2014

This is Georgia. Georgia was born in Texas and raised in shelters in Mississippi by “normal folks that struggled to survive.” She said she grew up with a passion for questioning everything, and one day put on her backpack and walked out of the door with her service dog, Daisy. She travelled for six months, staying with friends she had met online, mostly anarchists and activists. She was one of the first hundred at the Occupy Protests in NYC, and watched it grow to crowds of thousands. Afterwards she travelled to different Occupy Protests around the country, living on the street and couches. She told me that she’s been spit on, had trash thrown at her, food dumped on her, and people have even tried to kick her dog. She said, “no matter what in life hits you, no matter how low it gets, you still have a choice. You can give up or get up, and that's all there is. And I refuse to give up.”

They're Homeless, beggars, scroungers, lazy, and druggies...

No. They're just people, and here are their stories.

02/07/2014

27/06/2014

"What's one thing you wish you had done differently?"
"The one thing I would have done differently is that I'm gay, and it took my a long time to come to grips with that and come out of the closet. It was much more of a stigma back then to come out, but you need to be true to yourself."

20/06/2014

Check out a new photo blog I've started that documents my encounters with people I've been meeting on the streets of DC!

"I've been traveling for two months around the country"
"What have you learned most from traveling?"
"To expect the best from people, because usually that's what you get."

18/06/2014

Protestors at the Capitol Pride Parade

13/06/2014

This is Jerry, but his nickname that he prefers to go by is “Black Magic.” Jerry was born in Harrisburg and often takes trips to Philadelphia. Jerry told me he had a drinking problem, but assured me that he’s trying his best to stay clean. At the time of our conversation, he was proud to say he had been clean for a week. The church plays a big part in his life, and he attends services every Sunday. He said to me that ever week when he cashes his check that he “gives it out to everybody.” I asked him what he meant by that, and he told me “I always help the homeless people out. I give out tens and twenties.” When I asked why, he told me that “Jesus said bless the ones that are in need, so I bless the ones that can’t help themselves.”

They're Homeless, beggars, scroungers, lazy, and druggies...

No. They're just people, and here are their stories.

10/06/2014

Check out the most recent addition to Stories on the Streets!

This is Doug. Dough was born in Chestnut Hill, right outside of Philadelphia, and he moved into the city about forty years ago. As a child Doug would travel into Philadelphia to sell pretzels and newspapers. His favorite memory is when he sold 2,000 pretzels one Christmas day twenty years ago. Although Doug was born with cerebral palsy, he told me that “as long as I can get around and do things it doesn’t affect life one bit. With beautiful weather like this, I can’t complain! I’ll enjoy every bit of it.” When I asked to take his photo, he said to me “I won’t say no to you. I want you to enjoy your life.”

09/06/2014

This is Doug. Dough was born in Chestnut Hill, right outside of Philadelphia, and he moved into the city about forty years ago. As a child Doug would travel into Philadelphia to sell pretzels and newspapers. His favorite memory is when he sold 2,000 pretzels one Christmas day twenty years ago. Although Doug was born with cerebral palsy, he told me that “as long as I can get around and do things it doesn’t affect life one bit. With beautiful weather like this, I can’t complain! I’ll enjoy every bit of it.” When I asked to take his photo, he said to me “I won’t say no to you. I want you to enjoy your life.”

They're Homeless, beggars, scroungers, lazy, and druggies...

No. They're just people, and here are their stories.

08/06/2014

The flag of Israel!

08/06/2014

08/06/2014

A rose laying in the remains of Qassam rockets that were shot into Israel.