American (Re)Fugee

These are tough times in America. It has recently been reported that the current unemployment rate, which has been hovering around 9.5% for a couple years now, is the highest that it has been, for a prolonged period of time, than at any time since the 1930s. With this in mind, we decided to examine the lives of those most affected by hard times, the homeless.

In his 2007 film Skid Row, Pras, formerly of the hip hop group The Fugees, lives as a homeless man for over a week. He arrives on Skid Row in Los Angeles, home to over 10,000 homeless individuals, with 9 dollars and a tent. He avails himself of the services of the local mission, panhandles for spare change, witnesses various kinds of drug use, and tries not to get killed. For security reasons, hidden cameras are used throughout most of the film. On several occasions, however, Pras' new neighbors suspect that they are being filmed or followed. In once instance, Pras strikes up a conversation with a police officer, and becomes paranoid about others thinking he is a snitch.

The film does a great job of shining a light on the plight of the homeless without making judgements or generalizations. However, it does give some insight into the mindset that causes one to move onto Skid Row, and the factors that keep them there. Often it starts with joblessness. Then factors such as isolation, mental illness, and substance abuse converge to limit individuals of their options. Once one has come to live in this state, those factors feel even greater. As the film points out, homelessness can offer a kind of solace all its own. A homeless person can come to define themselves that way, and they often see it as a choice that they have made. Even when presented with opportunities, fear, addiction, or anger can make homelessness seem like the only viable option.
Of course, there are no easy answers, and this film does not pretend otherwise. Yet, it is apparent that the homeless need our attention. Ironically, Skid Row provides a community, away from the judgement and prejudices of the outside world. The majority, the people who have a bed and don't beg for food money, need to offer our community to those that society has forgotten. So next time a stranger ask you for spare change, and you think to yourself, "What is he really going to buy with this?", be sure to give whatever you can. Your conscience will be all the better for it. And who knows? He might just be an international recording artist.

To contact the Prasperity Project or for more information on Homelessness