Homeless in Plain Sight

Published May 8, 2017
By Christina Estes, Annika Cline, Stina Sieg, Mariana Dale

We see them every day. The man standing along the freeway ramp asking for money. The woman, dressed in layers, pushing a shopping cart. People walking into libraries carrying bags stuffed with personal belongings.

Comments are made among co-workers, friends and family. It seems many people are talking around the issue of homelessness, but not really talking about it.

The Elephant In The Room Is The Person On The Street

KJZZ hopes to start a community conversation by launching a five-part series on homelessness in the Valley. Explore the topics on this page for an in-depth look at the people and businesses affected, what's being done to improve things, and the most effective ways you can help.

Part I
Overview
From KJZZ's Christina Estes, we begin with an overview of homelessness in the Valley. →
Aired May 8, 2017.

Part II
Who Are The Homeless?
As Annika Cline reports, homelessness is a condition that people experience, but doesn't define who they are. →
Aired May 9, 2017.

How I Overcame Homelessness

By Denise Miles

Part III
Impact On Community
Christina Estes reports how the issue of homelessness touches all our lives. →
Aired May 10, 2017.

Part IV
Help For The Homeless
As Stina Sieg reports, there are many services in the Valley, but often people don't know about them. →
Aired May 11, 2017.

Part V
Most Effective Ways To Help
"If you're serious about it, you can find a way to plug in," one volunteer tells reporter Mariana Dale.
Aired May 12, 2017.

Web Extras

Glossary
Key terms used by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to define homelessness.

Homeless FAQ
Frequently asked questions and answers surrounding the topic of homelessness.

Panhandling Rules of the Road
Many people asked us why there are so many panhandlers and what police and government entities are doing about it. Here’s what we found.