We can't judge a book by the cover

I was working on an assignment and rushing to meet a deadline to upload images when I drove by this scene. A man, woman and young boy were in the intersection  of St Charles and Louisiana Avenue ( New Orleans, La ) begging for money. I’ve really been noticing the panhandlers recently. They are everywhere and they usually have the look of the people next door. One girl looked like a cheerleader who just came from a football game!

The driving force of my personal work has been always been “there by the grace of God go I.”  How would I handle the circumstances that other people find themselves in?

Regardless of my personal stress over deadlines I drove around the block and parked my car full of equipment within eyesight as I walked up on the mother and child. Normally I would sit and chat with people for a long time and hear their story but I didn’t have the time nor did they. There was work for both of us to be doing.

I could see the father turn away with shame as if he didn’t want me to take a picture. He doesn’t know me and he doesn’t know what the photos were about. I asked the mom if I could take a few shots and she relied “Yes.”

The boy smiled like a young prince and I clicked off four frames as the street car rolled into the last shot. The boy then turns to his mom and says “ Mom, does she know?”  The mom is still holding a sign saying they are a homeless family.  The mother responds to her son “ Yes.  She knows.”

Then she went her way and I went mine but I could not get them out of my mind. I could tell she was a good mom and had a deep connection with her child. I have no idea what her story was. I have learned from people in life that there is the story  people need to present and then there is a deeper reality that is carried within.

Whatever her personal truth is the facts are clear there was a man, woman and child panhandling for change in an intersection. The child will always remember these life events. 

Today families mostly of single mothers make up the fastest growing section of the homeless population. The lucky ones rent a hotel room if they can afford it. Or live in cars if they own one.  This woman was fortunate to have a male partner so there is another potential source of income. That makes her more blessed than most.

Single homeless mothers need to work to pay bills but the jobs may not pay enough to cover childcare expenses. There are programs that MIGHT help but getting into them is not that easy. Plus it does not necessarily feel safe to trust low cost childcare providers with the children you love.  Not everyone has a safety net of family and friends to help when times get tough. I'm sure this family had deep appreciation for the generosity of strangers that day.