Paul Abbott
New member
I have been documenting the homeless population in my hometown of London for just over a year now. The project is called End Homelessness Now.
Ever since the Mayor of London has gone on record stating that he'll help these people with homes, healthcare and social exclusion I thought I would start a project in photographing these people from the street. I get to know every one of these chaps in my photos and get their name and information on their background, and how they came to be homeless.
By doing this I have expelled a lot of myths and preconceptions that people have about the homeless, lets just say they're not all mentally ill.
I usually like to take a street portrait and an environmental one if I can, I then print up a 6x4 and post it through the Mayor's official mailbox in City Hall, in Southwark London. By doing this I hope that some true help will come to these people who need it, and that the Mayor will stay true to his commitments, after all I believe its to do with the Olympics in this country being held in 2012, the reason behind his statement. I hope he doesn't just drive these people off into a field somewhere, as has been done before.
I have had interviews with Andrew Page at Crisis, and have had the recognition and help from these guys for what I am doing. This project of mine is currently running through to 2012.
Some of the images I have taken are over on my blogsite. Its an unfortunate fact that there is no shortage of subjects like this on the streets. I hope by talking with these people and earning their trust I can take a different image in comparison to whats already out there.
I always leave them with a few pounds and some cigarettes which I happen to buy for them, as I don't smoke.
Paul Abbott End Homelessness Now #15
Ever since the Mayor of London has gone on record stating that he'll help these people with homes, healthcare and social exclusion I thought I would start a project in photographing these people from the street. I get to know every one of these chaps in my photos and get their name and information on their background, and how they came to be homeless.
By doing this I have expelled a lot of myths and preconceptions that people have about the homeless, lets just say they're not all mentally ill.
I usually like to take a street portrait and an environmental one if I can, I then print up a 6x4 and post it through the Mayor's official mailbox in City Hall, in Southwark London. By doing this I hope that some true help will come to these people who need it, and that the Mayor will stay true to his commitments, after all I believe its to do with the Olympics in this country being held in 2012, the reason behind his statement. I hope he doesn't just drive these people off into a field somewhere, as has been done before.
I have had interviews with Andrew Page at Crisis, and have had the recognition and help from these guys for what I am doing. This project of mine is currently running through to 2012.
Some of the images I have taken are over on my blogsite. Its an unfortunate fact that there is no shortage of subjects like this on the streets. I hope by talking with these people and earning their trust I can take a different image in comparison to whats already out there.
I always leave them with a few pounds and some cigarettes which I happen to buy for them, as I don't smoke.
Paul Abbott End Homelessness Now #15